The Birmingham Water Works Board (BWWB) provides water and service to approximately 600,000 customers within five counties in Birmingham, AL. In 2011, the Training and Organizational Development (T&OD) department created the Water Operator Certification Training Program to provide the required preparation training for BWWB’s water operators. The State of Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) requires all water distribution systems and water treatment plants to have certified Grade I and IV operators to maintain the system 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ADEM also requires that all certified water operators complete 24 hours of continuing education classes every three years to maintain their certification. BWWB’s T&OD team needed to create a training program that could prepare operators with the knowledge and skills they needed to pass the Water Certification Exam. Then the team had to develop continuing education classes on topics to maintain their certification. ADEM reviewed and approved the course outlines and trainers’ credentials.
Program Details
The initial training program consisted of a six-week program totaling 48 hours. The topics covered in the class include:
- Drinking water regulations
- Water treatment
- Filtration
- Water sampling
- Disinfection
- Math
- Maintenance
- Instrumentation
- Water supply management
- Safety
In the first year of the program, 37 participants attended the preparation series, with seven participants passing the exam and four participants failing. This is a 64 percent passing rate, which is 24 percent higher than the average state Water Certification Exam passing rate of 40 percent. This training program was not only valuable for BWWB, but the organization was able to market the series to other water utilities to generate additional revenue for the company.
In 2012, BWWB revised the program to include additional collaborative activities. BWWB decreased the program to five weeks totaling 40 hours. This program combines classroom and field instructions, group activities, hands-on experiences, and an interactive discussion board via Microsoft SharePoint. The additional resources supplemented the learning for operators while attending the instructor-led preparation series. The discussion board allowed learners to communicate with each other and the facilitator. Learners posted questions and learning strategies for fellow students and the facilitator to respond to. Links to private YouTube instructional videos were posted, which provided detailed instructions on how to solve math problems and how to complete distribution and filtration processes. Learners also listened to podcasts about chemicals in water treatment and filtration. This discussion board generated daily activity, which enhanced the learning process for these individuals.
Results
The average state Water Certification Exam passing rate remained at 40 percent. A total of 25 participants attended the revised Water Operator Preparation Series program, with 11 of these participants attempting the state exam in 2013. Out of these 11 participants attempting the exam, 100 percent passed it. BWWB attributes this 54 percent increase in pass rate to the changes in the program. The discussion board became the talk of the organization. As a result, BWWB began utilizing discussion boards in its leadership programs. This allows participants to collaborate without leaving their desks or departments.
The certification program’s success continued in 2014. An average of 33 employees completed the Water Operator Preparation Series, with 14 employees passing the certification exam. The remaining participants were expected to take the exam shortly afterward. In addition, BWWB generated $26,223 in external revenue from other water utilities.
