Approved by the FDEP for Distribution Level 2 or 3 Exam
The University of Florida’s TREEO Center course for Water Distribution Systems Operator- Level Two and Three is designed for the system operator who desires to be certified by the State of Florida Operator Certification Program. The course includes the necessary material a person would need to know while working in the field of drinking water distribution.
The course covers a wide variety of topics, and is taught by qualified instructors chosen by the UF TREEO Center in Gainesville, Florida. The class is a 32 hour training session over 4 days. Included in the course is a 1 day review course a month later that is recommended for the student to attend right before they are scheduled for the FL exam. Backflow prevention devices, various test kits, models of pumps, valves and hydrants will be displayed and described by the instructors to give students a hands-on approach to learning.
The course follows the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) “Need-to-Know Criteria for Distribution Operators”. Upon registration, each student is issued the manual “Water Distribution Operator Training Handbook” published by the AWWA, as well as all the course material presented in PowerPoint format. The students are given opportunities to test their knowledge in TREEO Center’s computer lab where they take a computer based exam based on the material presented during the class.
At the conclusion of the course, the participant will:
1. Explain the State and Federal water quality requirements for water distribution systems
2. Describe how a water distribution system is designed and constructed
3. Describe the operation and maintenance tasks of the water distribution system operator
4. Be able to solve math problems required of the water distribution system operator
5. Describe problems found in distribution systems and corrective action
6. Demonstrate the ability to take computer based tests
 
Course Instructors
Glynn Stoffel, CET, GLS Environmental Associates
Glynn is an environmental training consultant with over thirty years experience in operating and managing water distribution and wastewater collection systems. He is recognized as a Certified Environmental Trainer (CET) by NESHTA and has delivered thousands of hours of training to industry personnel throughout the country. Glynn teaches a variety of courses for the TREEO Center in the operation and maintenance of utility infrastructure.
Ron Trygar, CET, Senior Training Specialist for Water and Wastewater programs at the TREEO Center, and is responsible for most all water and wastewater related training. Ron instructs courses related to energy conservation at treatment facilities, activated sludge process control and troubleshooting, biological nutrient removal, microscopy, and a variety of exam review courses that help operators prepare for the State exams. Ron teaches sections of the Water Facility Security and Water Distribution courses, and also is the instructor of the UF Dept. of Continuing Education correspondence and on-line Class C Drinking Water Operator course.
Ron has worked in the water and wastewater treatment industry for more than twenty five years in a variety of locations and jobs, and has been providing training to water and wastewater operators for more than ten years. Ron is a member of the FDEP Operator Certification Program Exam Review Committee, a member of WEF, FWEA and FW&PCOA, and on the Board of Certification for NESHTA.
Les O’Brien, University of Florida TREEO Center
Les retired from Gainesville Regional Utilities after 22 years in the water engineering department, where he was the cross-connection control supervisor from 1982 to 1990. Les has been the lead instructor for backflow prevention and cross-connection control courses in Florida since 1983 and has been responsible for training instructors of backflow prevention tester training programs throughout the United States.
Les is a past president of the American Backflow Prevention Association. He is currently a member of the association’s certification committee. He received the ABPA Meritorious Service Award in 2002. In 2002, he was named National Team Trainer of the Year by the National Environmental Safety and Health Training Association.
Les is also a Certified Backflow Prevention Assembly Repair Technician, Certified Instructor of Backflow Prevention Courses, Certified Cross-Connection Control Inspector, Certified Cross-Connection Control Program Manager and a Certified Advanced Backflow Tester.
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