County education, training program wins environmental award

County education, training program wins environmental award
Times-Herald staff report
Posted: 03/09/2009

FAIRFIELD -- A program designed to train water and wastewater treatment plant operators has won the annual Public Education Award from the California Water Environment Association's San Francisco Bay Section.

This program, facilitated by Solano Community College Contract Training Office, is now in a statewide competition, with winners to be announced in late April. The association consists of 8,000-plus professionals in California's wastewater industry.

More than 500 students have enrolled, program developer Deborah Mann said. Many also enroll in Solano's Occupational Education Program, and the combination of classes results in excellent jobs and career opportunities, she said.

With nearly half of all water and wastewater treatment plant operators nearing retirement, water agencies opted to create a new generation of operators. In the Bay Area, Solano Community College offers such a curriculum.

Teachers come from 14 sponsoring agencies, with classes coordinated by the college. Classes are taught at a variety of locations.

Contact Mann at (707) 864-7195, or visit www.solano.edu for more details.