In 1988, Darin Winton was making good money as a cabinetmaker. But the lack of health and retirement benefits at his job worried him. He decided to head in another career direction and signed up for a nine-month Water Pollution Control course through the Tri-Valley Regional Occupational Program.

Two months before he finished his studies, he landed a job as an operator with South San Francisco's wastewater treatment plant and eight months later moved on to the Dublin San Ramon Services District wastewater treatment facility in Pleasanton.

Since 1973, the Tri-Valley Regional Occupational Program (Tri-Valley ROP), which is sponsored by DSRSD and local Tri-Valley high school districts, has prepared nearly 300 students for entry-level jobs in water and wastewater treatment. DSRSD participates in the program by providing its Pleasanton wastewater facility as a training site and its Field Operations Supervisor, Bob Anderson, as the instructor.

Annually, 15-20 students each invest 540 hours in learning skills necessary for jobs in the field. During the weekly evening sessions they spend three hours in the classroom and 12 hours in the treatment facility, participating in hands-on training. They learn to tend machinery and equipment, read and interpret charts, meters and gauges, collect lab samples, and perform tests. When they complete their studies, they are prepared for entry-level operator positions that range in salary from $2,500 to $4,500 per month.

"Most water districts don't hire off the street and prefer experienced workers," said Anderson, "While the Tri-Valley ROP doesn't place students in jobs, it does make them employable. Millions are being spent at the local, state and federal levels to build water and wastewater treatment plants. How well the plants work depends on the skill and knowledge of employees. DSRSD got involved in the program to provide the best training possible to people entering the field."

"The program was excellent," said Blake Kurz, a mechanical supervisor at the DSRSD wastewater treatment plant who completed his studies in 1987, "It was very comprehensive." Kurz was already familiar with many treatment operations because he worked at a local chemical manufacturing firm for nearly 12 years and this firm applied similar technology to cleaning its wastewater. He decided to make the career switch because of his concern about long-term, on-the-job exposure to hazardous wastes.

Like Kurz and Winton, the majority of students entering the program are working adults interested in a career change, although the program is open to applicants who are at least 16 years old and a high school junior. All applicants must have a basic knowledge of algebra, and some familiarity with chemistry is recommended. The entire cost of the nine-month course is about $300.

Judging by the enthusiasm of Kurz and Winton, their career transformations have been successful. Both rate their jobs high on the satisfaction scale.

"One of the things I like best about my job," said Winton, "is that it’s always changing – the technology, the equipment, the processes – there’s always something new to keep up with that's coming into the District. I'm constantly learning."

For information about water pollution control training through the Tri-Valley ROP, you may contact us at the following e-mail address: wwtprop@gmail.com