Aug. 4, 2004 – Recently two Viesco employees and one Public Works Department employee passed the tests to obtain their wastewater operator certifications.
Viesco, a St. Thomas-based wastewater operations and maintenance company, is under contract with Public Works to manage several wastewater treatment plants and pump stations on St. Thomas and St. John and to provide a training program for the department's operators.
Deshawn Estrille, a wastewater treatment plant operator, is the first Public Works employee "to achieve the first level of operator certification under this program," a Viesco release states.
Haskell King, a Viesco laboratory technician, achieved Class 1 Wastewater Laboratory Analyst Certification. Duffy Coshow, another Viesco employee, earned both Class 1 Wastewater Treatment Operator Certification and Class 1 Wastewater Collection Operator Certification.
Various wastewater certifications are administered by the Association of Boards of Certifications and require a combination of experience, course work and passing of an assessment test, the release stated. Testing was conducted recently on St. Thomas, where it was overseen by Leonard Reed, assistant director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Planning and Natural Resources Department.
"Our company is committed to protecting the public health and the environment of our islands," Tom Ryan, Viesco president, said. "One aspect of accomplishing this mission is to ensure that operators of wastewater treatment facilities in the territory meet at least the minimum level of competence."
According to the release, Viesco provides both classroom and on-the-job training for its own employees as well as those of Public Works. It has a certified environmental trainer on staff to oversee the training program.
The company has been providing wastewater management services — operations, maintenance, repair and training – for a quarter of a century, first in Florida and, since 2002, in the Virgin Islands.
Publisher's note : Like the St. Thomas Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.
