Wastewater Operator Training And Certification

Proposed Amendment to Wastewater Operator Certification Reg.

To view Proposed Amendments to the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality Regulations for the Certification of Municipal and Domestic Wastewater Facility Operators, click this link, or cut and paste the link into your web browser:

Pollution Control Operators Certification fees increase, effective March 1, 2009. Click the document below for more information.

Wastewater Operator Training Program

The operator training program began in 1969 as one of the first programs in the agency. Since then, the training staff has provided classroom & on-site training to hundreds of facilities and more than 2000 individual operators. In 1984 the program published the MS Operations / Training Manual which provided a single reference as a basis of instruction and certification. The Manual is now in its fifth edition printing and is available in CD format or downloaded from this site.

Certification of wastewater operators became mandatory in 1987 with the passage of the Municipal and Domestic Water and Wastewater System Operator’s Certification Act. Since the passage of the law, more than 1000 wastewater operators have been certified through the program. Certification is offered in four (4) classes of treatment and two (2) classes of collection based on size and type of facility. The regulations governing certification can be seen by clicking on the link found on any page of the training site.

The program currently consists of three trainers who are located in the North, Central and South Regional offices. The MDEQ Training Program works closely with the professional associations in the state to co-sponsor numerous training activities. The annual schedule of agency sponsored workshops includes up to 32 days of classroom training and 3 conferences. Three of the workshops are exam prep in nature while the others provide expanded instruction on specific topics of wastewater collection and treatment and related issues. Select the link at left for an invitation to the workshop(s) you wish to attend.

The trainers also offer on-site training and technical assistance, at no charge, to facilities which are experiencing operational difficulties and/or non-compliance with their NPDES permits. To request assistance, contact one of the trainers below.

MDEQ Training Materials Order Form