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Water and Environmental Technology AAS
Water and Environmental Technology Department | A.A.S. Associate of Applied Science Degree | Two years
Clackamas Community College’s Water and Environmental Technology, or WET program, prepares students for in-demand jobs in the water industry, including wastewater and backflow opportunities.
Seventy-one percent of our planet is made up of water. Less than one percent of that water is potable! Protecting this vital commodity is essential to ensuring we have clean water to drink so the waste created by our booming population is treated and returned to the environment. Clackamas Community College offers a one-year certificate and a two-year Associate of Applied Science Degree in Water and Environmental Technology. The WET program also provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to take the state certification exams for wastewater treatment and collections, water treatment and distribution, backflow tester and cross-connection control specialist.
Water and Environmental Technology AAS
You will develop some exciting new skills in this program. Among these new skills, you should be able to:
- Successfully pass state level 1 certification exams for Water Treatment, Water Distribution, Wastewater Treatment and Wastewater Collections
- Understand the basics of both water and wastewater operations
- Conduct laboratory analysis for wastewater and water-quality parameters
Careers
Career opportunities include:
- water and/or liquid waste treatment plant and system operator
- environmental science technician
- environmental engineering technician
Careers also include:
- environmental lab technician
- source control technician
- surface water specialist
- environmental regulator
Job Market
Search related careers and regional data on wages and job outlook on Career Coach.
OREGON BACKFLOW AND CROSS CONNECTION CONTROL TRAINING
Become certified as a:
- Backflow Assembly Tester
CCC offers five-day backflow tester certification courses approved by the Oregon Health Division. Only certified testers can perform the annual backflow assembly test required by the Oregon Plumbing Code and Water Purveyors. The Department of Human Services requires proof of high school diploma or GED certificate in order to complete the certification process. - Cross Connection Control Specialist
CCC offers four-day courses for individuals who want to obtain Oregon Department of Human Services certification as cross connection control inspectors. Oregon Community Public Water Systems with more than 300 service connections are required to have a certified individual oversee the cross connection program. The Oregon Department of Human Services will require proof of high school diploma or GED in order to complete the certification process
Currently registration is only available using paper registration forms (available below) and payment by check. Questions regarding registration can be directed to Naomi Sether at 503-594-3345 or naomis@clackamas.edu.
You may also register in person at Registration and Records in Roger Rook Hall at the CCC Oregon City campus.
COURSE |
COURSE DATES |
COST |
---|---|---|
Five-Day Backflow Tester Course - 4.0 CEUs
Successful completion of this course qualifies you to apply the State of Oregon for certification as a Certified Backflow Assembly Tester. During the class you will learn to test all approved backflow assemblies. In addition you will learn: proper installation, trouble shooting and basic repair methods. |
|
$470 |
One-Day Tester Renewal - 0.6 CEUs
Be prepared to demonstrate your testing skills on all approved backflow assemblies. Practice assemblies (both vertical and horizontal will be available. Interactive clicker lecture with 10th edition assembly testing and trouble shooting procedures, followed by a written exam and hands-on assembly testing. |
|
$85 |
Two-Day Tester Retrain/Renewal Course - 1.2 CEUs
The two-day tester renewal course will provide ample time to practice your assembly testing skills on all approved backflow assemblies. Practice assemblies (both vertical and horizontal) with gauges and simulators will be available. Interactive clicker lecture with 10th edition assembly testing and trouble shooting procedures, followed by a written exam. Ample time provided for hands-on assembly practice. On day two hand-on testing will commence. |
$170 | |
Four-Day Cross Connection Specialist Course - 3.2 CEUs
Successful completion of the course qualifies you to apply to the State of Oregon for certification as a Cross Connection Specialist. |
$375 | |
One-Day Specialist Update--0.6 CEUs
Completion of the cross connection specialist update course will give you a thorough knowledge of current rules and regulations and a wealth of information on best practices for cross connection program managers. |
|
$85 |
PNW-AWWA Water Short School 2020
Waterworks School 2020 canceled due to COVID-19. For more information on our protective efforts, visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Notifications page.
For more information on Waterworks School, contact Naomi Sether at 503-594-3345 or naomis@clackamas.edu.
ORWEF Water Environment School 2020
Water Environment School 2020 canceled due to COVID-19. For more information on our protective efforts, visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Notifications page..
PARTICIPANTS
The ORWEF Short School is intensive training designed as a comprehensive overview for wastewater professionals. Topics will provide supplemental occupational education, and technical upgrading for those employed in both the municipal and industrial arenas.
Topics discussed this year include:
- Waste water operations and maintenance
- Wastewater pre-treatment
- Collection systems
- Wastewater basics and beyond
- Water resource recovery
- Safety
- Stormwater
- Technology
- Asset management
- Activated sludge
For more information on Waterworks School, contact Naomi Sether at 503-594-3345 or naomis@clackamas.edu.
VENDORS
Vendor Exhibition
Water Environment School 2020 canceled due to COVID-19. For more information on our protective efforts, visit the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Notifications page.
Join the Oregon Water Education Foundation Water Environment School for the 43rd annual short school. This is a great opportunity to display your products and services to the wastewater industry! Over 100 vendors are typically invited to the exhibition and we have space for about 45 in the Randall Gymnasium. Register early to reserve your exhibit space! The cost is $255 for each exhibit space (10-12 linear feet). The registration fee includes lunch and an appreciation gift for your staff working in the exhibit space. Additionally, there is free Wi-Fi for everyone to keep in electronic contact with their office.
PROGRAM CODES: AAS.WATERENVIRONTECH
The Water & Environmental Technology program provides career technical classes combined with field experience. Classes are offered in day/evening combinations and have enrollment limits to enhance instructional quality and job placement.
Course work emphasizes fundamental aspects of drinking water distribution, drinking water treatment, wastewater collection and wastewater treatment. Course work includes 240 hours of industry cooperative work experience, laboratory methods in environmental chemistry, aquatic microbiology and preparation for the provisional operator in training certification exams.
RELATED INSTRUCTION OUTCOMES
Computation (1 course- MTH-082A-E)
- Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems.
Communication (1 course- WR-101 Communication Skills: Occupational Writing or WR-121 English Composition)
- Read actively, think critically, and write purposefully and capably for professional audiences.
Human Relations (1 course- Human Relations; Recommended: PSY-101 Human Relations)
- Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals.
Physical Education/Health/Safety/First Aid (1 course- HE-252 First Aid/CPR/AED)
- Use effective life skills to improve and maintain mental and physical wellbeing.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to perform the following AAS program outcomes in addition to the one-year certificate outcomes:
- be more marketable through a second career related work experience;
- attain higher grade certification which will lead to higher wages;
- be certified and licensed as a State of Oregon approved Backflow Assembly Tester;
- develop a thorough understanding of the principles of hydraulics as applied to the water and wastewater industry;
- obtain increased knowledge of bacterial processes used in water and wastewater systems;
- obtain hands-on experience with instrumentation and control systems used in water and wastewater plant operations.
Water & Environmental Technology Certificate Degree
- successfully pass the state required level-1 certificate/licensure exams for Oregon water treatment and water distribution (note: these exams can only be taken after completion of the WET-AAS degree); pass the Oregon Operator in Training certificate wastewater treatment and collection systems examinations;
- maintain and operate water and waste water treatment facilities and collection and water distribution systems;
- utilize mathematical skills to solve certification exam problems as well as situations experienced at water and waste water facilities;
- conduct and document scientific laboratory experiments as applied to the water and waste water industry and effectively communicate determined quantitative relationships using both graphs and equations;
- exhibit good teamwork skills and serve as effective members of laboratory and project teams;
- articulate and justify technical solutions to an audience through oral, written, and graphical communication;
- communicate the importance of safety in operator daily activities and be good stewards of ethical and professionally work place interactions.
Contact the Water and Environmental Technology program
Water and Environmental Technology at CCC
Water & Environmental Tech Core Requirement
Complete 5 credits of WET-180
- WET-180
- Water & Environmental Projects I
- 5
Complete 5 credits of WET-280
- WET-280
- Water & Environmental Projects II
- 5
Water & Environmental Technology Core Requirement
Complete the following Core Requirements
- BI-204
- Elementary Microbiology
- 4
- GIS-201
- Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
- 3
- WET-108
- Cross-Connection Control Program Specialist
- 3
- WET-109
- Backflow Assembly Operation and Testing
- 4
- WET-110
- Wastewater Operations I
- 3
- WET-111
- Waterworks Operations I
- 3
- WET-112
- Computer Applications for Water and Wastewater Operations
- 4
- WET-120
- Wastewater Operations II
- 3
- WET-121
- Waterworks Operations II
- 3
- WET-122
- Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Systems
- 3
- WET-123
- Environmental Chemistry I
- 3
- WET-125
- High Purity Water Production I
- 3
- WET-130
- Wastewater Operations III
- 4
- WET-131
- Water Treatment
- 4
- WET-132
- Collection & Distribution Lab
- 1
- WET-134
- Environmental Chemistry II
- 3
- WET-135
- High Purity Water Production II
- 4
- WET-241
- Aquatic Microbiology
- 4
- WET-242
- Hydraulics for Water & Wastewater
- 3
- WET-245
- Instrumentation & Control
- 4
Computation Related Instruction
Complete MTH-082A, MTH-082B, MTH-082C, MTH-082D & MTH-082E
- MTH-082A
- Wastewater Math I
- 1
- MTH-082B
- Waterworks Math I
- 1
- MTH-082C
- Wastewater Math II
- 1
- MTH-082D
- Waterworks Math II
- 1
- MTH-082E
- Math for High Purity Water
- 1
Communication Related Instruction
Complete WR-101 or WR-121
- WR-101
- Communication Skills: Occupational Writing
- 3
- WR-121
- English Composition
- 4
Human Relations Related Instruction
Complete 3 credits. Recommended: PSY-101. Please refer to page 82 of the catalog for a list of approved Related Instruction Courses.
PE/Health/Safety Related Instruction
Complete HE-252
- HE-252*
- First Aid/CPR/AED
- 3