Drinking Water System Operator Training and Certification in Region 8

It has been shown that the most effective way of providing high quality drinking water and protecting public health is to have public water systems operated by certified operators. Regulations promulgated under the Safe Drinking Water Act require that all public water systems be operated by qualified personnel.

If you are an operator of one or more community or non-transient non-community public water systems in Wyoming, you are required to be certified by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WYDEQ). Please visit WYDEQ’s website for further information regarding the Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Program Exit. There you can find information on how to become a certified operator, training opportunities and exam study materials, and how to schedule an Operator Certification exam. You may also view your own operator or facility records.

If you are an operator of one or more public water supply systems in Indian Country, EPA Region 8 requires all community and non-transient non-community water systems to have a certified operator. Tribal system operators may be certified under any EPA approved program, which includes the EPA National Tribal Drinking Water Certification Program, the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) Program Exit and any approved State Operator Certification Programs. Both the ITCA and the EPA National Tribal Operator Certification Program offer a Very Small Water System option, which requires only one test for both treatment and distribution and is available for small, less complex systems. Tribal personnel may attend training, apply for operator certification and take certification exams FOR FREE. To learn more about the EPA programs in Region 8, please see the Tribal Drinking Water Operator Certification Program fact sheet.

Operators are required to take training to qualify for initial certification and to obtain the required number and type of continuing education or contact hours required for certification and recertification to operate and maintain the public water supply system and/or distribution system at which they work.

EPA Region 8 sends out notices of training opportunities it organizes. Additionally, please check the EPA HQ website and the external links shown on the right hand side of this page for more training opportunities.

The Montana Environmental Training Center Exit also offers a variety of seminars and training related to various areas of the water and wastewater industry including rules and regulations, treatment processes, operation and maintenance and safety.