Online Water Asset Management Training Launched
The second module of the online training course Certification in Training of Asset Management (CTAM) is now available for water and wastewater professionals. CTAM-200 — titled “Developing Buried Asset Management Programs” — was developed by the Buried Asset Management Institute-International (BAMI-I) in collaboration with water and wastewater professionals in the public and private sectors. The course is being administered by Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI).
CTAM-200 is focused on practical solutions to everyday problems cities and towns are facing across the United States. The course is for industry novices and experienced professionals alike, and includes introductory and advanced material using technical, yet simple, language. The course applies to any size municipality, but is especially helpful for systems serving fewer than 10,000 customers, which comprise the majority of sewer and water systems across the country.
In 2010, BAMI-I launched the current Certification of Training in Asset Management course (CTAM-100). This course provides a comprehensive introduction to asset management principles and concepts — with special emphasis on their application to “buried assets” associated with sewer and water systems. CTAM’s success has created awareness of the need to broaden its initial scope and provide more detailed training in an expanded sphere of utility system concerns. To meet this challenge, three additional training courses are being prepared for release at six-month intervals beginning with the launch of CTAM-200 on June 1, 2013.
CTAM-200 focuses upon a utility’s buried assets such as pipes, manholes and valves that are “out-of-sight and out-of-mind.” The course introduces the internationally accepted “Total Asset Management Plan” concept and terminology and then focuses on modifications to address current North American priorities, such as developing a basic Buried Asset Management Program for water and wastewater infrastructure. In this effort, the course provides guidance for program design and implementation; long-range planning; selecting data collection methods; data storage and access; database management; and asset condition assessment.
Future courses being developed include “CTAM-300: Implementing Buried Asset Management Programs;” and “CTAM-400: Financing Buried Asset Management Programs.” Upon completion of all four modules, registrants can apply to become a certified Associate Water Asset Manager (AWAM). In conjunction with four years of relevant work experience and completion of the four modules, registrants can apply to become a certified Professional Water Asset Manager (PWAM).
The cost of the course, which includes all training materials, is $345. For details visit: www.bami-i.com/certification-training-asset-management.html.
