Wastewater Operator Outreach 
Technical Assistance (OOTA) Program

What is the Wastewater Operator Training Program?

The program helps small, publicly-owned wastewater treatment plants in Maryland:
1) to comply with their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits, and 
2) to enhance security and respond to emergencies at their facilities.

The program is administered by the Maryland Center for Environmental Training, with grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

How does the Wastewater Operator Training Program help?

Expert technical assistance providers customize assistance and partner with small community wastewater treatment system operators to solve problems. The program’s on-site, over-the-shoulder assistance to operators focuses on issues such as:

· wastewater treatment plant capacity, 
· operations training, 
· process control, 
· maintenance, 
· administrative management, 
· financial management, 
· laboratory operations, 
· vulnerability assessments,
· security enhancements, and
· emergency response planning. 

What are the benefits?
The program identifies any need to repair or build new facilities to meet existing or future permit limits, assists the facility during the process of selecting consultants and design review, recommends ways to improve preventive maintenance of equipment and structures, and often reduces energy and chemical costs through more efficient operation techniques. An important focus of the program is to get plant operating staff and local elected officials working together on the problems at the treatment plant to improve water quality through use of treatment equipment for maximum environmental benefit and improved cost efficiency. 

Benefits to community systems include: 
· improved compliance, 
· cost savings for communities, 
· enhanced operator professionalism, 
· improved operations, maintenance, and safety, and 
· enhanced security, vulnerability assessments, and emergency response planning.

How can I get help for my community?
The need for individualized technical assistance is real, and this program exists to address that need. There is no cost incurred by the facility in need of assistance. The only requirement of the program is the willingness to work with a trainer to correct the facility’s problems. To see if your community’s facility qualifies for assistance, please complete the wastewater technical assistance referral form and return it to the Maryland Center for Environmental Training. Call 301-934-7500 for more information.

For more information about MCET’s Wastewater Operator Technical Assistance Program, please call 301-934-7500 or e-mail info@mcet.org.