All six Ohio RCAP staff members who recently completed the Water Audit Validation Certification Training achieved something worth celebrating: they passed a challenging professional certification exam designed to prepare participants to conduct Level 1 water audit validations. According to staff who completed the training, the three-day course went far beyond basic water audit instruction, combining classroom learning, hands-on exercises, mock interviews, data analysis, and an intensive final examination. 

The certification program, led by The Cavanaugh Group, included two days of instruction followed by a comprehensive exam. Participants spent time reviewing water audit fundamentals, learning validation procedures, analyzing real-world scenarios, and practicing interview techniques used during the validation process. Staff also worked through sample datasets and supporting documentation to identify errors, evaluate data quality, and understand the importance of accurate recordkeeping. 

Of the exam preparation process, Joe Lawrie reflected, "Preparation for the exam was two days of instruction and exercises. We went over the basics of water audit data entry and then learned what the primary goals of validation are and what documentation is required. The second day was primarily individual and group exercises that walked through example datasets. We reviewed audits and their supporting documentation then looked for errors and discussed them with the group. There were roleplay exercises that taught how to hold the validation interviews."

The exam itself was no small feat. Participants completed multiple-choice and short-answer sections before tackling a practical exercise that required them to conduct a full validation of a sample water audit. The process involved tracing audit data back to source documents, identifying and correcting errors, verifying calculations, and assessing data validity. Several staff members described the test as one of the most demanding professional examinations they had encountered, requiring a combination of technical knowledge, critical thinking, and attention to detail. 

While earning the certification was a significant achievement, staff emphasized that the greatest value came from the lessons learned throughout the training. Participants gained a deeper understanding of the data quality and documentation needed for reliable water audits and learned that many water systems struggle more with data collection, recordkeeping, and data management than with actual water loss from leaks. The training reinforced the importance of understanding a utility's entire water system, maintaining strong documentation practices, and ensuring data is reliable before making costly decisions about water loss reduction strategies. 

Exam participant Logan Urich shared, “One thing that was heavily emphasized in the water audit training was to draw out the water system and draw the boundary of the system," Urich said. "This will help everyone involved in the water audit process understand the system and what is included in it for the water audit inputs."

The newly certified staff members are Ben Howard, Joe Lawrie, Alexis Lowe, Caitlyn Oswell, Justin Swanberg, and Logan Urich. Their accomplishment expands Great Lakes RCAP's capacity to support communities with water audit validation services and strengthens the organization's ability to help utilities improve data quality, prioritize investments, and make informed decisions about managing water resources. 

Congratulations to all six staff members on this impressive achievement and their commitment to advancing technical expertise that helps communities build stronger, more resilient water systems!