WPCSOCC

Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification Commission

 

Quarterly Meetings - Open to the Public

Archdale Building: 512 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC  27604 - Ground Floor Hearing Room - 10 AM. (See meeting schedule at bottom of page.)
 

Do you know a wastewater operator that demonstrates excellence?

Please consider nominating them for the: WILBUR E. LONG Jr. AWARD. The nomination deadline is June 1. 

Requirements can be found in the Nomination form.

The purpose of this award is to recognize ad celebrate current certified water pollution control system operators that:

  • exhibit outstanding knowledge and innovation in the continuing operation of a water pollution control or animal system, or
  • contribute time and effort toward the training, education, and professionalism of water pollution control or animal systems; or
  • devised, discovered, or invented devices or techniques which enhance the science of system operation.

All certified water pollution control system operators are eligible: Animal Waste, Biological Wastewater, Collections, Physical/Chemical, Land Application, Subsurface, and Spray Irrigation.

 

The purpose of the Commission, found in rule 15A NCAC 08G .0101, is to:

  • protect public health
  • conserve, protect, and maintain the quality water resources
  • protect public investment in water pollution control systems
  • provide for classification of water pollution control systems
  • establish procedures for examination and certification of operators of water pollution control systems

 

Commission membership

The WPCSOCC is codified in NC General Statutes 143B-300 and 143B-301. The WPCSOCC consists of 11 members, 9 appointed by the Secretary of Environmental Quality with the approval of the Environmental Management Commission and 2 appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture.

 Commission Members 
NC DEQ staff working in the field of water pollution control:
Mark Brantley 
Commercial water pollution control system operating firm:
Steve Barry, AQWA, Inc.
Collection system operator or superintendent for a municipality:
Ken Stines, Metropolitan Sewerage District Buncombe Co.
Four-year college or university whose major field is wastewater treatment:
Dr. A. Robert Rubin, N.C. State University
Operators of water pollution control systems of a municipality:
Arnold E. Allred, City of Franklinville
Martie Groome, City of Greensboro
Managers of a municipality:
Marchell Adams-David, City of Raleigh
Jonathan Russell, City of Washington
Animal agriculture industry:
W. Chester Lowder, Vice-Chair, N.C. Farm Bureau Federation
Jim Lynch, Goldsboro Milling Company
Private industry and responsible for treatment of industrial wastewater:
Matthew A. Haynes, Valley Proteins, Inc.

History

  • 1969: Established by the North Carolina General Assembly.
  • Originally called the Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators Board of Certification.
  • Consists of an eleven member board (originally seven) appointed by the Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) with the approval of the Environmental Management Commission.
  • 1993: Duties of the Certification Commission expanded to include the training and certification of operators of wastewater collection systems, spray irrigation systems, subsurface treatment and dispersal systems, and land application of residuals sites. Two new members with experience in these fields were added.
  • 1996: Added the training and certification of operators of animal wastewater pollution control systems to the duties of the Certification Commission. Two new members were appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture to represent the animal agriculture industry.

 

Agendas and Meeting Summaries

 
2025 November 7  
2025 August 8  
2025 May 9  
2025 February 14  
2024 November 1agenda 
2024 August 9agendameeting summary
2024 May 10agendameeting summary
2024 February 9agendameeting summary
2023 November 3agendameeting summary
2023 August 11agendameeting summary
2023 May 12agendameeting summary
2023 February 10agendameeting summary
2022 November 4agenda meeting summary
2022 August 12 meeting summary
2022 May 12 meeting summary
2022 February 11 meeting summary