WHEREAS the UBCM endorsed a resolution in 2006 for a provincial government review of the operator experience requirement for water and wastewater treatment operators to shift the primary requirement to training as opposed to experience so that the capabilities of employees can be acknowledged over a shorter time period to minimize the instances of local government non-compliance; AND WHEREAS the provincial government response to this resolution was for the Ministry of Health to refer the issue to the Environmental Operators Program as the original drafters of the 2000 hours experience requirement, which has not solicited a response; AND WHEREAS an appeal to the Ministry of Health for an independent review of the issue did not receive a response: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM call for an independent review of the water and wastewater operator certification requirements for the expressed purpose of ensuring a blend of training and experience that protects public interest while recognizing the unique circumstances that small system providers face.
Ministry of Healthy Living Sport Under the Drinking Water Protection Regulation, a person is qualified to operate, maintain or repair a water supply system if they are certified by the Environmental Operator Certification Program EOCP at the same level as the system has been classified by EOCP. The MHLS relies on the expertise of the Environmental Operators Certification Program EOCP in assessing and evaluating the competency of operators of water supply systems. The Ministry of Health Living and Sport MHLS does not have the in-house expertise to judge core competencies of system staff and there are few other alternatives to EOCP. EOCPs existing certification scheme does allow for some flexibility, enabling persons to substitute work experience for trainingeducation and vice versa, and EOCP has been asked to consider a more flexible approach to certification. However, some work experience is still necessary and this allowance will only be granted by the EOCP board upon request by the applicant and with sufficient explanation of special circumstances. MHLS has been working with EOCP to address a number of issues. This includes issues related to training of operators, levels of training required to operate systems, as well as recommendations of the Ombudsman to ensure training and certification processes interface effectively. We anticipate a strategy to reduce instances of non-compliance with the regulation due to certification challenges will be completed in the near future.