Certification plays an important role in helping to ensure protection of public health and the environment, yet while all states in the U.S. have a certification or licensing program for wastewater treatment operators, only a few options exist for the specialized area of biosolids land application.
The Association of Boards of Certification (ABC), an international non-profit organization established in 1972, introduced a biosolids certification program last year. Among early adopters, the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association (RMWEA) is currently working to develop a biosolids land application voluntary certification program in Colorado using exams offered through ABC.
Jim Medlock, a member of the RMWEA Biosolids Committee and employee at the Littleton/Englewood Wastewater Treatment Plant, said that in the 1990s the committee saw an increase in the importance of training and certification development for operators and managers specializing in the beneficial use of biosolids. In response, they developed water and wastewater operator training schools.
"The schools began in 2001 to provide training for advancement in certifications, along with training units for certification renewals for treatment plant operators," he said. "In Colorado, we've recognized that land application of biosolids has become a more specialized area beyond the scope of most operator training opportunities."
RMWEA's training program focuses on providing necessary information for an individual to develop and manage a successful land application program. Through volunteer efforts, RMWEA developed training modules that covered necessary aspects to set up a program.
"We considered that not all land appliers and managers would have a background in wastewater treatment, so basics in wastewater and solids stabilization was a necessary topic, as well as industrial pretreatment," he said.
