Free CDPHE training opportunities
Customized coaching and assistance
- Free one-on-one coaching at your facility to meet your specific needs.
- Training units are available, depending on the time spent with the coach.
- Online assistance request or contact one of the drinking water training specialists. See the list below.
Monitoring and operating for regulatory compliance
- 4-hour course, up to 0.4 training units awarded.
- Meets mandatory regulatory training (MRT) requirements for certified operators.
- Scheduled classroom or webinar delivery with a live instructor.
- Register by selecting your date.
Sanitary survey preparation
- 3-hour course, up to 0.3 training units awarded.
- Scheduled classroom or webinar delivery with a live instructor.
- Register by selecting your date.
ORC hiring and contracting guide
- For written agreements between facilities and their ORCs.
- 15-minute, on-demand video introduction to ORC Hiring and Contracting Guide.
- No training units are available.
ORC’s delegation of tasks and activities
- To other individuals working under ORC’s supervision.
- 20-minute, on-demand training video.
- No training units are available.
Evaluation form
- Let us know how we did. Provide online feedback on your coaching experience.
Register for free assistance with service line inventory and lead service line replacement planning for smaller public water systems.
The Water Quality Control Division (division) is partnering with a contract technical assistance provider to help public water systems with all aspects of the new Lead and Copper Rule Revision service line inventory and lead service line replacement planning requirements. Water systems can request remote support or hands-on assistance. The division offers these services at no cost to water suppliers serving 15,000 people or fewer until our funding is depleted. Please sign up to request assistance from the department’s dedicated SLI/LSLRP technical support contractors, WSP, in partnership with Sunrise Engineering.
Assistance grants program and pursuing excellence program
Recognition
The Pursuing Excellence Program recognizes public water systems with an exemplary record of compliance, exceeding regulatory compliance, and/or taking proactive steps to overcome challenges. The program offers two awards each year.
- The Commitment Award recognizes systems that have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to the culture of health. In 2022, the division is giving this award to the City of Louisville, Superior Metro District, and East Boulder County for their efforts during the Marshall Fire.
- The Outstanding Compliance Award is given to community water systems with longstanding records of perfect compliance. In 2021, the division awarded 14 surface water systems:
- Dillon Valley District
- Montezuma WC
- City of Central City
- Groundwater systems:
- Chateau Chaparral CG
- Kingdom Park Court
- Forrest Grove Estates
- The River Meadows
- No Name Creek WS
- Hermosa Village
- South Adams County WSD
- Town of Sanford
Consecutive systems:
- Town of Crowley
- North Carter Lake WD
- Homestead Improvement Association Inc
Funding
The Water Quality Control Division’s Local Assistance Unit is now accepting applications for the 2025 Assistance Grants Program.
- Applications will be accepted through December 23, 2024.
- Total funding is $150,000. Individual grants will be up to $25,000.
- All public water systems are eligible.
- Projects must be completed within the 2025 calendar year.
The Assistance Grants Program provides financial assistance for systems that need help reaching or exceeding compliance requirements or addressing a water quality challenge. This program primarily funds infrastructure projects and requires systems to address operational and administrative improvements, such as emergency response plans, main break response procedures, and storage tank inspection plans.
In addition to these external applications, division personnel refer projects to this program. After the application period has closed, applications and referrals will be reviewed and ranked. A division committee will evaluate the top-ranked applications/referrals.
It is anticipated that finalists will be notified in February 2025.
When applying, please have the system’s Public Water System Identification Number (PWSID) handy.
Apply for the 2025 Assistance Grant Program
For any questions or comments about this funding opportunity, please contact cdphe.wqcd.watergrants@state.co.us, or 303-692-2848.
Resources
- Local Assistance Unit Coaching Assessment.
- EPA small systems resources.
- Operations and Maintenance (O&M) manual.
- Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC) Hiring and Contracting Guide.
- Template for Agreement between the facility and permanent employee ORC.
- Template for Contract between facility and contract ORC.
- ORC task delegation templates.
- Aqua Talk Newsletter and Training Opportunities Listserv.
- Sign up for emails about training opportunities and other information for water industry professionals.
- CCWP Job Boards - a collection of job boards for the water sector in Colorado.
Links to other training opportunities
Colorado Certified Water Professionals.
- Course catalog - Search all courses approved for training units.
- CCWP office - Contact the office for any CCWP portal questions.
- Search the calendar for a list of training events.
- May not issue TUs.
Contact us
| Name | Position | Phone | |
| General | N/A | cdphe.wqdwtraining@state.co.us | N/A |
| Angela Green Garcia | Drinking water coach - managerial and financial specialist | angela.garcia@state.co.us | 720-610-7454 |
| Kyra Gregory | Drinking water training specialist | kyra.gregory@state.co.us | 303.908.7519 |
| Jessica Morgan | Liaison to the water and wastewater facility operators certification board | jessica.morgan@state.co.us | 720-213-6539 |
| Margaret Bauer | Grants project manager | margaret.bauer@state.co.us | 303-692-2848 |