Rick Lallish
Director of Environmental Resources Training Center
Rick Lallish has 32 years of experience in the field of wastewater collection systems and treatment plant operations. He served as the Water Pollution Control Program Director at ERTC for 17.5 years before assuming the role of ERTC Director. Before coming to ERTC, he operated a 1.5 million-gallon-per-day orbal-oxidation treatment plant that served a community with over 7500 residents, a federal prison and two major industries. His experience also includes the operation of wastewater lagoons, sand filters, an activated sludge plant, and a collection system consisting of over 25 miles of main with eight lift stations. He was awarded the Kenneth Meredith Award and the Arthur Sydney Bedell for Outstanding Operator by the Water Environment Association. Rick was named Operator of the Year by IEPA and IAWPCO in 2017. He has won 2 Illinois Plant of the Year awards. In 2025 He was recognized withe the Clarence Klassen Award by the IAWPCO for lifetime achievement. He is also a US Navy Veteran and served in Operation Desert Storm.
Certifications
Class 1 Wastewater Operator Certification (Illinois)
Collection Systems Operator Certification (Illinois)
Professional Memberships
Illinois Association of Water Pollution Control Operators
(First Vice President)
Mississippi-Kaskaskia Valley Water Pollution Control Operators
(Past President)
Water Environment Federation (WEF)
