Water Treatment Plant Operation

Hours: 400 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Open, Mentor Supported
Retail Price: $1,795.00

Course Overview:

Water Treatment Plant – Level 1 is designed to train students to safely and effectively operate and maintain drinking water treatment plants. This course covers information on the importance and responsibilities of a water treatment plant operator, sources of water, reservoir management, and intake structures.

Students will learn how to safely operate and maintain coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection processes. They will also learn to control tastes and odors in drinking water, control corrosion to meet the requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule, and perform basic water laboratory procedures.

An important part of the course provides students information on overall plant operation and covers topics such as daily operating procedures, regulation of flows, chemical use and handling, records and reports, plant maintenance, safety and security, emergency conditions and procedures, handling complaints, and energy conservation.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Comprehend the core elements of water treatment and the role of the treatment plant operator
• Identify steps in the processes of coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation
• Identify steps in the process of filtration and disinfection
• Identify steps in the process of protecting from corrosion and protecting taste
• Comprehend basic tasks performed in plant operation and laboratory

Water Treatment Plant – Level 2, a continuation of Level 1, is designed to train students in the practical aspects of operating and maintaining water treatment plants, emphasizing safe practices and procedures. Information is presented on drinking water regulations (including the Safe Drinking Water Act), iron and manganese control, fluoridation, softening, trihalomethanes, demineralization, handling and disposal of process wastes, maintenance, instrumentation, and advanced laboratory procedures.

Administrative procedures for dealing with budgeting, setting rates, recordkeeping, personnel administration, public relations, and emergency planning are also covered in this course.

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Comprehend the core elements of the water treatment process
• Identify the steps involved in specialized and membrane treatment process
• Identify the steps in maintaining a water treatment plant
• Identify key components of instrumentation, control systems, and safety
• Comprehend the requirements for drinking water regulations and administration

Course Outline:

Water Treatment Plant Module 1
Water Treatment & Water Sources

• What is a Water Treatment Plant?
• What Does a Water Treatment Plant Operator Do?
• Job Opportunities
• Preparing Yourself for the Future
• Importance of Water
• Sources of Water
• Selection of a Water Sources
• The Safe Drinking Water Act
• Reservoir Water Quality Management
• Causes of Water Quality Problems
• Methods of Reservoir Management

Water Treatment Plant Module 2
Coagulation, Flocculation & Sedimentation

• Nature of Particulate Impurities in Water
• Coagulation & Flocculation
• Process Control
• Operating Procedures
• Normal & Abnormal Process Conditions
• Enhanced Coagulation
• Start-Up & Shutdown Procedures
• Process & Support Equipment
• Sedimentation Basins
• Laboratory Tests

Water Treatment Plant Module 3
Filtration & Disinfection

• Filtration Mechanisms
• Types of Filters
• Activated Carbon Filters
• Normal & Abnormal Process Conditions
• Start-Up & Shutdown Procedures
• Process & Support Equipment
• Surface Water Treatment Rule (SWTR)
• Particle Counters
• Purpose of Disinfection
• Factors Influencing Disinfection
• Process of Disinfection
• Operation of Chlorination Equipment
• Chlorine Dioxide Facilities
• Disinfection using Ultraviolet (UV) Systems
• Disinfection using Ozone Systems

Water Treatment Plant Module 4
Corrosion, Taste and Odor Control

• Adverse Effects of Corrosion
• Process of Corrosion
• Factors Influencing Corrosion
• Determine if a Corrosion Problem Exists
• Methods of Controlling Corrosion
• The Lead & Copper Rule
• Importance of Taste & Odor Control
• Causes of Tastes & Odors
• Locating Taste & Odor Sources
• Prevention of Tastes & Odors
• Taste & Oder Treatment
• Developing a Taste & Odor Control Strategy

Water Treatment Plant Module 5
Plant Operation & Laboratory Procedures

• Goals of Plant Operation
• Drinking Water Considerations
• Daily Operating Procedures
• Process Instrumentation & Control
• Regulation of Flows
• Chemical Use & Handling
• Operating Records & Reports
• Plant Maintenance
• Plant Safety & Security
• Emergency Conditions & Procedures
• Sludge Handling & Disposal
• Energy Conservation
• Basic Water Laboratory Procedures
• Laboratory Equipment & Techniques
• Types, Devices & Techniques of Sampling
• Water Laboratory Tests

Water Treatment Plant Module 1
Iron, Manganese, Fluoridation & Softening

• Measurement of Iron & Manganese
• Remedial Action
• Iron & Manganese Removal Plant
• Maintenance of a Chemical Feeder
• Troubleshooting Red Water Problems
• Importance of Fluoridation
• Fluoridation Programs
• Fluoridation Systems
• Final Checkup of Equipment
• Chemical Feeder Operation
• Prevention of Over or Underfeeding
• Chemistry of Water Softening
• How Water is Softened
• Interactions with Coagulants
• Description of Ion Exchange Softening Process
• Disposal of Spent Brine

Water Treatment Plant Module 2
Specialized & Membrane Treatment Processes

• The Trihalomethane (THM) Problem
• Feasibility Analysis Process
• Existing Treatment Processes
• The Arsenic Problem
• Treatment for Reduction or Removal of Arsenic
• Typical Arsenic Treatment Plant
• Membrane Treatment Technologies
• Membrane Filtration Units
• Recordkeeping & Maintenance Programs
• Sources of Mineralized Water
• Components of a Reverse Osmosis Unit
• Principles of Electrodialysis
• Handling & Disposal of Process Wastes
• Sources of Treatment Process Wastes
• Draining & Cleaning of Tanks
• Backwash Recovery Ponds (Solar Lagoons)
• Discharge into Collection Systems (Sewers)
• Plant Drainage Waters

Water Treatment Plant Module 3
Maintenance of a Water Treatment Plant

• Preventive Maintenance Records
• Electrical Equipment
• Electrical Fundamentals
• Tools, Meters, & Testers
• Electric Motors
• Auxiliary Electrical Power
• Mechanical Equipment
• Pumps & Lubrication
• Pump Maintenance
• Pump Operation
• Compressors & Valves
• Internal Combustion Engines
• Gasoline Engines
• Diesel Engines
• Cooling Systems
• Fuel Systems
• Chemical Storage & Feeders
• Tanks & Reservoirs

Water Treatment Plant Module 4
Instrumentation, Control Systems & Safety

• Importance and Nature of Instrumentation & Control Systems
• Safety Hazards of Instrumentation & Control Systems
• Measured Variables & Types of Sensors
• Categories of Instrumentation
• Operation & Preventive Maintenance
• Importance of Safety
• Safe Chemical Handling
• Acids, Bases, Gases, Salts & Powders
• Fire Protection
• Plant Maintenance
• Vehicle Maintenance & Operation
• Electrical Equipment Safety
• Laboratory Safety
• Advanced Laboratory Procedures
• Use of a Spectrophotometer
• Testing Procedures

Water Treatment Plant Module 5
Drinking Water Regulations & Administration

• History of Drinking Water Laws & Standards
• How EPA Develops Drinking Water Standards
• Primary Drinking Water Standards
• Inorganic & Organic Chemical Standards
• Microbial Standards
• Secondary Drinking Water Standards
• Enforcement of Regulations
• Sampling Procedures
• Safe Drinking Water Act Regulations
• Need for Utility Management
• Functions of a Manager
• Planning, Organizing & Staffing
• Communication & Conducting Meetings
• Public Relations
• Financial Management
• The Manager’s Responsibilities
• Emergency Response
• Safety Programs
• Recordkeeping
• Water & Energy Conservation

All necessary materials are included.

System Requirements:

• Cable and DSL internet connections are recommended for the best experience.

• CPU: 1 GHz or higher
• RAM: 2 GB or higher
• Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher
• Speakers / Headphones
• Microphone (Webinar / Live Online sessions)

• Microsoft Windows 7 or 10 (Home, Pro)
• Mac OSX 10 or higher.
• Latest Chrome OS
• Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

• Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
• Latest Mozilla FireFox
• Latest Microsoft Edge
• Latest Apple Safari

• Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
• PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
• Courses may require other software that is denoted in the above course outline.