The Operator's 10 Core Competency Objectives

Manny Moreno (r) presents IEUA's 10 Core Competency Objectives at the 2023 TriState Conference (CWEA photo)

Presentation Description: The importance of this Subject is to address the training needs and expectations for a new
generation of Operators/Water Professionals, Operators in Training (OIT’s) their Trainers, and Managers. Knowledge of the treatment process is critical, and often the only focus when hiring and training new Operator/Water professionals, but it is only one of many competencies required of Operator/Water Professionals. Trainers often overlook other core competencies, such as an Operators ability to clearly articulate a problem in a work order request, and many more administrative duties. Consequently, they place little or no focus on other core competencies needed to perform the job.
Examples of Competencies often overlooked in training programs:
1. Plant layout/drawings: Where are they located, were they provided? Can Operators retrieve plant
drawings when asked?
2. Impacts: Upstream and Downstream impacts. Sure they were trained on how the process works and
the parameters, but do they know the impacts if the process fails and or is taken offline?
How will it affect the upstream and downstream processes?