Training Offered for Future Wastewater Plant Operators

Wastewater/UHMC. Photos by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

The Sustainable Living Institute of Maui at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College is offering a new non-credit training session for entry level water and wastewater treatment plant operators.

The course was developed to meet an emerging need identified by the program for future job openings as plant operators near retirement.

The training program will be offered in April, and will be led by instructor Raymond Sled, a former water maintenance manager for the City of Renton in Washington.

Sled said coursework includes technical classes and field experience with space being limited “to enhance instructional quality and job placement.”

Wastewater Operations Superintendent Steve Parabicoli said the course will give students an opportunity to enter a “dynamic industry.”

“The industry needs qualified personnel to fill these vacancies, as safe drinking water and a clean environment are so critically important for the protection of public health,” said Parabicoli in a university press release.

Parabicoli called those in the profession “unsung heroes,” saying they often go unnoticed. “But just think if we did not have these dedicated professionals working to ensure that our tap water is safe to drink and our environment is protected from water pollution.”

The training program is partially funded by a $287,419 grant from the US Department of Labor; however, funding does not pay for student costs to participate.

To apply to the program, email [email protected] or call 984-3391 to arrange an interview.