Green Jobs that are Already Here;

Many More are on the WayWesley L. Winterbottom, P.E., M.B.A., M.S.

Professor of ScienceAmerican Association of Community

CollegesAnnual Convention, April 23, 2012

Orlando, Florida

A Well Kept Secret?

• Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator jobs are expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations

• Job opportunities are excellent for qualified workers

Source: blog.thehigheredcio.com

Employment Change

• Employment is expected to grow by 20% between 2008 and 2018.

• A growing population and increasing suburban geography of the United States are expected to boost demand for water and wastewater treatment services

• New plants are being constructed

Employment Change• Existing wastewater treatment plants, many

of which were built in the 1970’s and 1980’s in response to the 1972 Federal Water Pollution Control Act, are being replaced, expanded, and upgraded to provide higher levels of pollutant removal via increasingly complex methods of water treatment

• November 11, 2011 San Diego City Council Authorizes Contract for Wastewater Recycling into Drinking Water

“Toilet to Tap”

Source: Sdc708.blogspot.com

New York Times “As ‘Yuck Factor’ Subsides, Treated Wastewater Flows from Taps”– February 9,

2012

Employment Change

Category DataEmployment

2008113,400

Projected Employment

135,900

Change 2008 – 2018 (Number)

22,500

Change 2008 – 2018 (%)

20%Source: ccsf.edu

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Job Outlook• 1972 - Federal Water Pollution Control Act (w/revisions)

– Sets standards for discharges of point and non-point source wastewater

• 1974 Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (w/revisions)

– Sets standards for potable water• 2002 - Federal Bio-Terrorism Act (w/revisions)

– Requires that water and wastewater utilities perform a vulnerability assessment followed by an Emergency Response Plan

• 2010 Cyber Security Enhancement Act

Source: american.com

Job Outlook

• 2012 Connecticut adopts

a Stream Flow Regulation Program

Source: va.water.usgs.gov

Job Outlook

• Local governments are the largest employers of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators

• Employment in privately owned and publicly owned/privately operated facilities will grow faster, because federal and state certification requirements has increased utilities’ reliance on private firms specializing in the operation and management of water and wastewater treatment facilities

Excellent Job Opportunities

• Retirement of baby-boomer generation will require that many operators will require that many operators will be replaced

• Number of job applicants for these jobs is normally low

• Mechanical aptitudes, problem-solving skills, information technology, analytical laboratory, and homeland security skills are a big plus

CT Water and WastewaterTreatment Employment Outlook

• Jobs cannot be outsourced overseas

• Employment does not cycle up and down very much with America’s economic cycles

• Many retirements expected in both industries within the next 10 years– 1020 CT DPH certified water supply

operators– 408 (>50%) are eligible to retire

within the next 5 years– A similar situation exists in

Connecticut’s Clean Water Industry

Source: www.albertaholstein.ca

In Order to be Employed:

• Certification must be received by the appropriate state regulatory agency

Water Treatment and Distribution

Wastewater Collection and Treatment

CT CertificationsCT Department of Public Health

• Small Water System Operator

• Water Distribution– Class I– Class II– Class III

• Water Treatment– Class I– Class II– Class III – Class IV

CT Dept of Energy & Envr Prot

• Wastewater–Class I–Class II–Class III–Class IV

Fast Track a Career!CT DPH/CT DEEP Operator-in-

Training! • Water Management– Class IV Water Treatment

Certification– Class III Water

Distribution Certification• Clean Water Management– Goal is Class III Wastewater

Treatment CertificationSource: www.fast-track.cc

Association of Boards of Certification

• Many state regulatory agencies utilize certification examinations provided by the Association of Boards of Certification

• Use of these examinations helps students to transfer their certifications to other states through reciprocity

Source: abccert.org

Water Management Certificate Program• Provides preparation for CT

Dept of Public Health Water Treatment & Water Distribution license examinations

• GCC Certificate entitles one to take the Class III Distribution (highest class) and/or Class IV Water Treatment (highest class) CT DPH examination

• Operator-in-Training license(s) awarded upon passing CT DPH licensing examination(s)

Source: hartford.about.com

Water Management

Curriculum

• WMT 101 Water Treatment & Distribution 6 credits• CWM 106 Intro to Utility Management 3 credits• ENV 110 Environmental Regulations 3 credits• WMT 102 Special Topics in Water Treatment 3 credits

and/or• WMT 103 Special Topics in Water Distribution 3 credits

Total Credits 15 – 18

Source: www.m-e.aecomm.com

Metropolitan District CommissionSalary Range for Class IV

Water Treatment Plant Operators

$22.00 - $28.00 per hourwhich equals

$45,760 - $58,240 per year+

Full Benefits

Clean Water Certificate Program(Wastewater)

• Provides preparation for CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Wastewater Operator Licensing Examinations – Classes I – IV

• Plan is to have certificate graduates qualify to take CT DEEP Class III Operator-in-Training Examination

Farmington River, CTSource: mainstreamcanoe.com

Clean Water Curriculum

• CWM 106 Introduction to Utility Management 3 credits• CWM 108 Intro to the Bio/Chem/Math of CW 4 credits• Must Take at Least 2 out of 3

– CWM 110 Clean Water I 3 credits– CWM 112 Clean Water II 3 credits– CWM 114 Clean Water III 3 credits

• ENV 110 Environmental Regulations 3 credits• EVS 200Human & Envr Toxicology 3 credits• EVS 221 Field & Lab Analysis I 4 credits• EVS 222Field & Lab Analysis II 4 credits• Restricted Elective 3 credits

Total Credits 30 credits

Source: ctrripls.blogspot

AS Degree in Environmental Science and Toxicology

• Most of the courses from the Water Management and Clean Water Management Programs can be applied towards an Associate of Science Degree in Environmental Science and Toxicology

• Most utilities will pay for AS and higher courses through tuition reimbursement programs Source: dreamstime.com

Questions?Wesley L. Winterbottom, PE, MBA, MS

Professor of Science Gateway Community College

88 Bassett RoadNorth Haven, CT 06473

203-285-2354 or 203-285-2428wwinterbottom@gwcc.commnet.edu

Source: www.applejuice.org