About Certification
When the people of Ontario reach for a glass of tap water, they expect their water to be safe. Across the province, it takes knowledgeable, conscientious people to operate our regulated systems and help ensure that they deliver clean, potable water, and that wastewater is discharged in an environmentally safe manner.
Certifying Ontario’s operators through the Drinking Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Program helps to ensure:
- the protection of human health;
- the protection of the aquatic environment; and,
- the efficient operation of water/wastewater infrastructure.
Certified operators are permitted to operate in Ontario by meeting the requirements of Ontario Regulations 128/04 and 129/04. They are expected to follow all applicable laws, and to act honestly, competently, and with integrity for the public’s protection.
What We Do
The Ontario Water Wastewater Certification Office (OWWCO) is operated by HR Associates Incorporated and provides administrative and evaluation services to assist the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks with:
- the classification of drinking-water subsystems, and certification and re-certification of drinking-water operators and Water Quality Analysts under the Certification of Drinking Water Operators and Water Quality Analysts Regulation of the Safe Drinking Water Act (O. Reg. 128/04);
- the classification of wastewater facilities, and the licensing and re-licensing of wastewater operators under the Licensing of Sewage Works Operators Regulation of the Ontario Water Resources Act (O. Reg. 129/04); and,
- the approval of training courses to meet annual training requirements under O. Reg. 128/04.
The Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP)
The MECP is responsible for the development and maintenance of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Program, the goal of which is to increase the knowledge and capacity of the individuals entrusted with protecting our lakes and streams, and providing consumers with safe drinking water. The program establishes recognized professional standards for operators in the following areas:
- Minimum Education Requirements
- Mandatory Training
- Verification of Knowledge through Standardized Examinations
- Experience Requirements
- Annual Continuing Education
Drinking water operators are regulated under the Certification of Drinking Water Operators and Water Quality Analysts (O. Reg. 128/04). Wastewater operators are regulated under the Licensing of Sewage Works Operators Regulation (O. Reg. 129/04).
Ontario is a member of the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC). ABC is an association which provides guidance and resources to certification authorities across North America. Ontario closely follows the Canadian Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Best Practices and ABC’s Model Standards of Operator Certification.
All certification and licensing decisions are made by the Director, a ministry employee, appointed under the applicable regulations. Most decisions of the Director may be appealed to the Environmental Review Tribunal.