(Delaware and Chester Counties, PA • August 15, 2017)—Delaware County Community College is once again offering a drinking water certification program, with classes beginning on Tuesday, September 5 at the Marple Campus (901 S. Media Line Road, Media, PA). Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. Certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the program prepares entry-level operators for certification and employment. The minimum education level for operator certification is either a high school diploma or GED. 

Delaware County Community College’s program offers all of the coursework and module review necessary to help students pass the licensing exam for DEP certification. The program is divided into two 90-hour sessions. Successful candidates must enroll for certification level 1 and 2.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, drinking water operator certification is crucial in protecting public health and the maintenance of safe, optimal and reliable water treatment and distribution facilities. The goal of certification is to ensure that skilled professionals are overseeing the treatment and distribution of safe drinking water, and it is an important step in promoting compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median pay for Water Treatment Operators is $44,100 and the field is projected to grow by 6 percent over the next decade.

The cost of the certification is $950 per semester. Students can save $150 by registering for both semesters at once (paying $1750 instead of $1900). For more information, contact Mary Kay McClatchy at 610-723-4010.