Iowa Rural Water Association (IRWA)

Training Specialist

Need Backflow Training? Contact Training Specialist John Lins.

John Lins, Training Specialist

John Lins
Training Specialist
Email John

Provides the same assistance as circuit riders and conducts training workshops that are approved by IDNR for continuing education hours (CEUs).

Associate Members

Workshop Proposal Form

Download the Technical Assistance Form here!

The IRWA sponsors training sessions throughout the state. Sessions are open to all operators, clerks, mayors, council/board members, office personnel, agency staff, etc. The IRWA offers more than 50 training days per year. Below is an example of a few training topics the IRWA provides for water and wastewater.

Water		Wastewater
Vulnerability Assessments/Emergency Response Plans Well maintenance Meter installation Tank maintenance Specifications in bidding, quotes and easement Pump and motor operation and maintenance Confined space entry, excavation, electrical and chlorine safety Iron/manganese control Lab procedures Filters Rate setting/asset management Operator basics		Regulatory compliance Land application of biosolids Wastewater microbiology Lagoon troubleshooting Wastewater disinfection Lab procedures Plant rehabilitation Activated sludge processing Confined space entry Excavation and electrical safety Wastewater review course Collection system maintenance Operator basics

Certificate Renewal and Required CEUs

Certified water and waste water operator certificates expire every two years on June 30th of odd numbered years. Applications for renewal are mailed by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to the operators 60 days before the expiration date. Applications for renewal must be completed and returned, with applicable fees within 60 days of the expiration date.

To be eligible for renewal, operators must have earned the required number of Continuing Education training Units (CEUs) during two-year periods ending March 31 of odd-numbered years.

Grade Required CEUs and Conditions

Grade A, I & II	1 CEU or 10 contact hours
Grade III & IV	2 CEUs or 20 contact hours

Newly certified operators (previously uncertified) who become certified after April 1 of a two-year period will not be required to earn CEUs until the next two- year period.

If an operator upgrades a certificate after April 1 of a two-year period and that upgrade increases the CEU requirement, the operator will not be required to meet the higher CEU requirement until the next two-year period but must fulfill the lower CEU requirement for that period.

For those certified operators holding a combined water treatment and a water distribution certification you must receive the CEU requirement for the higher of the two areas and no less than 25 percent of the required CEUs may be earned in any one area.

For example if an operator has a Grade II Treatment and Grade III Distribution combined certificate they would be required to receive 20 hours (2 CEUs) to renew of which 5 hours (0.5 CEUs) would be required in Treatment and 5 hours (0.5 CEUs) required in Distribution. The remaining 10 hours (1.0 CEUs) could be in either Treatment or Distribution.

Operators Can Track Their CEUs on the IDNR Operator Web Page:

http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/RegulatoryWater/Certification/WaterWastewaterOperators