1. APRIL 2016 UPDATE CWSA Annual Conference
BRIAN THORBURN
Board Member
EOCP

2. EOCP is celebrating 50 Years!
The EOCP evolved in BC from a handful of wastewater treatment plant operators who began the Program in Since then, the Program has grown along with similar programs throughout North America to include over 3,500 British Columbia and Yukon operators of:
water distribution (WD)
water treatment (WT)
wastewater collection (WWC)
municipal wastewater treatment (MWWT)
industrial wastewater treatment (IWWT)
small water systems (SWS), and
small wastewater systems (SWWS)
We are presently updating our logo and appearance, and working to increase our visible presence

3. Who is the EOCP?
The Environmental Operators Certification Program is incorporated as a not-for-profit society
The society’s members are the certified Operators in British Columbia & the Yukon
Ministry of Environment regulations require that facilities have EOCP classification and operators have EOCP certification
The EOCP’s objective is to protect human health, the environment, and the investment in facilities through increased knowledge, skill and proficiency of the members of the Program in all matters relating to water treatment and distribution and wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal.
EOCP is the Certification and Classification entity for BC and the YUKON.
Major Goal: The Directors and staff of the EOCP are on a path of renewal to improve our understanding of what you need, and deliver services to meet those needs.

4. New Definition for Water Treatment
EOCP has taken a Leadership position in Canada and updated the definition of Water Treatment
Definition:
A facility that includes treatment using physical, chemical, or biological processes, including any method of primary disinfection, to produce potable water is to be classified as a Water Treatment facility.
As announced at the June 30, 2015 EOCP AGM.
EOCP is aligning its classification system with Association of Boards of Certification water treatment and water distribution classifications, and ensuring all drinking water systems are classified appropriately, as water treatment and water distribution, and accordingly have appropriately qualified operators.
The definition of a water treatment facility varies among provinces and is often unclear; BC has chosen to take a leadership position on this issue
DEFINITION: A facility that includes treatment using physical, chemical or biological processes, including any method of primary disinfection, to produce potable water is to be classified as a water treatment facility.

5. New Definition for Water Treatment
Rationale:
A facility performing a process that is intended to accomplish primary disinfection must be operated by a person certified as a Water Treatment Operator.
However, a facility performing secondary disinfection (generally with chlorine) on water that is already potable can be operated safely by a person certificated as a Water Distribution Operator.
The rationale for this change is that a facility performing a process that is intended to accomplish primary disinfection must be operated by a person certified as a water treatment operator. However, a facility performing secondary disinfection (generally with chlorine) on water that is already potable can be operated safely by a person certified as a distribution operator.

6. New Definition for Water Treatment
Many Facilities have already been classified. This process has separated the Water Treatment from the rest of the Distribution System, resulting in WT and WD classifications for Cities, Districts and Municipalities. The information was mailed out to the WD system owners in October With the classification process, the EOCP has classified 73 new Water Treatment plants at no cost to the Facility Owners.
Information has already been sent to the WD Systems that indicated they have a Surface Water source or UV Disinfection.
More details on the EOCP website.

7. New Definition for Water Treatment
We are in the process of having qualified EOCP Operators write the WT I Exam to become appropriately certified. 97 Operators have already applied for the WT I through the ‘Fast-Track’ applications process developed to streamline certification for qualified Operators.
This process is still underway.
(only mention this if someone asked what Fast Track is ) Fast Track application submission deadline has passed. These Operators need to write before May 2016.
More details on the EOCP website. If you have any specific questions, please contact the EOCP Office about Fast Track.

8. New Definition for Water Treatment
When applying for an exam, the EOCP Office looks for the percentage of time the Operator has spent at the classified Facilities/Systems. When reviewing WT Experience from before the definition change, the EOCP Office will reference the WD Classification records for your system, to determine the amount of WT Experience that can be recognized.
** An Example on the Next Slide

9. New Definition for Water Treatment
Example:
The City of Nanaimo recently commissioned a Water Treatment Plant – Newly Classed as EOCP Facility #2319
Prior to that, Facility 170 was re-classified in 2004 with a Surface Water source
The EOCP could potentially review the City of Nanaimo Operators experience back to 2004 when a water Operator applies for a WT exam
More information on the New Definition is available at treatment-and-distribution
If you have questions regarding your specific certification, please contact the EOCP Office at 1(866)
More information on the New Definition is available at

10. Direct Responsible Charge (DRC)
Three (3) main points about the recent changes to DRC:
New Guidelines came into effect on January 1, 2016
The EOCP began accepting DRC Plans as of January 1, 2016
The DRC requirements for Level III and IV WD and WWC Certifications will change as of April 15, 2016
These 3 points will be described in greater detail in the next few slides.

11. Direct Responsible Charge (DRC)
1. New Guidelines came into effect on January 1, 2016
Rationale:
To remove a bottleneck in achieving higher certification levels
To recognize operators already making meaningful decisions
To recognize more than one operator role at a time
There was general agreement that the Direct Responsible Charge (DRC) requirement is a bottleneck for Operators seeking higher levels of certification and for owners in establishing smooth succession planning pathways.  
These changes have better aligned BC with ABC’s Model Standards and Canadian Best Practices and will make our requirements more consistent with those of Alberta and Ontario.
The board approved changes which will:
Enable more than one Operator at a time to earn DRC work experience, and encourage facilities/systems to make these opportunities available;
Enable Level 1 Operators to begin accumulating DRC work experience (currently restricted to Levels II, III and IV); and
Require Operators of water distribution or wastewater collection systems to have DRC work experience to apply for Level III and IV operator certification

12. Direct Responsible Charge (DRC)
2. The EOCP began accepting DRC Plans, on a voluntary basis, as of January 1, 2016
At the core of the revised DRC model is the DRC Plan. This is a form to be completed and approved by both the Chief Operator and the owner/manager.
Without a DRC Plan in place, the available DRC for Operators will remain as it was before January 1,
For access to the DRC Plan forms for Class II, III, & IV, go to applications
Please re-iterate that this is a VOLUNTARY process
The DRC Plan looks at many parts, including:
the current EOCP facility/system number and classification
the normal working hours in a year for that facility
a list of the roles that are identified as being in Direct Responsible Charge
for each role:
a list of the processes within the scope or span of control
a list of the key responsibilities
a calculation of the expected number of DRC hours available in that role annually
how DRC experience will be recognized for on-call or standby assignments

13. Direct Responsible Charge (DRC)
2. DRC Plans – FAQ’s
Who approves the DRC plan submitted by a facility?
The DRC plan is reviewed by the EOCP for compliance (i.e. that it is clear, complete and reasonable) but approval is given by the chief operator and facility/system management.  The EOCP does not prescribe staffing decisions at facilities.
How should DRC hours be reported against a plan?
When a DRC plan has been submitted to the EOCP, the actual DRC experience earned should be reported annually, for all operators.
We have already processed several DRC Plans at the EOCP Office
We are presently developing an annual reporting system for the DRC Plans to keep the information current for when Operators apply for exams

14. Direct Responsible Charge (DRC)
3. The DRC requirements for Level III and IV WD and WWC Certifications will change as of April 15, 2016
Prior to this, only Operators applying for WT and WWT Level III and IV certifications had a mandatory DRC requirement
Now all certificates have a mandatory two year DRC requirement
You can see much more information regarding the changes to DRC at operators/direct-responsible-charge-drc
Until April 15, 2016 WD and WWC did not have a DRC requirement, but could use DRC as an education exchange.

15. 4512 certified operators in 2177 facilities
We are the EOCP
Help us hear you -
Vote during Board elections
Provide feedback during consultations for our projects
Get involved on a committee
Consider running for the EOCP Board
9 Volunteer Directors
4512 certified operators in 2177 facilities
4 Full Time Staff
The call for Nomination for the upcoming election closed Yesterday, April 7th.
Operators, please look for your elections ballots soon!

16. QUESTIONS?

17. THANK YOU!!