For Immediate Release
January 26, 2010

Kristi Pankratz, 785-368-8053

Kansas Certifies Water and Wastewater Operators

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announces the department has certified 44 water treatment operators and 57 wastewater treatment operators from August to December 2009.

"To become certified, these individuals took the appropriate course of study and passed an agency-approved test," Roderick Bremby, KDHE Secretary, said. "These Kansans are to be commended for their work and for their role in protecting public health and the environment."

As a protection to the public, individuals who operate water treatment plants must meet minimum training standards to assure water is properly treated so it's safe to drink. Wastewater treatment plant operators must be trained so they can operate wastewater treatment systems in a manner that prevents the release of excessive pollutants.

"Trained operators comprise the foundation of Kansas' water protection efforts," Bremby added. "Following training, the department continues working with these operators to ensure they apply the best methods to keep Kansas water clean."

Several Kansas educational institutions, private companies, professional associations and KDHE provide certification training. KDHE administers the certification testing. Kansas has more than 1,100 community and public water supplies that require a certified operator. Operators at more than 1,000 wastewater treatment facilities in the state must also be certified.


 Water Operators

Name Employer Class
John Karl Allen, Jr. Johnson County Rural Water District #7-Gardner Small System
Charles Arnet City of Russell 4
Bryan  Booth City of Wellington 1
Riley  Booth B & B Overnite Camp-Liberal Small System
James  Boyer City of Gardner 4
Michael  Brooks Woodson County Rural Water District #1-Piqua Small System
Larry  Coleman II City of Lawrence 4
John  Crawford Kansas Department Of Transportation-Sherman County Small System
Randall Cummins City of Cimarron 4
Dillan Curtis City of Rose Hill 2
Rodney Eck City of Russell 2
Troy Endicott City of Chanute 3
Timothy George Douglas County Rural Water District #4-Baldwin City 3
Curtis Gottschalk Kansas State University Ag Research Centter-Hays Small System
Terry Graham Cowley County Rural Water District #3-Arkansas City 2
Kurt Hassler City of Washington 1
Christopher Holding City of Parsons 1
Walter Lewis Hoyt Wilson County Rural Water District #6-Neodesha Small System
Rebecca James City of Lawrence 4
Russell Joslin City of Hiawatha 1
Michael Kane City of Independence 1
Brian King Water District #1 of Johnson County-Kansas City 2
Jim Koger City of Overbrook 1
Paul Kokoruda City of Olathe 4
Corey Lyon City of Aurora Small System
Mark Marston Water District #1 of Johnson County-Kansas City 4
Tony Martinez City of Haysville 1
John McMillen Water District #1 of Johnson County-Kansas City 2
Dean Michaud City of Clay Center 4
Kass Miller Harvey County Parks Department-Burrton Small System
Craig Mintz City of Humboldt 1
Phil Oldehoeft City of Holton 2
James Petersen City of Ransom Small System
Aaron Rodriguez City of Emporia 1
Charles Rohr City of Winfield 2
Steven Saffle City of Park City-Chisholm Creek 4
Brad Schneider City of Bird City 1
Harry Smith Public Wholesale Water Supply District #13-Mound City 4
Terry Smith Dickinson County Rural Water District #1-Talmage 1
John Stewart II Public Wwholesale Water Supply District #20-Sedan 4
Tori Stukey City of Salina 4
Ryan Theel City of Paxico Small System
Monty Wertz City of Altamont Small System
Jeremiah Zachariah City of Lawrence 2
John Baker City of Parsons 4
John Beery Johnson County Wastewater District-Mission 1
Douglas Benson City of Pretty Prairie Small System
Douglas Benson City of Pretty Prairie 1
Jonathan Bolinder City of Alma 2
Carol D Buzbee City of LaHarpe Small System
Leland D Cable City of Garden City 1
Dave Carrara Sedalia Mobile Home Court-Riley Small System
Scott Culley City of Lyndon 2
Dillan Curtis City of Rose Hill 2
Karen Dalke City of Goessel 1
John Dickey City of Newton 3
Charles Evans City of Edna 1
Christopher Farinacci City of Pittsburg 3
Christopher Farinacci City of Pittsburg 4
Austin Farmer City of Haysville 1
Patrick Fountain City of El Dorado 3
Steven Geiger City of Uniontown 1
Brad Girard Johnson County Wastewater District-Mission 1
William Gondoly City of Colwich 2
John Goodbar City of Parsons 1
Dominic Grier City of Hiawatha 2
Derrick Hart City of Topeka 2
Bradley G Hatfield City of Sharon Springs Small System
Alexander Hernandez Cargill Meat Solutions-Dodge City 2
Joseph Hewitt City of Augusta 4
Shawn Holmer Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway-Topeka 1
Victoria Hrabe City of Stockton Industrial Park Small System
Samuel Kingsolver Johnson County Wastewater District-Mission 2
Perry Klassen Kansas Bi-Products-Dodge City Small System
Jim Koger City of Overbrook 1
Dave Leiser City of Newton 3
Michael Martin City of Manhattan 1
Steven McNolty II City of Olathe 2
Greg Meitler Burlington Northern Santa Fe-Argentine-Kansas City 1
Bryan P Midgett City of Chetopa 1
Max Miller City of Hutchinson 1
Daniel Montgomery City of Severy 1
Mark Nelson Chihowa Retreat Center-Perry Small System
Mike Netahla City of Caldwell 1
Shane Noland City of Augusta 3
Craig Nyborg City of South Hutchinson 4
William Orr City of Sedgwick 2
Jason Patty City of El Dorado 4
Gilbert Raab City of Manchester Small System
Glen Rubash Kansas Department Wildlife & Parks-Milford Fish Hatchery Small System
Timothy Dwayne Schartz City of Edna 1
Brad Schneider City of Bird City Small System
Michael Shaw City of Fort Scott 1
Gary Tullis City of McLouth 1
Roy Vanoy Board of Public Utilities-Kansas City 1
Trent Viergever City of Alma 2
Charles Wallace City of Newton 2
Erich Wiedeman Kansas Department Wildlife & Parks-Perry Small System
Ken Williams City of Topeka 4
Tony Williams Perry Yacht Club-Perry Small System
Doris Wilson Fort Riley 2