Watermark > Winter 2001 > Features: Small Water Systems Course Roll-out Small Water Systems Course Roll-out An Unqualified Success

Features

• Drinking Water Protection What’s going on? What’s going on?—By Rick Corbett, BCWWA President
• The Controversy Over Efficient Utilities.com: What Should Be Done? AWWA Director’s Report—By Dennis Mitchell, P Eng.
• Small Water Systems Course Roll-out Small Water Systems Course Roll-out An Unqualified Success
• Bottled Water: A Suitable Alternative?

Small Water Systems Course Roll-out Small Water Systems Course Roll-out An Unqualified Success

After extensive development and pilot testing, the BC Water & Waste Association rolled out a two-day small water systems course this fall/winter. With support from the Ministry of Health Services and the Environmental Health officers across the province, BCWWA organized 27 courses: in Port Moody, Creston, Parksville, Williams Lake (2), Chilliwack (3), Kamloops (3), Fort St. John, Smithers, Vernon, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Quesnel, Vanderhoof, Sechelt, Powell River, Campbell River, Saanich, Nanaimo, Squamish, Kelowna, Nelson, and at UBC (2) as well as 2 courses in Whitehorse. All in all, by early December some 550 small water systems operators will have completed the course and many will have written the EOCP examination leading to certification. With a target to train up to 2,000 operators over the next three years, BCWWA will have moved more than one-quarter of the way towards that goal.

“The foresight of Bob Smith and the Ministry of Health in encouraging and supporting BCWWA initially to develop the course and thereafter to implement this program was crucial to the success of this project,” noted Rick Corbett, President of the Association.

From Left to Right, starting in the rear: Tony Deo, Mike Skulsky, Jess Ram (Trainer), Shawn Sanders, Mike Nolan, Vernon Andres, Bob Byrne, Russ Megas, Lorne Johanson, Leo Albrecht, Brian Dean, Del Haylock (Executive Director) and Murray Knox

A concerted effort by Environmental Health officers to identify and target small water systems operators with up to 500 connections was effective and allowed BCWWA to conduct this far flung initiative at the local level. With class sizes ranging from 12 operators to as many as 28, the challenge of dealing with a broad cross section of course material and operators with varying experience was evident. Participation by health officers in the course delivery was welcomed and appreciated and added immeasurably to trouble- shooting on health matters. Each operator received a Resource book of some 200 pages that covered a wide range of topical matters pertaining to the operation of their small water system.

Twelve instructors and circuit riders were specially trained at a two-day BCWWA course in Vancouver in September prior to the roll-out program. Instructors were trained on the subject matter, presentation techniques, and how to deliver the intensive instructional sessions under tight timetables. Kevin Ramsay, Past President of BCWWA devoted many many hours of effort to developing slick PowerPoint presentation and instructors were given the opportunity to view his presentation during the training course. Each instructor presented a section of the course and received constructive peer feedback; a video tape of the session was made available to all instructors.

The small water systems course was the brainchild of the BCWWA Small Water Systems Committee. Many, many hours of volunteer time and effort went into course development and the handout materials. Irfan Gehlen, Committee Chair and the Committee comprised of Ted Molyneux, Past Chair Treasurer, Steve Brubacher, Secretary, Jeff Crofton, Web Guy, Shaun Carroll, Bookstore, Contact, Nathalie Lapierre, Michele Fung, Cindy Watson, Barry Boettger, Jim Levin, BCWWA Board Contact, Sandra Plank, Mike Skulsky, Dave Hansen, Larry Sawchyn, Eric Johnson, Leo Albrecht are to be saluted for their hard-working and untiring efforts.

The principal architect in developing the small water systems course was Eric Johnson. Eric, a sometime retired career water utility engineer, has been a BCWWA water systems instructor for many years. Eric taught the four pilot courses and two UBC courses as well as several small water systems courses during the fall roll-out program.

A special credit is due to Neal Carley, past president of BCWWA and to Bill Hyslop, past president of BCWWA for development of the small water systems CD-ROM that is an integral part of the small water systems course. Both individuals together with support and assistance from provincial government officials, Barry Boettger (MOHS) and Bill Worobetts (MSRR) have contributed innumerable time and effort in putting together an excellent resource tool for small water systems operators.

One of the first small water system courses was held in Ft. St. John. Sheila Withrow, Environmental Health officer for the Peace Liard Region was instrumental in encouraging 25 operators from mobile home parks, RV campgrounds as well as six First Nations bands to participate. Shawn Sanders instructed an extremely valuable course for attendees.

Participants were Bob Dilts, Dave Russell and George Kunz from the Peace River Regional District; Les Fredin, Contractor from Crooked River Provincial Park; Brett Henschel, PFRA; Cheryl Hartnell, Ernest Rowe, Manager Aspen Mobile Estates; Margaret Woreley, Blueberry First Nations; Darrin Johnson, Doig River First Nations; Darren Robertson, West Moberly First Nations; Robbi Thomson and John Michell, Fort Nelson First Nations; Marion Johansen, Westcoast Energy; Jim Woodruff, Village of Pouce Coupe; Jake Clawson and Abe Loewen, Prespatou Community Association; Larry Friess, Sikanni RV Park; Susan Haugen, Klahanie Trailer Park; Sheila Withrow, Jimmy Yee, Jan Horton, Angela VanVolkenburg, Elizabeth Yip, Pamela Laron and Brian McFadyen from Peace Liard Health.

"The Environmental Operators Certification Program can also be justified proud of the part it played and the achievement of invigilating certification examinations at all of the course locations," said Del Haylock, Executive Director. Hundreds of applications from operators to write the small water systems examination were processed in record time and those who wished to write the certification examination could most often do so at the location of their choosing.

Public Works and Government Services of Indian and Northern Affairs, together with Health Canada were also major partners in this program and through their support, more than 75 First Nations small water system operators attended courses throughout the province. Michele Fung of PW & GSC deserves special credit for her unstinting efforts to make this program a success.

BC Water & Waste can be justifiably proud of its small water system course program. Through the dedication and efforts of the Small Water Systems Committee, the Ministry of Health Services, Environmental Health Officers, Public Works and Government Services Branch of Indian and Northern Affairs, Health Canada and the instructors and circuit riders, a comprehensive and wide-reaching program is now in place and available to operators province wide. A special thanks to the devoted volunteers for their tireless efforts in this regard.