Beginning next week, Portage College will train its fifth group of students in Potable and Wastewater Systems Management. The course is approved by Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development and is recognized as Mandatory Entry Level Training.

The course materials were developed entirely by Portage College and is the first course for Portage College's water resources training program suite.

"This course, and many more of our water courses have been approved by the regulating authorities in Saskatchewan and Alberta as Continuing Education training for Operators," said Lindsay Johnson, Manager of Water Resources at Portage College.

The College is looking to expand its Water Operator training by partnering with the Manitoba Government to offer a Level One Water and Wastewater Operator training program.

"Rather than spend money developing brand new curriculum for Water Operator Training, we decided to pursue a partnership to bring that training to Lac La Biche," Johnson said.

The College is currently working with the Lac La Biche County on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to build a new regional water testing laboratory in the County.