CPRO-W2: The Nation’s Premier Risk Management Designation for Water and Wastewater Professionals
Building a More Resilient Water Sector
There is an urgent need for integrated risk management in the water sector in light of increasing uncertainty from climate change, escalating regulatory demands, and financial constraints. The Certified Public Risk Officer - Water & Wastewater (CPRO-W2) designation shifts risk management from isolated responses to a comprehensive enterprise framework.
Designed specifically for the water sector, candidates gain practical awareness of utility operations and learn how to implement self-reinforcing enterprise risk management systems that enhance organizational performance and community resilience. Candidates also learn how to effectively communicate risk management strategies with regulators, stakeholders, and external financial partners.
Registration is open for the 2025 CPRO-W2 Master Leadership Class.
Dr. Sandra Vannoy, App State University
In partnership with Appalachian State University and its Dean of the Walker College of Business, Dr. Sandra Vannoy, this designation is designed for water and wastewater professionals at all organizational levels, from executives to board members to specialized roles. Candidates include formal utility risk managers as well as leaders in high-risk areas such as human resources, operations, finance, capital planning, and other critical functions.
The CPRO-W2 Course at a Glance
The CPRO-W2 designation includes three modules and encompasses 100 hours of learning over 6 months. Candidates select either the water or wastewater tract, which determines the focus of module 1, the operations module.
Module 1 provides necessary foundational knowledge of water or wastewater operations so that candidates can appreciate the context within which risk management and insurance decisions are made. Modules 2 and 3 focus on risk management and insurance fundamentals, providing detailed insights, interviews with risk management and insurance experts, and case applications.
Click to download the Factsheet to learn more.
Module 1a — Basics of Public Water System Operations (Water Tract)
Section 1:
Public Water System Overview
Section 2:
Water Monitoring
Section 3:
Water Hydraulics, Flow & Pumping
Section 4:
Drinking Water Conveyance & Distribution
Section 5:
Water Management, Infrastructure & Conservation
Section 6:
Plant Safety
Module 1b — Basics of Public Wastewater Treatment Operations (Wastewater Tract)
Section 1:
Basics of Wastewater Operations & Wastewater
Section 2:
Basic Wastewater Ecology
Section 3:
Plant Security
Section 4:
Wastewater Treatment
Module 2 — Enterprise Risk Management for Water & Wastewater Systems
Section 1:
Risk, Risk Management & Critical Infrastructure
Section 2:
Emergency Management, Business Continuity, & Sustainability
Section 3:
Risk Management for Value Creation & Preservation
Section 4:
Risk Management Process - Part I
Section 5:
Risk Management Process - Part II
Section 6:
Putting Accounting to Use for Enterprise Risk Management
Module 3 — Insurance Essentials for Water & Wastewater Systems
Section 1:
Property Coverage
Section 2:
Commercial General Liability Coverage
Section 3:
Public Officials and Management Liability Coverage
Section 4:
Business Auto Coverage
Section 5:
Crime Coverage
Section 6:
Other Insurance Coverages
The CPRO-W2 Advisory Board
The Advisory Board informs the strategic direction of the CPRO-W2 designation.
Gordon Graham, MS, JD, CPRO-W2
Chair of the CPRO Advisory Board
“The CPRO-W2 designation and learning series delivers an important knowledge platform and goes further than any other profession-specific risk management curriculum I’ve encountered.”
Vladimir Bessarabov
East Bay Municipal Utility District
Seth Cole
Alliant Insurance Services
Benson Hua
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Matthew Ries
PhD, DC Water
Taylor Winchell
Denver Water
Timothy Worley
PhD, Ortega Strategies Group
Renée Willette
US Water Alliance
Secure Your Spot Today
Registration is open for the 2025 CPRO-W2 Master Leadership Class.