Contact: Susan Massengale, 919/733-7015, ext 227
Date: February 16, 2000
North Carolina Water Quality Program
Earns Top U.S. And Canadian Award
RALEIGH - The North Carolina Division of Water Quality recently earned top honors from the United States and Canada for its innovative training and certification program. DWQ is the fourth honoree to receive the Certification Program Award since 1993.
The Association of Boards of Certification, whose membership represents boards from both countries, presented the award at its annual meeting in San Diego, Calif. Jan. 27. Nomination criteria include leadership in the development of innovative approaches and materials that result in lasting improvements in the performance of technical personnel and laboratory facilities.
"What makes our program so successful is the participation of 'stakeholders', the operators themselves," said Dwight Lancaster, environmental supervisor of DWQ's Technical Assistance and Certification Unit. "They help us design programs that are flexible and responsive to the training needs of the industry."
Created in 1969 to train and certify operators of wastewater treatment plants, DWQ's unit broadened its scope in response to more complex environmental demands. It was one of the first in the nation to develop mandatory training and certification for animal waste management, spray irrigation and subsurface disposal systems and land application of residuals. Today, more than 9,000 active operators are certified in one or more of 13 programs.
"We are in the process of developing training for physical and chemical system operators," Lancaster said. "As treatment technology becomes more exacting, we'll keep on top of the industry's changing needs."
# # # # #
# # #
Return to Press Release Page.