Interesting, Diverse Work – You Make an Environmental Difference - Daily!
• Fastest Path to Ontario Licencing Qualifications
• Opportunity to Earn while you Learn (work 12 of 24 months)
Environmental Technician – Water and Wastewater Systems Operations
The BYOD initiative allows you to have access to tools and resources. Review BYOD information prior to the start of your program to ensure you have a system that meets requirements.
Program Description
This program provides the specialized training required to become a licensed drinking water and/or wastewater systems operator under Ontario’s rigorous standards. You’ll train for interesting, good-paying, stable work opportunities that are making a real difference in our environment. It’s a trades-focused, hands-on operator’s line of work – where operators and practical environmental stewardship meet. Students have a choice of studying under the original compressed co-op delivery program or an uncompressed, non-co-op delivery. Both options include a blended program combining on-site and distance learning.
Co-Op Delivery Option
Co-operative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with an academic credit for practical work experience. Our original program co-op delivery option provides students with the fastest path to becoming fully licensed operators in Ontario. Students follow a continuous 6-semester cycle of academic and placement semesters, taking 2 years of continuous study or placements until graduation. This compressed (4 academic semesters into 3) delivery prepares students with a strong combination of theory and the opportunity to obtain up to one year of paid co-op practical systems operator experience. Because it is a compressed delivery, the academic semesters have up to 27-28 hours classes/ week. Northern College will make every effort to assist students in finding co-op employment, but cannot guarantee co-op employment. Students are encouraged to speak with local employers in water and/or wastewater treatment plants about co-op placements prior to starting the program.
Students write the Ontario Operator-In-Training (OIT, a kind of “learner permit”) examination and the Drinking Water Operators Entry-Level Course exam, and through three 4-month-long co-op placement semesters have the opportunity to obtain the year of work experience required to take their full industry certification exams and enter the industry as fully licensed Class I operators. This program is now recognized by OACETT as meeting the requirements for the Certified Technician designation for graduates.
Uncompressed No Co-Op Option
This delivery option paces the 1170 hours of courses more evenly across 4 regular fall and winter academic semesters. It is a recommended path for International students for greater certainty of obtaining a minimum 2-year post-graduate work visa permit after graduation, or for students that prefer a workload with lighter weekly hours of study. Students may be able to find industry-related work in the summers but still will require acceptable proof of Ontario Grade 12 equivalency as a prerequisite to writing their Operator in Training (OIT) exam. An OIT certificate is needed to work in Ontario municipal plants.
Overview Video
Extended Version (4 Minutes)
Admission Requirements for Domestic Students
Please refer to the Domestic Students – Requirements tab section.
Students need to purchase two pieces of equipment. These are a requirement for students when working in Ontario drinking water and wastewater plants:
A non-programmable scientific calculator – e.g. Texas Instruments TI30XA Scientific/Statistics (or equivalent. Preferred that students purchase this model for ease of instruction if you do not have one.
Steel toed work boots are a requirement in certain of our program labs – e.g. Pumps and Motors, Millwrighting, and when working with the water treatment plant.
Additional Information
For those students in the co-op version of the program, many employers provide work wear (pants, shirts, hard hats) to students free of charge while they are on co-op. However, steel toed work boots are not supplied. Therefore, the following is a suggested personal equipment list to prepare you for this program:
Steel toed work boots (required)
Work pants (optional)
Work shirts – orange reflective type (optional)
Safety goggles (optional)
Hard hat (optional)
Lab coat (optional)
Career Opportunities
Graduates may find employment in municipal water and waste water facilities, environmental departments in mines and other industries, solid waste management facilities, and in government.
Domestic Students – Admission Requirements and Information
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)
Grade 12 English (C, U)
Grade 12 Math (C, U) (MCT4C preferred; MAP4C is accepted with a minimum GPA of 60%)
Or equivalent.
Or mature student status (an applicant who does not have a high school diploma or equivalent, and will have reached the age of 19 years on or before the start of the program). The grade 12 equivalency can be obtained in different ways (e.g. OSSD, GED or equivalent). Mature students must undergo academic testing prior to admission into a program. Call the Admissions Office at 705-235-7222 for details. Academic prerequisites for this program may be obtained free of charge through Academic Upgrading. The Ministry of the Environment requires all students to have their high school diploma or grade 12 equivalency in order to qualify to write the Operator in Training (OIT) examination. An OIT certificate is needed to work in any Ontario municipal water or waste-water plant.
Additional Admissions Requirements
A valid Class “G” driver’s license is required by many co-op employers. Employment as a water or wastewater operator entails a physical component including some lifting. Students who are concerned about their ability to meet the physical requirements of their intended career are strongly urged to discuss the matter with the College’s Admissions Office before registering in the program.
Pathway 1: September 2019 (Fall Intake) Compressed & Co-op Placement Semesters
• You complete fall (2019) and winter (2020) semesters.
• You find two consecutive placements or other work for summer and fall 2020. (See important note below about the type of placement you may be eligible for, depending on your prior proof of equivalent to Ontario Grade 12 high school).
• You complete your final academic semester winter 2021.
• You find and complete your final placement semester summer 2021.
Pathway 2: January 2020 (Winter Intake) Compressed & Co-op Placement Semesters
• You complete the winter 2020 semester.
• You find a placement or other work for summer 2020. (See important note below about the type of placement you may be eligible for, depending on your prior proof of equivalent to Ontario Grade 12 high school).
• You complete the fall 2020 and winter 2021 academic semesters.
• After completing the winter 2021 semester, you are then eligible for the remaining two 4-month-long placement periods in summer 2021 and fall 2021.
Understanding the Pathway for Environmental Technician
International Students – English Proficiency Requirements we will require one of the following:
IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System – minimum overall score of 6.5 must be achieved, with no individual band score under 6.0.
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) – Computer based overall minimum score of 79.
PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic 58+.
PLUS Grade 12 (OSSD) equivalent Core Course with 50% in each equivalents for Mathematics (technical)
Based on International student feedback we are advising International students to choose our uncompressed 4 semester non-co-op program option since it gives greater certainty of being provided with a (minimum) 2 year post-graduate work permit on program completion.
This program delivery option provides the same 1170 hours of course instruction as the compressed 3 academic semester co-op program. However, the weekly hours of instruction are lighter given the courses are spread over 4 instead of 3 academic semesters.
Industry Regulations and Licencing
• Operator-In-Training (OIT) Certificate: This is a “learner’s permit” earned via an exam taken during our program, that is required to work in municipal water or waste-water plants.
The Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE) oversees this process, and requires that students must pass an OIT written exam AND provide evidence of equivalent to Ontario Grade 12 education prior to working in these plants. (see further note, below)
• Class 1 Operator Licencing: A Class 1 operator licence is the entry-level qualification needed to work as a full-time water and/or waste-water operator in Ontario. We provide students with the theoretical knowledge to write this exam that is set by the MOE’s Water and Wastewater Certification Office (OWWCO).
Students must also first obtain a total of 12 months of industry-related work – via placements, summer jobs or after graduation — to be able to write this provincial licencing exam and become a fully Class I licenced operator.
Regulation – Equivalency to Ontario Grade 12
The MOE requires all students to have evidence acceptable to them of their educational equivalence to Ontario high school in order to qualify to write the OIT examination. We encourage International applicants who have a diploma or degree to have this documentation evaluated early in your application process by sending your documentation to the World Education Services (WES) assessment centre.
Two Routes to Demonstrate Equivalency to Ontario Grade 12:
1. Via WES (World Education Services): Students that wish to be able to work in municipal plants during summer 2020 are advised to proceed via WES (World Education Services). This is the preferred route for students that want to work in municipal plants in their first summer, helping them progress towards the 12 months of related work experience needed to obtain their Class I operator’s exam.
or
2. Via Completing the First Year of the Program at Northern: After students successfully complete all their courses in the first two Academic semesters they will be able to receive a letter from Northern College stating that since they have passed their first year of college they have achieved the equivalence of Ontario Grade 12. With this and their OIT certificate, they will be able to look for work in municipal water or wastewater plants. This does not delay graduation from the program (possibly with a non-co-op diploma), but the timing results in students not being eligible to work in summer 2020 in an Ontario municipal water plant.
Additional Information
What are the implications for International students who don’t have their WES-certified equivalency to Ontario Grade 12 prior to entering the program?
• Student will not be able to work in Ontario municipal drinking water and wastewater plants in summer 2020.
• Students can work in other jobs in Ontario summer 2020 (and part-time during the academic semester — as per the student study visa rules).
• Students may find program-related work in non-municipal wastewater treatment plants (various industries, mines etc.) during summer 2020. Depending on the nature of this work, it may be able to count towards the year of workplace experience needed to write the Class 1 wastewater licencing exams.
Please review the January and Fall intake models relating to academic and co-op semesters.
Semester 1
CM1903 Communications I
EV1013 Chemistry and Physics
EV1053 Basic Math for Systems Operators
EV2013 Soil and Air Monitoring & Sampling
GN1033 Health and Safety
GN2133 Law and Ethics
IN1093 Computer Applications
IN4163 Introduction to GIS
WM1003 Water Monitoring and Sampling
WM2023 Intro to Wastewater Collections and Treatment
Semester 2
CM2903 Communications II
EV1000 Entry Level Course Self Study
EV2004 Plant Operations II
EV2053 Problem Solving in Water and Wastewater Treatment
EV3005 Certification Exams Preparation
EV4013 Pumps and Motors & Water Treatment Plant 1
EV4016 Instrumentation and Process Control
EV4032 Chlorine Maintenance
GN2013 Co-Op Study WM4002 Waste Characteristics
Semester 3
EN2010 Co-Op Work Term 1
Semester 4
EN4010 Co-Op Work Term 2
Semester 5
BU1103 Intro to Human Resources
EL1103 Gen Ed Elective I
EL2103 Gen Ed Elective II
EV1033 Millwright and Water Treatment Plant 1
EV4022 Laboratory Procedures
EV4023 Statistics for Operations Process Control
WM2011 Wastewater Digester Operation & Nutrient Removal
WM3003 Hydrogeology WM4022 Environmental Regulations and Legislation
Semester 6
EN6010 Co-Op Work Term 3
Semester 1
CM1903 Communications I
Communications course designed to help strengthen both oral and written skills.
EV1013 Chemistry and Physics
This is a course in basic chemistry and physics for water and wastewater plant operations. Topics include chemical processes involved in water and wastewater treatment, the physics of water distribution systems and wastewater collection systems, and basic electricity.
EV1053 Basic Math for Systems Operators
Fundamental mathematical skills of an operator/technician, including basic arithmetic, the metric system, unit conversions, mensuration, and basic algebra.
EV2013 Soil and Air Monitoring & Sampling
Basic soil and air sampling, and analytical techniques for waste facility workers. Soil characteristics, soil classification, monitoring and sampling, the composition of our atmosphere, air pollution, and air quality monitoring and sampling.
GN1033 Health and Safety
An introduction to the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations; the Act and related regulations plus WHMIS certification.
GN2133 Law and Ethics
Understand legal and ethical issues of importance to graduates, preparing you for professional designations and/or examinations.
IN1093 Computer Applications
MS Word , MS PowerPoint, in-depth MS Excel, and introduction to MS Project as a project planning and management tool.
IN4163 Introduction to GIS
Introduction to Geographic Information Systems which involve manipulation of databases to produce a variety of reports and maps
WM1003 Water Monitoring and Sampling
Basic sampling, lab skills and analytical techniques for water and wastewater plant operators.
WM2023 Intro to Wastewater Collections and Treatment
Introduction to the design and operation of facilities for wastewater treatment and collection.
Semester 2
CM2903 Communications II
Communications II strengthens practical written and oral presentation skills.
EV1000 Entry Level Course Self Study
40 hours self study in preparation for the classroom component of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change’s (MOECC) Entry Level Course for Drinking Water Operators, taught as part of EV3005 Certification Preparation.
EV2004 Plant Operations II
Operation of water and wastewater treatment facilities preparing for successful completion of the Class I Operator Examination.
EV2053 Problem Solving in Water and Wastewater Treatment
Applied mathematics for water and wastewater treatment operators.
EV3005 Certification Exams Preparation
Design and operation of water and wastewater treatment facilities in preparation for the Operator In Training (OIT) Examinations (40 hours), plus a 35 hour course in preparation for the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change’s (MOECC) Entry-Level Course for Drinking Water Operators exam, delivered in partnership with the MOECC and the Walkerton Clean Water Centre.
EV4013 Pumps and Motors
The use of pumps and motors in water and wastewater plants; their choice for a given application, installation, use and maintenance.
EV4016 Instrumentation and Process Control
An introduction to industry instrumentation; basic electricity and motor control relays, starters, switches, breakers, overloads, float controls, instrument recorders, process loops, and the fundamentals of PLCs. Process control including measurement and control systems, process parameters, safety, and the operation and maintenance of this equipment.
EV4032 Chlorine Maintenance
The use of chlorine as a disinfectant including handling, operation of chlorinators, confined space rules and procedures, and SCBA.
GN2013 Co-Op Study
Preparation for experiential learning at co-operative education placements, self-assessment, career planning, and job search tools.
WM2011 Wastewater Digestion and Nutrient Removal
This course covers advanced processes which reduce polluting chemical nutrients that aren’t eliminated via the normal activated sludge treatment process. It also covers the operation of sludge digesters – a biological treatment step that reduces the sludge volumes and produces a sludge free of bacteria and pathogens.
Semester 3
EN2010 Co-Op Work Term 1
Semester 4
EN4010 Co-Op Work Term 2
Semester 5
BU1103 Intro to Human Resources
Fundamentals of the employee-supervisor environment, including theory and examples of real-life work situations.
EL1103 Gen Ed Elective I
Exposes students to a related area of study outside of their immediate academic discipline.
EL2103 Gen Ed Elective II
Exposes students to a related area of study outside of their immediate academic discipline.
EV1033 Millwright and Water Treatment Plant 1
EV4022 Laboratory Procedures
Plant operator’s laboratory responsibilities including lab techniques, safety and hygiene, regulations, sampling, quality control, record keeping, and the interpretation of laboratory results.
EV4023 Statistics for Operations Process Control
Directed lab exercises to reinforce theory concepts in EV4016.
WM2011 Wastewater Digester Operation and Nutrient Removal
WM3003 Hydrogeology
Study of the distribution and movement of groundwater reserves through geological formations.
WM4002 Waste Characteristics
The activated sludge treatment process in depth; types and roles of microorganisms in wastewater treatment.
WM4022 Environmental Regulations and Legislation
An introduction to Acts and Regulations that Environmental Technicians and Water Treatment Technicians will encounter.