The purpose of the Tribal Water Systems Program (TWS) is to provide training to
effectively meet the environmental health and safety needs of tribal communities. The training
is directed at personnel who are responsible for the production, treatment
and distribution of drinking water for public consumption, and collection and treatment of
wastewater. The program allows for the operator to be examined and rated to demonstrate
his/her level of competency in operating and maintaining tribal facilities.
The program was developed exclusively to meet the needs of water and wastewater operators
working on Indian lands by providing an equivalent alternative to state operator
certification. Water/wastewater operator certification verifies that an operator has
obtained a certain level of competency through practical experience and technical
training. The program also provides a clearing house of information to the tribes,
updates on current water and wastewater regulations changes, and provides new trainings
on as "as needed" basis. The goal of the program is to provide each tribal utility with
the means to protect the public health and make available training for water and wastewater
operators that allows them to operate their systems to the best of that systems capability.
The program provides certification that is honored in Arizona and surrounding states.
Key Objectives of the Program:
To build tribal capacity in drinking water facility management and operation through on-site training and provide training and examination for certification
To build tribal capacity in wastewater facility management and operation through on-site training and provide training and examination for certification
To provide certification to verify that a water/wastewater operator has obtained a certain level of competency through practical experience and technical training
To help build expertise of tribal developments of water and wastewater treatment
To establish and provide technical assistance and training support in water and wastewater operations
To facilitate and provide staff support to tribal operator working groups
To provide assistance to tribes to comply with federal environmental and public health laws
To work with tribal governments, tribal leaders, tribal water and wastewater staff to design approaches and solutions to existing problems with under-managed facilities
To train tribal staff to effectively meet the health and safety needs of tribal community members
