Water/Wastewater Technology

Career Degrees & Certificates

Certificate of Achievement

Overview

Be part of the growing water sector!

Dive into an in-demand career with great pay, benefits, and pension options — and prepare to earn Illinois EPA certification in just 9 months. Water quality professionals make a vital contribution to their communities and the environment by ensuring that clean, safe water is available through the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater treatment plants. They are also highly sought-after, with expanding employment opportunities due to projected retirements and funding for new jobs.

A grant from the National Science Foundation uniquely positions Waubonsee to train you to enter this in-demand field in just 9 months.

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Pathways to Rewarding Careers in the Water Sector

I am interested

—in learning more about the Water and Wastewater Technologies program!

Please fill out the General Interest Form below and we will contact you with more information.

Hear from our First Cohort of Students

Industry professionals share the specific knowledge and skills needed to succeed in one-credit internships

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Students from the first Cohort WTE class with the City of St. Charles Water Division Professionals — Students from Waubonsee's first Water/Wastewater cohort along with professionals from the **City of St. Charles Water Division** and **Mark Halm**, our Adjunct Math Instructor and Retired Engineer from Fehr Graham Company

Mark Halm: Adjunct Math Faculty member, Retired Engineer from Fehr Graham Company — **Garett Guthrie**, Public Works Division Manager

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Dale Wagner, Operations Supervisor, Fox Metro Reclamation District — **Dale Wagner**, Operations Supervisor, Fox Metro Reclamation District

Matt Wilson, Public Works Division Manager – Environmental Services — **Matt Wilson**, Public Works Division Manager – Environmental Services

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Christina Smith, Laboratory Supervisor, Garett Guthrie Public Works Division Manager — **Christina Smith**, Laboratory Supervisor

Learn how the Water and Wastewater Technology Program was Developed

Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT)

Fox Metro Water Reclamation District
Springbook Water Reclamation Center
Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District
Flagg Creek Water Reclamation District
Downers Grove Sanitary District
Public Works, Oswego
Currentwater.org
Illinois Water Environment Association
Illinois Section American Water Works Association (ISAWWA)
Water Environment Federation (WEF)
Central States Water Environmental Association (CSWEA)
Kane County Environmental & Water Resources
American Water Works Association (AWWA)

Members for the Business and Industry Leadership Team (BILT) identified and prioritized the Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) for inclusion in the new certificate program.

The BILT members were actively selected to provide support and co-leadership in the following areas of partnership:

Subject matter reviews of the new curriculum
Aligning the curriculum with industry needs
Voting on and validating the key course topics
Assisting with instructional support
Providing guidance for internship sites
Supporting student participation in local professional organizations
Suggesting emerging trends so the curriculum can remain nimble and our graduates are employment-ready

These BILT members helped align the KSAs to a 16-week curriculum where students will learn and be assessed based on course objectives that prepare them for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Class D Drinking Water and Class 4 Wastewater Operator certifications.

Curriculum

Toni Glymph-Martin presenting over zoom meeting

The new certificate program was designed by aligning existing curriculum and materials with prioritized KSAs, determining the number of courses, pre-requisites, and course sequence, and adapting or creating new course materials. The course materials were developed with two subject matter experts who were also BILT members. They have previous educational experience which enabled them to assist with the curriculum design process. One of them is affiliated with Wastewater Treatment Microbiology, Incorporated, the winner of the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s National “Spark Plug Award” for Operator Trainers, while the other is from the drinking water section of the Wisconsin Rural Water Association.

View Water/Wastewater Technology Certificate Course Requirements

Pictured: Toni Glymph-Martin, Wastewater Microbiologist and Treatment System Solutions Expert

Students

Experiential Learning

People interacting with a display at WEFTEC Conference

Through work-based experiential learning opportunities via credit based internships, students will be prepared with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet employer expectations.

https://www.weftec.org

Pictured: Cohort 1 students attended the Water Environment Federation's Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), the largest conference of its kind in North America, with water quality professionals from around the world.

Studying Water/Wastewater Technology at Waubonsee

Water Plant aerial view — In just 9 months, you can be on your way to a highly-skilled, well-paid professional role in the water sector.

A new career in 9 months - without breaking the bank! Waubonsee’s Water and Wastewater Technology Program is designed to get you job-ready quickly. You'll acquire the knowledge needed for entry-level positions at public and private water and wastewater treatment plants, along with hands-on work experience. The program also offers:

Affordable tuition. Students pay in-district tuition for online classes no matter where they reside. Additionally, through a Cooperative Agreement, out-of-district students can apply for in-district tuition for all courses, but individuals who are interested should begin by reaching out to their home community college district to apply for approval. Regardless, we are here to help you along the way.
A curriculum developed by industry experts with embedded tutors to help you succeed.
Opportunities for scholarships and free books provided by a Business & Industry Leadership Team (BILT).
Preparation for the Illinois EPA’s Class D Drinking Water and Class 4 Wastewater Operator certifications
Hands-on work experience through a PAID Internship in your final semester.

Most of the required classes are online. Face-to-face courses meet Thursday nights at Waubonsee’s Sugar Grove Campus.

Providing Opportunities to Learn from Experts

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Students are shown here learning from Craig Hennager, Training Specialist at Des Moines Metropolitan Water Reclamation Authority. Photo credit: Water Environment Federation/Kieffer Photography — The students are shown here learning from Craig Hennager, Training Specialist at Des Moines Metropolitan Water Reclamation Authority. *Photo credit: Water Environment Federation/Kieffer Photography*

Students enrolled in Waubonsee's Water and Wastewater Technology program joined nearly 25,000 water professionals at WEFTEC 2025, North America's largest annual water quality event. They were accompanies by Dr. Sheela Vemu, Associate Professor of Biology and one of the program's developers. "We're focused on employability," explained Dr. Vemu. "The skills our students are looking to build can be leveraged in other areas. If they learn the water skill sets, they can do environmental work, policy, microbiology. . ."

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Water/Wastewater Technology

Career Degrees & Certificates