Updating North Carolina’s Education and Training Curriculum for Onsite/Decentralized Wastewater Treatment System Operators

North Carolina was one of the first states to require operation and maintenance of certain types of onsite/decentralized wastewater treatment systems. There are approximately 7500 such systems in North Carolina that currently require a certified operator. When this requirement was instituted in 1991, it was necessary to provide specific training to potential system operators and local health department personnel with oversight responsibility. From 1992 through 2003 over 1500 people attended a three-day school, most of them in preparation for taking the state certification examination. Although the curriculum for the school provided effective training for many years, concerns regarding the structure and content of the school emerged over time. These included limited instructor interaction, inadequate hands-on training and the fact that the school was only offered at one location in the state. The need for an updated approach became apparent.