West Virginia Water Treatment Operator Certification
West Virginia certifies Water Treatment operators through the DHHR Certification & Training Program, per 64CSR04 (Public Water Systems Operators), across five levels: 1D (entry), Class I, Class II, Class III, and Class IV (highest).
Appalachian Terrain and Source Water
West Virginia's public water systems operate under mountainous Appalachian terrain, drawing from a mix of surface water (rivers, reservoirs) and groundwater, with the Ohio River serving as a major source for utilities along the state's western border, including the Kanawha Valley near Charleston.
Acid Mine Drainage: A Persistent Legacy
The state's coal-mining legacy creates ongoing source-water contamination risk from acid mine drainage (AMD) — low pH, elevated iron, manganese, and sulfate — in streams and groundwater near current and ab