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For Wastewater Facility Operators

Contact Us
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-3506

(518) 402-8177 (Phone)
(518) 402-9029 (Fax)

Our mission is to...
Provide quality training and technical assistance/customer support services through professional teamwork to the regulated wastewater community and to DEC Regional Staff for the purpose of achieving compliance,optimizing performance and preventing pollution. Our goal is to enhance environmental quality and to protect public health.

This web page is intended to provide easy and rapid access to certification requirements, seminars, technical assistance, and otherresources to help us work together to preserve New York's water resources. Thanks For Visiting!

Our Staff

Phil Smith, P.E.
Chief
Region 5 Certification
(518) 402-8092

Alan Cherubin
Environmental Program Specialist 1
Regions 4 & 6 Certification
(518) 402-8155

Gregg Gendron
Environmental Program Specialist 2
Regions 3 & 8 Certification
(518) 402-8096

Rich Malaczynski, P.E.
Environmental Engineer 2
Regions 1 & 7 Certification
(518) 402-8087

Tim Miller
Environmental Program Specialist 2
Region 2 Certification
(518) 402-8106

Bob Wither, P.E.
Environmental Engineer 2
Region 9 Certification
(518) 402-8097

Robin Gillespie
Administrative and Operator Facts
(518) 402-8089

There's Much at Stake

Wastewater treatment facilities operation and maintenance personnel play a crucial role in improving and protecting water quality. These personnel are responsible for operating facilities in New York into which over $11 billion has been invested to construct. A competent wastewater facility operations work force is essential to assure effective operation, maintenance, and management of these wastewater facilities.

These water pollution control plants are complex facilities with advanced levels of treatment. The dedicated operators that run these wastewater plants need continued training and need the full support of the local community.

DEC's Approach to Operator Training and Outreach

The Facility Operations Assistance Section's approach, in providing wastewater training and technical assistance, involves several major efforts.

  • Operator Certification - NYCRR Part 650 "Qualifications of Operators of Wastewater Treatment Plants" establishes the minimum qualifications necessary for certification and also requires that plants be under responsible supervision of a certified operator.
  • 5 Year Training Plan - The Plan is a road map for delivering seminars and workshops on various O&M topics for operators and DEC staff. The Plan was developed based on the premise that properly trained staff and a competent work force are essential towards protecting the environment and protecting public health. 100 training programs were delivered to 4,600 wastewater professionals during the original Plan (1992-1997).

In 1998, the second "Training Needs Survey" was conducted to identify high priority training topics for operators and DEC staff. The current Five-Year Training Plan came out in 1999. The plan provides for the delivery of 20 to 28 programs each year and is responsive to dynamic/new training needs.

Last year included 33 deliveries to over 1,000 professionals. Check out the topics:

  • Wet Weather Operations
  • Advanced Activated Sludge
  • Filament Identification & Control
  • Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal
  • RBC & Trickling Filters
  • Disinfection
  • Centrifugal Pumps
  • Sand Filters
  • Lagoons
  • SBR's
  • Car Washes
  • Treatment of Oily Wastes
  • Performance Management
  • Collection Systems
  • Pump Stations
  • Legal & Regulatory Update

On-Site Technical Assistance - This custom plant assistance program involves working cooperatively to correct problems to achieve or maintain SPDES compliance. The focus is to implement innovative and cost-effective methods of improving performance. This no cost outreach assistance available to communities and industries commonly involves;

  • Evaluating and Identifying the Performance Limiting Factors through a Comprehensive Performance Evaluation (CPE)
  • Developing a Composite Corrective Program (CCP)
  • Enhancing Process Control Approaches
  • Training

FOAS technical assistance providers often see problems with such areas as:

  • process control procedures e.g. wasting rates
  • process control testing and monitoring
  • sludge handling and dewatering
  • plant design e.g. clarifier short circuiting
  • industrial dischargers
  • maintenance and equipment
  • wet weather operations

About 20 technical assistance projects are completed each year. Technical guidance is provided by experienced certified operators, technicians and engineers. Establishing a partnership is important. The plant owners are expected to support these intensive troubleshooting efforts and support their operators. Often, the cost of coming into compliance via technical assistance is a mere fraction of the potential penalties for being in non-compliance. DEC Regional staff are involved with all assistance projects.

Requests for technical assistance are made through the Regional Water Engineers.

Operator Facts, our quarterly outreach publication, goes to a circulation of over 3,000 operators and professionals in the regulated wastewater community. Operator Facts brings important tech information, operational tips, troubleshooting techniques, and information on upcoming training opportunities.




More about For Wastewater Facility Operators:

  • Page applies to all NYS regions
  • PDF Help:
  • For assistance with PDFs on this page, please call 518-402-8087.
  • Contact for this Page:
  • NYSDEC
    Facility Operations Assistance Section
    625 Broadway, 4th Floor
    Albany, NY 12233-3506
    518-402-8177
    email us