Professional Development and Certification Programs

Designed for higher-level water treatment and distribution operators, this advanced course tackles more complex mathematical concepts, including chemical blending and Ct calculations.

Applicable to both the water and wastewater industry, this math class takes a practical look into the tool that can solve challenges in your treatment plant. Learn the two basic math tools that can solve over 90 percent of math challenges in treatment plants and distribution or collection systems.

Learn all about large distribution booster and centrifugal pumps, hydraulics, head and pressure, and chemical feed pumps. Course will cover the differences between positive displacement and centrifugal pumps, and their operation, maintenance and repair. A review of horsepower calculations and pump curves is also included. Bring your clean rebuildable chemical feed pump and a repair kit for some hands-on participation.

This course addresses the safe use, operation and maintenance of chlorine gas and sodium hypochlorite disinfection systems, including relevant regulations. Dechlorination will also be covered, including newer EPA regulations, and state adoption of NPDES permits for tracking potable and wastewater dechlorination. Alternative disinfection methods, such as ozone, UV light and chloramination, will also be discussed. Content is general enough for the needs of both potable water systems and wastewater systems (prior to discharging to effluent).

From bag filters to membrane technology and MBR systems for wastewater operators, this course addresses the applications and benefits of a wide range of water filtration methods. This class should be presented at or near a treatment facility.

This course provides an overall view of the water and wastewater industry using the hydrological cycle as a comparison. It includes discussion on treatment technologies, storage, distribution and collections. This is a great class to inform boards, councils and the public about the importance of your utility’s responsibilities. This presentation is a composite of History of Water Treatment: Part 1, History of Water Treatment: Part 2, History of Water Treatment: Part 3.

This course covers the components of the Sanitary Survey, and what you need to look for prior to the inspection. It also addresses which records should be made available to the regulator who will be performing the survey. Recommended for regulators, utility office staff and field staff.

This course covers membrane filtration, from RO to MF. Plant tours are possible if the course is held at or very close to a membrane filtration facility. Topics include operation and maintenance of membranes as well as troubleshooting techniques.

Saving water is everyone’s business. Determine the direction your system needs to take in production, maintenance and/or repairs to save water and extend the expected life of your system. This course discusses public contributions to water conservation, and how to implement user-based water saving devices. It also helps you identify what to do as a system manager when water rationing becomes necessary.

This review of basic water distribution concepts is ideal for both entry-level and experienced operators. Topics range from the hydrologic cycle to water distribution system operations and maintenance, including mainline flushing, line locating, leak detection and how to use key equipment. Participants should bring their metal detection equipment, line locators and leak detection equipment for the hands-on portion of the presentation.

This is a great course for both veteran and beginning operators to review sampling regulations and practices. It covers bacteria, organics, inorganics, lead & copper, TTHM & HAA5s, and radionuclides. Includes 45 to 60 minutes of hands-on, practical training.

This advanced class is for operators already familiar with water and wastewater math. Learn the two basics tools in the math toolbox. These two tools can solve over 90% of all math challenges that you will experience in the treatment plant and distribution or collection systems.

Are disinfection byproducts causing you grief, or is chlorine just not meeting your needs? Check out what other chemicals or processes may suit your system better. We will cover UV, ozone and other options available today.

This fast-paced version of Basic Math for the Water/Wastewater Operator is great as a refresher or stands on its own.

This class shares information everyone needs to know about Boil Orders, Do Not Drink Advisories, and returning your system back to routine operations.

Every system works with centrifugal pumps. This overview explores classifications, essential parts, maintenance and troubleshooting techniques every operator needs to know.

Whether you prefer diaphragm or peristaltic pumps, learn about operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of these industry workhorses. This course also equips you to determine which pumps will work best in your application—and which to avoid. It also covers calculating doses and setting controls. Courses three hours and longer include hands-on operation and maintenance of popular chemical feed pumps.

Designed for the rate professional, but useful for all involved in a rate increase, this course will discuss many of the difficulties in dealing with councils, boards and the public. It also takes into consideration reasonable debt service, community demographics, and economy to establish fair and equitable water rates.

Learn the difference between a basic water audit and a comprehensive water audit so your system can best manage its resources. This course covers leaks, stolen water, meter accuracy, flushing, city uses, fire suppression, and distribution maintenance, plus how they affect your finances.

This course looks into the preventive maintenance of the distribution system, along with testing that should be completed before selecting the best method for minimizing the effects of corrosion.

Ideal for system managers and operators, this course provides you with the knowledge to set up a cross-connection control program for your water system. Devices, testing information and survey information are provided.

Get an overview of chemicals and techniques for dechlorinating water and wastewater. This course covers when and where you should use specific chemicals, as well as the safety and environmental issues that need to be addressed. It also explores the how’s & why’s of monitoring Dechlorination efficiency.

Every system needs standard operating procedures or SOPs. The SOP is a powerful tool that can serve as a basis for training as well as day-to-day use by plant staff. In this course, you will learn how to create SOPs that are easy to use and understandable. It covers formatting, writing and quality control of the document from start to finish.

This course examines the differences in how physical and chemical disinfectants are used to eliminate disease-causing organisms in the water, and the uses of primary and secondary disinfectants. Discussion also includes operational considerations and testing procedures.

This course addresses common distribution issues along troubleshooting of the system. Review includes Disinfection By-Products, Chloramines, Taste and Odor Issues, System Flushing, and Flushing Safety.

This course addresses when technologies were first discovered and how those technologies are used today. It also discusses whether those technologies can be applied to current treatment requirements. Topics include heat, UV, coagulation and colloidal silver treatments.

Explore early storage and distribution technologies and how they have led to today’s systems. This course also examines whether those technologies can be applied to current treatment requirements. Topics include pipe types, corrosion control, valve types, tank and storage issues, and more.

Learn when chemical technologies were first discovered and how those technologies are still applied to today’s treatment requirements. Topics include chlorine and its variations, ozone, fluoride, and chemical feed in general.

Explore hydrants and valves this helpful course. Topics include selection, installation, operation and maintenance. It also discusses valve mapping and recording.

Gain a better understanding of water wells and aquifers, and learn techniques for protecting underground sources of drinking water. This course includes discussion on the interconnection of groundwater and surface water, sources of contamination, and options for management.

Learn the basics of operation and maintenance for lagoon systems. This course will discuss the food web and nutrient cycles throughout the limited control treatment of the lagoon system and cover understanding the different zones, biology, and chemistry within the lagoon.

Learn the useful and practical side of leak detection so you can keep the revenue-generating water flowing. Discussions include leak surveys, isolating leaks, and acoustic locators and correlators. This course also includes a hands-on locating demonstration with helpful tricks of the trade.

Maps, drawings and records are the only way to inventory underground assets. This course looks at mapping and gatebooks, along with the key information they need to contain. It also covers the latest GIS layering technology.

Determine whether a rate adjustment is needed or if closer utility management will meet your financial needs before approaching the public. Basic and comprehensive audits and types of rate structures will be discussed.

This basic overview explores how operators can use SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems to make better decisions related to their plant’s or system’s performance. Course explains how SCADA systems interact with a plant’s instrumentation and processes, and provides tips on how to evaluate SCADA systems and hardware.

Is your system operating in the red or black? This course covers strategies to help you determine and set fair and equitable water/wastewater rates. It also addresses how to sell the need for a rate increase to the board, council and public.

Ideal for those unfamiliar with source water protection, this course focuses on wells and the essential data you need to collect for completing a source water protection report.

A review of common equipment used for the thickening process and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Learn the warning signs of digesters upsets, why they occur, and what to watch for to avoid them.

Are you in compliance? This course provides a review of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1974 and amended updates from that point, including the most current regulations.

Whether biological, chemical or physical, hazards are abundant in wastewater operations—which has more hazards than most other professions. This course covers those potential hazards, confined spaces, mitigating hazards, personal protection equipment and more, to help make your workplace a safer place to be.

Water meters are the cash registers of the utility. This course examines the types of meters used to account for water, and provides valuable insights on meter selection, installation, testing and reading.

Potential water contamination issues call for a fast response. This course walks you through key considerations to keep in mind for developing your emergency plan, so you won’t be caught off-guard. Learn what essential information decision-makers need during a water quality emergency, and get helpful guidance on public notification and governmental compliance.

Get a comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation and maintenance of concrete, steel, fiberglass and plastic water storage tanks in this course. A review of key regulations is also included.

Get a comprehensive understanding of the construction, operation and maintenance of concrete, steel, fiberglass and plastic water storage tanks in this course. A review of key regulations is also included.

It is said that 80% of all organizations use these rules—many people do not. Now in these days of discontent, holding a public or council meeting has more of the appearance of a verbal brawl than a discussion. Learn some techniques to overcome this 21st century mindset and get the meeting back on track. To make this course interactive, bring your stories and arguments.

This two-day course supports water operator certification at Operator in Training or Very Small System Operator levels. It covers water treatment and distribution system operations and regulations, sampling, and associated math, disinfection, and safety practices.

This two-day course supports wastewater operator certification at Operator in Training or Very Small System Operator levels. It provides an overview of wastewater treatment, focusing on lagoons and collection systems operation and regulations, an introduction to wastewater lab sampling, and entry-level math, pumps, electrical systems, disinfection/dechlorination, and safety practices.

This is the introductory course for the wastewater collection system operator. This class will focus on the day-to-day operation and maintenance of collection systems. Corrective, preventative, and predictive maintenance, as well as long-term and system planning will be presented. The focus will be on safety procedures, maintenance on collection components, underground repair and construction and collection system math.

This class covers all states’ learning requirements prior to certification testing, using the WEF Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals 1 (Grades 1 & 2). It can be presented either as 40 hours of classroom instruction or as 32 hours of classroom instruction with eight hours of homework for participants.

This class covers all states’ learning requirements prior to certification testing, using the AWWA/ABC WSO Water Treatment manual (Grades 1 & 2). It can be presented either as 40 hours of classroom instruction or as 32 hours of classroom instruction with eight hours of homework for participants.

This class covers all states’ learning requirements prior to certification testing, using the AWWA/ABC WSO Water Treatment manual (Grades 3 & 4). It can be presented either as 40 hours of classroom instruction or as 32 hours of classroom instruction with eight hours of homework for participants.

This class covers all states’ learning requirements prior to certification testing, using the AWWA/ABC WSO Water Distribution manual (Grades 1 & 2). It can be presented either as 40 hours of classroom instruction or as 32 hours of classroom instruction with eight hours of homework for participants.

This class covers all states’ learning requirements prior to certification testing, using the AWWA/ABC WSO Water Distribution manual (Grades 3 & 4). It can be presented either as 40 hours of classroom instruction or as 32 hours of classroom instruction with eight hours of homework for participants.