Treatment and Distribution Exam Information
(Contributed by Gentle Readers)

Drinking water operator certification is separate from wastewater operator certification. Drinking water treatment plant operator certification is required to work as an operator in a treatment plant that produces water for human consumption in homes and businesses. Wastewater treatment plant operator certification is required to work as an operator in a treatment plant that receives and treats wastewater from homes and businesses. The Department of Health Services administers the water treatment plant operator certification program. They take applications, give exams and issue certificates on applicants who meet their requirements. The drinking water treatment plant operator certification program may be reached at:

Department of Health Services
Office of Drinking Water Certification Unit
PO Box 942732
Sacramento, CA 94234-7320
(916) 449-5610

See also website link:  http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem/technical/certification/opcert.html

Paula A. Zeller, CWEA Vice President, Orange County Sanitation District, Senior Plant Operator

I am probably not the first person to send you this, but the Cal-Nevada section of the AWWA gives treatment and distribution operator certification tests preparation workshops. Students can also purchase AWWA reference texts on treatment and distribution from the Section. (He can receive a significant discount on them if he joins the AWWA.) I attended the treatment workshops taught by Gary Gottowski in preparation for the T3 exam. I highly recommend Mr. Gottowski as an instructor. He gave a great review of water treatment and ably guided us through that bane of the operator's existence: math test questions. See the link here: http://www.bcwaternews.com/ca/subscribe/otherlinks.htm (AKA "Other Links" on the BC California Water News page.

Bob Dunn

What level of certification is the student preparing to study for and in which state? I teach Water Distribution and Water Treatment classes in San Benito County for persons who plan to take T-2 & D-2 courses administered by the State of California Department of Health Services. I recommend that Steve check the following:

The DHS Web site
CSU Sacramento Office of Water programs
AWWA Web site
He can call me on my work cell phone: (831) 901-7261

Best, Mike Smith

I am not sure where the student lives in California, but the AWWA office in Rancho Cucamonga has a great crash course for the treatment and distribution tests for all levels. Also there web site has books cd’s and other study materials. H2o-ed has materials 877-318-4739,Tech learning College 928-468-0665. There’s more just look on the internet.

Here’s one more. http://www.waterqualityinc.com/

Kelvin Harris, City of Oceanside, Utility  Supervisor, Maintenance Division

Please your inquiry below, please direct students to our team at the Employee Development University. Our contact:

Lori Avery
909-394-3600, X425

Diane D. Rentfrow, Dean, Employee Development University

I am sure we can help.  Have him call me or e-mail me.  Thank you!

Darcy M. Burke, Interim Executive Director,  California Nevada Section, American Water Works Association
Phone: 909-481-7200      Fax: 909-481-4688

Try, Gary R. Gottowski,  909-945-2156 or watertec5169@earthlink.net. Gary does the best job in study material and review workshops in the States of Calif., and Nev.

He does both treatment and distribution, we had a person in out district that had taken the T-1 test five years in a row and could not pass. Buy taking Gary"s class and study material he passed this last time.

Best to You,  John

To my knowledge the person with the best information for the exam would be Gary Gottowski at watertec@earthlink.net or 909-945-2156. He does review classes for CA-NV-AWWA and I believe he is a subject matter expert for DHS.

Charles Sparks, Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, Ascot Training Facility

Per request for study materials:

Ken Keri's distribution book is a gem
AWWA water distribution and transmission is very helpful
AWWA Ca/Nv bookstore has a water distribution handbook authored by Gary Gottowski that is a load of help

Good luck,  Ken Witt

For information, contact Dr. Jim Gates at Santiago Canyon College at: www.sccollege.edu, click on "academic programs", then click on "Water Utility Science". Or email him at gates_jim@sccollege.edu He is very comprehensive in helping operators get information about passing tests!

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