Page 14 - Julyaug

Te level of commitment required to be upon more and more to provide qualifed
Remembering from page 12 a successful water or wastewater certifed and committed people to fll these
requirements and the application process. operator is very daunting. Certifed positions.
Examinations were established to test the Operator Darryl Green, member of the Ronnie Hammonds, current president
ability of persons operating a public water Water and Wastewater Certifcation of the Tennessee chapter (TCAPWA)
system. Board housed at the Fleming Training stated, “Te TCAPWA is extremely proud
Center, said, “You have to understand of our state’s water and sewer system
fleming Center Meeting Needs that we go in when things are broken, not operators who dedicate themselves to
Today, according to Brandon Hulette, when it’s convenient.” serve their communities on a daily basis.
director of the Julian A. Fleming Training In Green’s opinion, that is a level of Teir dedication, professionalism, and
Center in Murfreesboro, there are just commitment that has not, and will not great work make our communities a safe
over 4,000 certifed operators with more change even though the industry has and environmentally-friendly place to
certifcations being needed. “Like so come such a long way. “Operators are still live, work and play.”
much of public works, drinking water called to the same 24-hour, seven days a TCAPWA currently has 428 members
production and wastewater treatment are week job that it’s always been. Even with from across the state. Te chapter is
not things that the average person has to the higher levels of knowledge required divided into fve geographic branches
think much about in the course of a day now, old-fashioned dedication and loyalty consisting of the West Tennessee Branch,
because our processes consistently work is what’s required.” Middle Tennessee Branch, Upper
so well. At the Fleming Training Center, Cumberland Branch, Lower Middle/
we strive to prepare, train, and certify the Operator Careers Await East Tennessee Branch, and the Upper
country’s best operators of these facilities Operators, much less highly dedicated East Tennessee Branch. As they celebrate
so it stays that way.” ones, are becoming scarce. Te industry their 60th anniversary, TCAPWA will be
Fleming will ofer 118 classes in as a whole is facing the same challenges challenged to help promote and market
2014 based on need and expand course that many others are facing: succession. careers in the feld.
oferings to include topics ranging from Te old guard will need to be replaced Te next time we take a shower, get a
waterborne disease outbreaks to study with new professionals who will hold to glass of water or even fush, we should
skills for those applying for certifcation. the high standards that are now possible keep in mind the advancements in
Tere were 1,894 people attending classes with the advancements in training technology, the levels of training and
in 2013 with several attending multiple and technology currently available. commitment and diligence of our local
classes. Organizations like APWA will be called certifed operators.

14 TPW July/August 2014