Apprenticeship Water Treatment/Water Distribution

The Apprenticeship in Water Treatment/Distribution Program is designed to prepare students for careers in the public health field of drinking water treatment and water distribution. This program is also designed to enable those already working in the field to upgrade their skills. Subjects addressed include water quality and public health regulations, water treatment, water distribution system components and operation, drinking water disinfection practices, and related water mathematics and hydraulic principles in water treatment and water distribution.

It is estimated that there will be approximately 25 - 40 students enrolled in each of the Apprenticeship Water and Wastewater Technology courses. The projected number of students to earn a certificate annually is 20 to 25 students.

The Apprenticeship in Water Treatment/Distribution provides high-quality instruction leading to a certificate of proficiency or achievement, an associate in science degree, and/or transfer to CSU programs in water science related programs. The program also prepares students for employment or advancement in water treatment and water distribution related industries.

Career Options

Examples of careers include the following:

• Water and wastewater treatment operators
• Wastewater collection operators
• Wastewater distribution, instrumentation and control, Customer Support, Field Service, or Test Technician

With a bachelor's degree:

• Environmental Science/Environmental Engineering
• Engineering Technologist

As an Apprenticeship Career Education program, our plans and goals are informed annually by our Technical Advisory Committee and the input of its members, who are all professionals in the field of Water Science, and members of our local Orange County service area. Our faculty, both fulltime and adjunct, are active or retired professionals in this same industry, who also inform our planning efforts. Our full-time faculty create, evaluate, and update our annual plan goals based upon the input of all of these professionals.

New Water Treatment/Water Distribution Program is an improvement of study for Apprentices working in the water treatment and water distribution fields. The associate of science degree in Apprenticeship Water Treatment/Water Distribution is designed to prepare students for careers in the public health field of drinking water treatment and water distribution. This apprenticeship program is also designed to enable those already working in the field to upgrade their skills. Subjects addressed include water quality and public health regulations, conventional water treatment and water distribution processes, water distribution system components and operation, advanced water treatment and water distribution processes, drinking water disinfection practices, and related water mathematics and hydraulic principles.

This program will provide opportunities for students to advance in their career or start a career in the water and waste industry. SCC has several different State-approved Associate Degrees and Certificates of Achievement and Certificate of Proficiency within the discipline of Water and Wastewater Technology: Water Treatment, Wastewater Treatment, Water Distribution. There are six certificates of proficiency, three in the same areas as the Associates Degree and Certificate of Achievement, plus Water Conservation, Water Equipment O&M, and Water Utility Management. The Water Automation Program also has a certificate program that is CSU transferable. The Water and Wastewater Technology Program is a key program in the State. The Water and Wastewater Technology Program faculty are looking to expand the program with stackable credentials. SCC will work with the campus articulation officer to align course curriculum and programs to meet the transfer requirements and the Transfer Model Curriculum (TMC) for the Water and Wastewater Program Transfer Degree.

The Apprenticeship Program in Water Treatment/Water Distribution fits the mission of the college because it prepares students to learn, act, communicate, and think critically as public servants. Santiago Canyon College already has public service related programs in Career Education, such as Public Works including Public Administration and Code Enforcement and Water Automation/Electronics Technology; however, this will provide opportunities for students to advance in their career or start a career in water and waste utilities including water distribution. An Apprenticeship AS degree Water Treatment/Water Distribution provides an opportunity for students to continue their education beyond a Certificate of Achievement by completing an additional 27-39 general education units. This program supports the California Community College mission in, Apprenticeship, Career Education, and workforce development.

Santiago Canyon College’s water Apprenticeship programs are unique to Orange County however 5 other partner colleges have started their Automation Fundamentals Certificate programs with core courses in DC Electricity, AC Electronics, and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s). These Automation based courses stack well within the unique disciplines offered at each of these colleges; Industrial Technology, Robotics, Manufacturing Technology, Mechatronics, Industrial Automation, Electrical Technology, HVAC/R, Electronic Technology, and Theme Park Technology. Partner colleges included are Irvine Valley, Saddleback, Orange Coast, Fullerton, Cypress, and now Santiago Canyon. Water and Wastewater Treatment and Automation has become a major driving force in the previously mentioned industries. There are no colleges that have Apprenticeship Water and Wastewater Technology Programs in the Orange county service area.

It is estimated that there will be approximately 25 - 40 students enrolled in each of the Apprenticeship Water and Wastewater Technology courses. The projected number of students to earn a certificate annually is 20 to 25 students.