City of Hays Wastewater Treatment Facility employee Clayton Unruh is one of 52 wastewater treatment operators recently certified by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE).

The KDHE Bureau of Water certifies individuals at the following facility classifications: Kansas Small System Water Operation, Kansas Class I Water Operation, Kansas Class II Water Operation, Kansas Class III & IV Water Operation, Kansas Small System Wastewater Operation, or Kansas Class I – IV Wastewater Operation.

Kansas has more than 1,000 KDHE-permitted public water supply systems and 962 wastewater treatment facilities requiring a certified operator. Wastewater treatment plant operators are trained in a manner that prevents the release of excessive pollutants.

Depending on their level of certification, these operators must attend between five and 10 hours of continued education courses every two years to maintain their certification.