News Releases - 2003

Small Water Systems Eligible for Help With Costs of Upgrading Operators Training

Springfield, Ill. -- Small community water systems serving 3,300 or fewer people are now eligible to provide their operators with training upgrades at no cost, and receive reimbursement for their associated travel costs.

Using funds from U.S. EPA, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has established the Drinking Water Training Reimbursement Program that offers one-day classroom course modules for the operators of small drinking water systems falling under the jurisdiction of the IEPA. These small systems often have difficulty funding the training needed to keep their water operators current with increasing federal and state standards and expanded monitoring and testing requirements.

“It is particularly gratifying, in these tight economic times, to know that water plant operators serving small communities are being provided the training they need to provide their consumers with safe drinking water,” said IEPA Director Renee Cipriano.

The IEPA has contracted with the Environmental Resources Training Center (ERTC) at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville to develop the program that will be offered at ERTC as well as 11 community colleges around the state.

Each small drinking water system will be allowed to enroll participants for a maximum of four training modules between July 1, 2003 and September 2005, when the program is slated to end. Supplies will determine what best serves their own needs, for instance having one operator attend four separate modules, or having multiple operators attend fewer sessions each. For personnel who have already earned certification as drinking water operators, completion of each module will offer renewal training credit required for renewal of their certificates.

Small drinking water supply owners or operators can obtain additional information by contacting Jewel Brant, acting program coordinator for operator certification, at 217-785-0561. They should contact the schools offering the course directly for information on registration and the schedule for class offerings.

Institutions offering the program, and the contact name, include:

• Black Hawk College, East Moline; Barbara Virtue, 302-796-4844
• Danville Area Community College, Danville; Sara Longfellow, 217-443-8777
• Environmental Resources Training Center, Edwardsville; Bob Whitworth, 618-650-2030
• Heartland Community College, Normal; Mayuko Sterzinger, 309-268-8166
• Illinois Central College, Peoria; Ellen George, 309-999-4580
• Illinois Valley Community College, Oglesby; Jamie Gahm, 815-224-0428
• John A. Logan College, Carterville; Robert Mees, 618-985-3741
• Kankakee Community College, Kankakee: Susan LaMore, 815-802-8208
• Kishwaukee College, Malta; Len Janeski, 815-825-2086
• Sauk Valley Community College, Dixon; Thomas Gospodarczyk, 815-288-5511
• Southwestern Illinois College, Belleville; Casey Laumbattus, 618-235-2700
• Triton College, River Grove; Mary Meyer, 708-456-0300.