# Water/Wastewater Treatment 1 - NC CDCP (Career Development and College Preparation (CDCP))

College of the Siskiyous · 2026-2027 Catalog · Department: Degrees and Certificates A-Z

Source: https://siskiyous.elumenapp.com/catalog/cos26-27catalog/program/water-wastewater-treatment-1-nc-cdcp-fall-2026

**Credits:** 96.0 - 108.0 credits

The Water/Wastewater Treatment program is designed to provide entry-level training for California water and wastewater public and private agency operators. This certificate includes 2, 54-hour courses: WORK 0541: Introduction to Wastewater Treatment & WORK 0543: Intermediate Wastewater Treatment.

### Program Requirements

| Course | Title | Units |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Total Non-Credit Hours for Water/Wastewater Treatment 1: Complete all of the following** | | 96-108 |
| WORK 0541 | Introduction to Wastewater Treatment | 48-54 |
| WORK 0543 | Intermediate Wastewater Treatment | 48-54 |

### Recommended Sequence

#### Recommended Sequence

**Term 1** (96-108 units)

-   WORK0541 - Introduction to Wastewater Treatment (48-54)
-   WORK0543 - Intermediate Wastewater Treatment (48-54)

### Program Initiation Proposal

##### Program Initiation Criteria #1: Please explain the overall need for a new program and how that program aligns with state and local missions.

The Water/Wastewater Treatment program is designed to provide entry-level training for California water and wastewater public and private agency operators. The water treatment field is a mission-critical industry to ensure safe drinking water and effective wastewater management. California faces a growing need for water treatment operators due to an aging workforce, retirements, and increased demand for clean water services. A significant portion of California’s water sector workforce is nearing retirement. In some agencies, up to 50% of employees are eligible to retire soon, creating an imminent labor gap, according to www.wateroperator.org. In addition, the state’s aging water infrastructure coupled with climate change impacts – such as drought and wildfires -- increases the complexity of water management, making skilled operators more essential. Thus, the water treatment operator field is a stable, mission-critical career path with growing opportunities across California and beyond. 

This program aligns with state and local missions as California faces a looming shortage of workers in these critical roles. Approximately 17 million workers will retire from infrastructure jobs in the next decade, according to according to a US Water Alliance report.  Approximately one-third of water operators are eligible to retire in the next 10 years. California’s Strong Workforce Program aims to develop more workforce opportunity and to provide workers with living wage jobs. The average salary for a water treatment plant operator in California is approximately $53,000 to $81,500 annually with excellent benefits such as CalPERS retirement and health insurance.

The program also aligns with the California Community College Chancellor’s Office (CCCCO’s) Vision 2030, which supports colleges to be responsive to the workforce and communities. This program embodies the Chancellor’s Office mission to uplift low-wage workers through short-term noncredit programs. The CCCCO’s vision for workforce development and noncredit programs is to leverage community colleges as engines of inclusive economic mobility by offering flexible, accessible noncredit pathways aligned with workforce demand. Under Vision 2030, noncredit education is a key pathway for economic mobility — offering short-term, tuition-free or low-cost programs that equip learners with skills for employment or a transition into further education. The Water/Wastewater Treatment program furthers this vision.
 
Lastly, the program aligns with the College’s mission “to serve the educational, economic, and workforce needs of Siskiyou County and beyond by offering inclusive, practical learning experiences that are relevant to the global economy.” This program can serve as an example at the College of how noncredit can remove barriers to education by providing free workforce training into mission-critical industries with living wages and benefits. 

##### Program Initiation Criteria #2: Please provide an evaluation of institutional resources/statutory goals, which may include the need for and present adequacy of resources.

There will be little to no institutional resources needed for this program. Furthermore, this program will collect apportionment at the enhanced, noncredit Career Development (CDCP) apportionment rate. In 2025–2026, the rate is approximately $7,595.29 per full-time equivalent student (FTES).The adjunct instruction cost is projected at an annual cost of $12,000. However, at least 50% of the funding will be externally funded by Adult Education Pathways. No facilities or equipment will be needed for the program. As illustrated in the previous Cost Benefit Analysis, the apportionment collected will be more than double of instruction costs the first year.
 

##### Program Initiation Criteria #3: FOR CREDIT CTE PROGRAMS ONLY: Please provide the recommendations of career technical education regional consortium (North Far North), industry, and/or Program Advisory Committees, when applicable.

None

##### Program Initiation Criteria #4: FOR CREDIT CTE AND SHORT-TERM VOCATIONAL CDCP PROGRAMS ONLY: Please provide Labor Market Information/Needs if applicable.

Non-Credit program.

##### Program Initiation Criteria #5: Please explain any facilities and equipment needs required to sustain the program.

One adjunct instructor will teach 2 classes for a total of 108 hours at the current rate of $54/hr for a total of approximately $6,000. Projected total FTES is almost double of instruction costs. See attachment for more details. 

##### Program Initiation Criteria #6: Please provide a Short and Long-Term Staffing and Budgetary Plan, including a cost/revenue analysis.

There will be one adjunct instructor teaching 2 classes for a total of 108 hours at the current rate of $54/hr for a total of approximately $6,000. Projected total FTES is almost double of instruction costs. See attachment for more details. 

##### Program Initiation Criteria #7: Please provide a projected five-year plan that includes a projected course schedule and enrollment trends.

See attachment on program narrative page.

##### Program Initiation Criteria #8: Please provide regional labor data, if applicable. Comparison of the proposed program to similar programs within the region.

This program will be the first noncredit Water/Wastewater Treatment Programs north of Sacramento. Shasta College offers a for-credit program and is the only one north of Sacramento. Enrollments for Shasta College’s 1.5 year program average 20 students, which is generally a cohort with the same students taking all 6 courses for the program’s duration. 

##### Program Initiation Criteria #9: Please provide a comparison of the proposed program to similar programs within the region.

This proposed Water/Wastewater Treatment program would be the first noncredit water operator program north of Sacramento and the only noncredit program of its kind in the North Far North region. Shasta College offers a credit Water/Wastewater Treatment program, which is the only one north of Sacramento. For 25-26, that program has 20-student cohort.
 

##### Program Initiation Criteria #10: Please provide an explanation of how the proposed program addresses an ongoing need not currently met by existing programs.

The Waste/Wastewater Treatment 1 will provide students a free opportunity to prepare for the State Water Resources Control Board exams required to become water treatment operators. The program will serve students by providing living wage jobs and help mitigate the water treatment operator shortage in the state. This low-cost program partially funded with Adult Education funds will serve the need for a mission-critical workforce while bringing top-tier enhanced, noncredit CDCP funding to the College. The water treatment field is a stable, impactful career path with growing opportunities across California and beyond. This program aligns with workforce bolstering efforts put forth by the state, the Chancellor’s Office, and the College. This program will serve as an excellent example of how noncredit can remove barriers to education by providing free workforce training into a mission-critical industry with living wages and benefits.  Water treatment operators maintain complex systems that protect public health and the environment, which is a benefit to us all. 

##### Program Initiation Criteria #11: Please explain how the program aligns to institutional outcomes and the strategic master plan.

This program will serve as an excellent example of how noncredit can remove barriers to education by providing free workforce training into a mission-critical industry with living wages and benefits.  Water treatment operators maintain complex systems that protect public health and the environment, which is a benefit to us all. 

##### Program Initiation Criteria #12: Please explain the ability of programs to meet standards of external accrediting agencies, licensing boards, and governing bodies, if applicable.

This 6-course, 3-certificate noncredit program prepares students for 3 exams required by the State Water Resources Control Board. (www.waterboards.ca.gov). Each certificate includes 2 courses that prepare the student for a specific Water Board exam. Once students complete the final 2 classes (Water/Wastewater Treatment 3) they are prepared to take the final Water Board exam, which enables them to become a Water/Wastewater Treatment operator.

### Program Outcomes

#### WORK 0541: Introduction to Wastewater Treatment

#### WORK 0543: Intermediate Wastewater Treatment