Water and Environmental Technology Department | 2 AAS - Associate of Applied Science Degree | 2 years

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

Registration

For course availability and registration, please visit our Eventbrite page. If you are an employer registering on an employee's behalf, please have name, address, phone, email, and date of birth readily available.

Contact wet@clackamas.edu for more information.

To view videos of backflow testing procedures and backflow certification test prep, visit Washington Environmental Training Center's website.

OVERVIEW

The 2023 Northwest Oregon Subsection AWWA Waterworks School for water operators, engineers and managers is back to being solely in-person and we're excited to experience it with you!

Join us for the Northwest Oregon Subsection AWWA Waterworks School on the Clackamas Community College Oregon City campus.

This event provides training for water system operators in three core sections:

• Supervision and leadership
• Water quality
• Water operations

This event provides participants the opportunity to gain a full 2.0 CEUs, which satisfies the state requirement for two years of continuing education.

PRICING

WaterWorks committee members and presenters (day of presentation only) attend for free.

REGISTRATION

Registration and ticket prices will be available April 3 and open until June 23.

Upon successful registration, attendees will receive a link or a program map detailing the event. We are unable to offer bulk registration at this time.

SHORT SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP

The AWWA Water Equation and PNWS Education AND Training Endowment have teamed to provide up to 150 scholarships for two-thirds of the registration fee for water operators for this training event.

Apply for Short School Scholarship

SCHEDULE

The preliminary schedule of events will be available on April 3.

For more information, contact Amber Steele at 503-594-3345 or amber.steele@clackamas.edu.

OVERVIEW

Join us for the 47th Annual ORWEF Water Environment School hosted via Zoom by Clackamas Community College.

The Oregon Water Education Foundation (ORWEF) Water Environment School (WES) is a comprehensive learning and networking opportunity for water quality professionals. Subject-matter experts within the field will join us to facilitate occupational development for those in both the municipal and industrial sector.

Topics discussed this year include:

• Wastewater Treatment Operations and Maintenance
• Collection Systems Operations and Maintenance
• Industrial Wastewater Pretreatment
• Biosolids and Reuse
• Asset Management
• Safety
• Technology
• Stormwater Management
• Activated Sludge

This online/in-person event provides the registered participant the opportunity to gain a full 2.1 CEUs.

PRICING

Attendees may register for one, two, or three days of virtual sessions. We are also offering a new one-day in-person session on the final day. We are still configuring the costs of this format so more details to come!

REGISTRATION

Registration and a full schedule will be live on April 3 and open until June 25, 2023.

Reserve and Pay

Please note: Attendees must register separately prior to the event in order to access/attend the sessions. Upon reservation checkout, attendees will receive a confirmation email with the link to register for Zoom sessions.

SCHEDULE

The preliminary schedule of the 2023 school will be live on April 3.

For more information, contact Amber Steele at 503-594-3345 or amber.steele@clackamas.edu.

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.