The Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) has launched the wastewater system operator minimum qualifications guidelines to ensure wastewater is consistently and effectively treated before discharge.
ZDHC is a group of apparel and footwear brands and retailers working together to lead the industry towards zero discharge of hazardous chemicals.
ZDHC found that unless appropriate training is in place for wastewater system operators, some manufacturing facilities will struggle to meet the ZDHC wastewater guidelines, and in some cases, maintain regulatory compliance.
With the launch of the ZDHC wastewater system operator minimum qualifications guidelines, ZDHC standardises the minimum qualifications for education, training, and experience required of operators and technicians operating wastewater treatment systems at all manufacturing facilities and other facilities operating effluent treatment plants (ETP). The guidelines help facilities to identify skill gaps and prepare for focused training solutions, according to ZDHC.
Used in combination with the ZDHC wastewater guidelines, they will enable facilities to minimise water pollution in the direct habitat of wastewater treatment plants and ETPs as well as further downstream and ultimately meet the ZDHC wastewater guidelines more successfully and cost-effectively, ZDHC said in a media statement.
Since these guidelines focus on the fundamentals of water management and wastewater treatment, they are relevant to any industry or organisation that concerns itself with the creation, treatment, management, or discharge of wastewater. The ZDHC wastewater treatment system operator minimum qualifications guidelines were modelled after the operator certification programmes that have proven to be effective in preventing water pollution through the correct operation of municipal wastewater treatment systems, ZDHC said.
The Guidelines furthermore encourage wastewater treatment operators to continue their education and invest in a long-term career in water management and wastewater treatment. They are complementary to the ZDHC Academy wastewater management training. It’s recommended that facilities operating ETPs make themselves familiar with the Guidelines and qualifications. Information on the roll-out of the training plans will be announced via ZDHC channels over the coming months.
