Frequently Asked Questions

First call 360-279-4530 Public works wastewater will be notified. From there it will be determined whether the problem is the mainline or side-sewer. If the main sewer line is flowing fine the problem will be in the private sewer. "Private sewer" means a sewer and associated facilities connecting a "building drain" to a public main. A private sewer is primarily located on private property but also includes those portions of the line located in the public right-of-way. Private sewer begins at the connection to the building drain and ends at the connection to the public main. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain and keep repaired the private sewer whether on public easements, right-of-way or private property.

Introduction

When wastewater treatment plants are properly operated, public health and the state's waters are protected. This certification program is working to help ensure that operators meet the established requirements and are competent to operate and maintain wastewater treatment plants. More and more water is becoming polluted and must be treated before it can be used safely. If you're interested in protecting Washington's water and want to become certified, you've come to the right place.

Email, fax, or mail all correspondence and professional growth documents to:
Department of Ecology
Wastewater Operator Certification
P.O. Box 47696
Olympia, WA 98504-7696
Fax: 360-407-6426
Email Poppy Carre
Email Melinda Wilson

Mail all payments to:
Department of Ecology
Cashiering Section
P.O. Box 47611
Olympia, WA 98504-7611

Qualification Requirements for Operator Certification

There are five levels of wastewater certification in Washington - Operator in Training (OIT) - Group IV. Each level of certification has minimum education and experience requirements and requires the applicant to take and pass an exam. All require a high school diploma or GED, in addition:

• OIT - requires 3 months of domestic wastewater treatment plant operating experience, 3 college credits or continuing education units (CEU) in something relevant to wastewater can be substituted for the operating experience.
• Group I - requires 1 year of domestic wastewater treatment plant operating experience, there is no substitution for the operating experience.
• Group II - requires 3 years of domestic wastewater treatment plant operating experience, up to half (one year six months) can be substituted with relevant experience or education.
• Group III - requires 90 credits or CEUs relevant to wastewater and 4 years of domestic wastewater treatment plant operating experience with at least 2 years at a Class II or higher plant. Excess operating experience can be used to substitute for the education at a rate of 1 year of excess experience for the first year of education and 3 years of excess experience for the second year of education. Up to half (two years) of the operating experience can be substituted with relevant experience or excess education relevant to wastewater.
• Group IV - requires 180 credits or CEUs in education that's relevant to wastewater and 4 years of domestic wastewater treatment plant operating experience with at least 2 years at a Class III or higher plant. Excess operating experience can be used to substitute for the education at a rate of 1 year each of excess experience for the first two years of education and 3 years each of excess experience for the second two years of education. Up to half (two years) of the operating experience can be substituted with relevant experience or excess education relevant to wastewater as long as 2 years of operating experience is at a Class III or higher plant.

Who to Contact for Assistance

For more information please contact Ecology's Wastewater Operator Certification Program:
Poppy Carre
Phone: 360-407-6449
Toll-Free Within the State: 800-633-6193
Fax: 360-407-6426
Email Poppy Carre

Melinda Wilson
Phone: 360-407-6889
Email Melinda Wilson

Oak Harbor is the facility planning phase for a new Water Reclamation Facility and will study several alternatives. Composting, land application, hauling off-Island for disposal, or a combination of these methods are possible.

MBR stands for Membrane Biological Reactor. This type of technology produces a class "A" water suitable for re-use in the irrigation of parks and golf courses, street washing, industrial cooling water and many other non-potable applications. A list of these can be found under Wastewater Documents, under "Wastewater Reuse Standards". It is a process of the biological removal of solids through nitrification which is similar to that found in nature. This environment is different in that it is all suspended in liquid and therefore air has to be introduced using blowers to meet the respiration needs of the bacteria.

Bacteria must be kept healthy and productive to consume the sewage and stabilize its effect on receiving waters. The membrane portion is a filter that either pulls or pushes liquid through while retaining the solids for recycle back to the biological tanks or to waste out of the system for solids handling and further reduction and stabilization. These filters are so small that all bacteria are trapped and the resulting permeate is virtually clear. Disinfection is still needed as viruses can make their way through the filter.

At this time we don't know where the plant will be sited. What we do know is that this facility will be located where it meets the future needs of the citizens of Oak Harbor. Many concerns arise when choosing a site. Cost is a big driver on which location is picked and which technology is chosen. The selection process will determine if we can use existing outfalls or not, they are very expensive to build and place in service. It will determine if the conveyance system (the sewer lines that deliver waste to the facility) needs to be altered significantly and if so how much and at what cost.

Do we want odorless and quite? If an advanced Membrane Bio-Reactor (MBR) technology is the chosen technology the plant will not be smell or be noisy but will cost more to build. If a conventional system is chosen it will most likely be sited remotely out of the city and Windjammer Park which will incur costs for conveyance, land acquisition, and outfall issues but not be as much of a nuisance. Many communities are opting to build the more expensive (MBR) water reclamation plants and incorporate learning centers. These centers help us better understand how as a community we can protect the health of our citizens, marine life and environment. Taking advantage of the high quality water of the MBR for irrigation and conservation has its merits.

Composting and other beneficial alternatives will be considered with the reuse of plant bio-solids (the solids generated from wastewater treatment which are digested and stabilized). These products can be use in parks and city landscapes as opposed to disposal and the costs involved in hauling it off. The Department of Ecology will play a big role in these evaluations as well, with particular interest in cleaner effluent standards. So the big question is: Do we want and can we afford a Cadillac facility or is a more affordable model which meets the basic needs a better investment for now and into the future? Stay posted, as there will be opportunities for citizens to express ideas and concerns.

The City is currently sewered to the RBC Plant so minimal changes to the conveyance system would be required. The Oak Harbor outfall is not useable and would need to be replaced. Currently, new Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) plants are built to mitigate odor and noise. An MBR plant can fit the marine theme of a Park like Windjammer and be built to look like a feature of the park. In fact, many new facilities incorporate education centers for citizens and tourists to learn more about water reclamation and advanced treatment methods. Water quality would be exceptional and could be reused. If the final decision is to build in the Park the water can be utilized to water the Park and Ball Fields or to create water features for all to enjoy. For every gallon of reuse water, the city can use a gallon of potable water is saved and that's good for everyone.