New operators’ standards to protect Canada’s water
The Federal-Provincial-Territorial
Committee on Drinking
Water and the Canadian
Council of Ministers of the
Environment’s Water Quality Task
Group are working to protect Canada’s
water supply. These two groups have
recommended a multi-faceted approach
to the problem, including a call
for qualified operators in water and
wastewater treatment systems.
The National Standards
are a series of competency
statements that define the
knowledge and skills required
for water and wastewater
operators.
To help establish safeguards for
Canada’s water supply, the Canadian
Council of Ministers of the Environment
(CCME), the Canadian Water and
Wastewater Association (CWWA), and
other Canadian water and wastewater
bodies supported ECO Canada (formerly
known as CCHREI) in the documentation
of national occupational standards
for water/wastewater operators.
The Water and Wastewater National
Occupational Standards are a series of
competency statements that define the
knowledge and skills required for
water and wastewater operators. They
are categorized into four functional
areas: water treatment, water distribution,
wastewater treatment, and wastewater
collection. These statements will
assist operators by providing them with
more clearly defined standards and a
benchmarking tool that will make it
easier for them to perform their jobs.
From coast to coast, the industry
has welcomed the additional resources.
On September 27, 2004, a
national steering committee, made up
of representatives from all provinces
and territories, met in Toronto to show
its support for the process and to confirm
the methodology that will be used
to complete the next phase of the project
which is occupational analysis.
During the meeting, there was a clear
buy-in from every region of the country
to continue with the project.
The occupational analysis phase (to
be completed in December 2005) will
identify and document the competencies
required at each level so that operators
can be properly certified. This
could provide the foundation for consistent,
relevant training, and has the
potential to be used as a national certification
standard. It can also increase
the transferability of skills between
provinces and territories.
In order to determine which competencies
are required and at what level,
ECO Canada is asking water and
wastewater operators to get involved.
Those interested in contributing,
please contact ECO Canada at (403)233-0748 or water@eco.ca.
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