Wastewater Operators

To view the latest amendments to the Mississippi Commission on Environmental Quality Regulations for the Certification of Municipal and Domestic Wastewater Facility Operators, that was approved August 24, 2017, please click here.

Pollution Control Operators Certification fees increase, effective March 15, 2015. Click here 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 Operation/Training Manual which provided a single reference as a basis of instruction and certification.  The manual is now in its fifth edition printing and can be found here.

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 classes of treatment and two 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 three 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.

Click here for the 2024 Wastewater Training Calendar

The Wastewater Continuing Education Credit, Training Approval Request Form is for any entity requesting approval for wastewater training in which operators will receive continuing education credits for attending, that can be used for wastewater certification renewal needs.  To download this form, click here.

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.

Central Regional Office
Michael McIntosh
1542-A Old Whitfield Road
Pearl, MS 39208
Phone: (601) 961-5646

South Regional Office
Matt Carr
1141 Bayview Ave., Suite 208
Biloxi, MS 39530
Phone: 228-432-3454