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City highlights staff licensing achievements in water and sewer operations
Summary
Public works staff and operators were recognized for achieving state and industry certifications in water distribution, filtration and sewer condition assessment during a brief presentation to council.
Grand Haven City Council received a presentation recognizing several public works employees who earned professional licenses and certifications in 2024.
Derek Gatos, in public works, outlined the licensing landscape for water and wastewater professionals, referencing the Safe Drinking Water Act and noting distribution and filtration licensing designations the city maintains. He singled out three employees who passed higher‑level licensing exams on their first attempts: Audrey Aubrey (S4 distribution license, June 2024), Joel Nusma (S4, November 2024) and Nick Demarest (F2 filtration license, November 2024). Gatos said those state and industry credentials are difficult to obtain and help ensure the city has qualified personnel to operate drinking‑water and sewer systems.
Gatos also noted a NASCO (North American Sewer and Collection Operator) certification earned by Zach Deephouse in November 2024 and described the city’s approach to condition assessment for sewers. Council thanked staff for their work; no formal action was required.
The presentation emphasized continuing education and the challenge of high‑level licensing exams; staff said the certifications improve the city’s operational capacity and redundancy for critical water and sewer services.
