Admission Requirements

Apprenticeship Agreement, High School Diploma or GED, Criminal Record Check, and Child Abuse Clearance.

Program Overview

CPI administers two US Department of Labor approved apprenticeship programs for the occupations of Water System Operation Specialist and Wastewater Systems Operator.

Water System Operation Specialists are skilled employees responsible for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing multiple potable water (drinking water) flow and treatment processes. Specific operator tasks include analyzing raw, process, and finished water samples; adjusting chemical dosages based on these analyses; adjusting facility flows based on water demand; and performing preventive and corrective maintenance on flow and treatment equipment. For Water System Operation Specialists, the end goal is providing safe, aesthetically pleasing drinking water to the people of the municipality served.

Wastewater Systems Operators are skilled employees responsible for monitoring, controlling, and optimizing multiple wastewater flow and treatment processes. Specific operator tasks for this occupation include analyzing raw, process and finished water samples, adjusting chemical dosages and sludge return concentrations based on these analyses, and performing preventive and corrective maintenance on flow and treatment equipment. Wastewater Operators are responsible for ensuring the high quality of the finished water discharged into streams, rivers, and other receiving waters.

Overall, the Water Systems Operation Specialist and Wastewater Systems Operator apprentice programs provide a pathway to rewarding and sustainable Journeyworker careers as skilled and dedicated public health protectors.

Both apprenticeship programs are two years in duration and feature:

• Zero cost to the apprentice
• Timely full-time employment for the apprentice
• 4000 hours of on-the-job training as a full-time water or wastewater utility operator apprentice.
• 288 hours of Related Technical Instruction (RTI) at CPI. See below for RTI descriptions.

Related Technical Instruction Descriptions

Proactive Operations

This portion of the RTI training examines the keys to successfully meeting the constantly changing technical, regulatory, and customer service challenges that characterize the water/ wastewater treatment industry. Topics include problem prevention, operational decision-making, and process optimization at water & wastewater treatment and pumping facilities. Training exercises demonstrate & emphasize the skills and mindset required for proactive operators.

Pumps and Motors

Pump types and applications utilized in the water/ wastewater industry are thoroughly examined in this section of the RTI. The motors that serve as the primary prime movers for these pumps, and the control logic and devices that control the motors, are also studied by the apprentice.

Disinfection Processes

A variety of disinfection processes including chlorination, hypo-chlorination, ozonation, and ultra-violet light systems are utilized in both water and wastewater treatment. Apprentices study the equipment, regulatory requirements, performance indicators, safety, and environmental considerations relevant to these processes.

Filtration Processes

Apprentices study filtration processes in detail as a significant portion of both water and wastewater treatment facilities contain multi-media, membrane based, or other types of filtration processes.

Industrial Electricity

Apprentices study and apply the fundamental principles of electricity as they wire and troubleshoot single-phase and three-phase power and control circuits containing components such as control relays; timers; variable speed drives, and pressure, float, and proximity switches.

Mechanical Power

In the Mechanical Power RTI section, apprentices study and apply fundamental mechanical power principles for belt, chain, and gear driven power systems with emphasis placed on the inverse relationship between rotational speed and torque.

Process Control

Apprentices’ study and apply the fundamental principles of industrial automation in this extensive RTI section. Specifically, apprentices wire, configure, and troubleshoot a variety of level, flow, and chemical feed control circuits utilizing a variety of electronic sensors, programmable logic and analog controllers, and final control elements, such as valves and pumps.

Fundamentals of Water Treatment & Distribution

A RTI pilot plant containing pumps, mixers, basins, and related equipment is utilized to build apprentices’ ability to interpret process performance indicators and optimize treatment processes.

Apprentices study specific water treatment processes such as coagulation, taste & odor control, and corrosion control that process surface and ground raw water into potable water – that is, water that is safe and suitable for drinking.

Water Distribution Systems: Operation & Maintenance

Apprentices study the design and operation of potable water distribution systems. Specific topics include the installation, preventive maintenance, and repair of system piping, valves, fire hydrants, tanks, and other related components.

Overview of the Safe Drinking Water Act

A key RTI subject covers the regulations that govern water utility operations, specifically, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and its amendments. It is important that operator apprentices are well versed with the regulatory mandates of the SDWA as these mandates are foundational to proactive water treatment operations.

Fundamentals of Wastewater Treatment

A RTI pilot plant containing pumps, mixers, basins, an air compressor, and related equipment is utilized to build apprentices’ ability to interpret process performance indicators and optimize wastewater treatment processes. Apprentices study specific wastewater treatment processes such as activated sludge, trickling filters, rotating biological contactors, sequential batch reactors, and specialized ponds and lagoons utilized to remove microscopic pathogens, chemical contaminants, and disagreeable physical constituents from wastewater flows, rendering such flows suitable to discharge into streams, rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.

Wastewater Collection Systems:Operation & Maintenance

Apprentices study the design and operation of wastewater collection systems. Specific topics include the installation, preventive maintenance, and repair of system piping, valves, pumps, and other related components.

Overview of the Clean Water Act

This key RTI subject covers the regulations that govern water utility operations, specifically, the EPA’s Clean Water Act (CWA) and its amendments. It is important that operator apprentices are well versed with the regulatory mandates of the CWA as these mandates are foundational to proactive wastewater treatment operations.