Arkansas Wastewater Treatment Operator Certification: Program Overview
Who Regulates Wastewater Operators
The Arkansas Department of Energy & Environment, Division of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) administers wastewater operator licensing and NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) discharge permitting statewide. This is distinct from drinking water, which falls under the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) — know which agency governs which discipline.
License Structure
Municipal wastewater treatment licenses run Class I through Class IV (with a separate, once-only Class 0 Apprentice credential for those just entering the field, not a renewable license):
- Class I — entry-level, smallest facilities
- Class II
- Class III
- Class IV — largest, most complex municipal plants
A parallel Basic/Advanced track exists for industrial facility opera