Tyson Neely appointed to Water Board’s committee on Wastewater Operator Certification Program

Fulfilling a new requirement of Assembly Bill 2890, approved by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2016, Tyson Neely, operations manager of the Orange County Water District (OCWD), has been appointed by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) to serve as an advisory committee member on its Wastewater Operator Certification Program (WWOCP). Per AB 2890, a new seat has been added to the wastewater program by adding one water recycling operator to represent water recycling plants.

“With more than 30 years of experience, Tyson is the right person for the job,” remarked OCWD President Denis Bilodeau. “Here at the District, he has supervised the successful operation of the world’s largest water recycling plant of its kind, the GWRS, since its startup in 2008. Coupled with his previous water and wastewater experience, Tyson brings valuable knowledge, data and insight that will influence the direction for state operator training requirements and certification. The District is behind Tyson 100 percent. As an industry leader, this is what we are called to do and OCWD will do everything it can to support this effort,” he added.

Neely began his career with OCWD in January 2007 as an operations shift supervisor. In 2008, he was promoted to operations manager (chief plant operator) to provide operational oversight of the Groundwater Replenishment System’s (GWRS) Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) and the Green Acres Project (GAP) Title 22 recycled water plant.

Since 1972, the WWOCP Advisory Committee examines and certifies wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operators for competency to operate WWTPs. Beginning in 1994, the committee began registering contract operators to operate WWTPs. The committee also classifies wastewater treatment plants. Additionally, the committee administers wastewater treatment plant certification examinations, certifications and certification renewals.

The WWOCP Advisory Committee is comprised of 10 members each nominated to represent a particular segment of the wastewater treatment field. Each member serves a four-year term. Members of the committee include:

• Chander Letulle, Deputy Manager of Operations, Inland Empire Utilities Agency
• Jeff Carson, Operations Manager, Dublin San Ramon Services District
• Levi Fuller, Operations Supervisor, Dublin San Ramon Services District
• Rick Staggs, Wastewater Manager, Fresno-Clovis Regional Wastewater
• Josh Vieira, City of Woodland, Wastewater Operations
• Michael Melady, Operations & Maintenance Manager, Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Tyson Neely, Operations Manager, Orange County Water District
• Ramzi J. Mahmood, Ph.D., P.E., Director, Office of Water Programs, California State University, Sacramento
• Lawrence F. Dimock, Chief Engineer, California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, California Institution for Men
• Victoria Conway, P.E., Departmental Engineer, Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County