Course Descriptions

Certification Training
1-day to 5-day courses based on needs and requirements

Industrial (Physical-Chemical) and Municipal (Biological) Wastewater Treatment Courses specially designed to meet your state's certification training requirements

• Type and level of courses vary with your particular plant classification and training objectives
• Course contents approved by state licensing agencies, as required
• Topics cover fundamentals of wastewater technologies and plant operations, with special emphasis on compliance with discharge permit requirements
• Course subject matter may be customized for your explicit needs
• Classes are held on-site: at your facility or a location you specify
• Classes are arranged to suit your operators' work schedule
• Notebooks, handouts, and practice exercises are provided

Contact us for a syllabus and detailed course topics

Exam Preparation
1-day to 5-day course

Customized training session taught at your facility to review Need-to-Know information to help prepare operators for certification exams. Courses scheduled to suit your local work site and professional requirements.

Industrial Wastewater Treatment
4 days

Our most popular course! For industries utilizing Physical-Chemical treatment - pH adjustment, screening, coagulation / flocculation / clarification, Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF), or treating metal finishing wastes. Learn Physical / Chemical treatment and prepare for the state Industrial / Physical-Chemical licensing exam. The course also provides Continuing Education (CE) Points or Technical Contact Hours (TCH). The Sacramento manual, Industrial Wastes, Vol. 1, 3rd edition, is the course textbook. A course notebook is provided. Topics include:

• Permits and Reporting
• Wastewater Characteristics
• Sampling and Flow Monitoring
• Equalization, pH/Neutralization
• Coagulation, Flocculation, Clarification
• Treatment of Metal Waste Streams
• Chrome and Cyanide removal
• Sludge Dewatering
• Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)
• Applied Math Practice
• Treatment Plant Tour
• Sample Questions and Practice Tests

Industrial Wastewater Treatment can also be taught as a 1- or 2-day Continuing Education class customized for your facility.

Biological (Municipal) Wastewater Treatment - Basic Level
5 days

For industries operating activated sludge plants, SBR's, ponds, trickling filters or bioreactors. A good way to prepare for the Biological Wastewater exam, or receive Continuing Education (CE) Points or Technical Contact Hours (TCH). Topics include:

• Certification Requirements
• The Clean Water Act
• Discharge Permits, Sampling
• Applied Math Practice
• Preliminary - Screening, Grit Removal
• Primary and Secondary Treatment Processes
• Activated Sludge Process
• Microbiology, Filamentous Bacteria
• Aerobic and Anaerobic Digestion
• Disinfection, Dechlorination
• Solids Handling & Dewatering
• Treatment Plant Tour

The course utilizes the Sacramento manuals, Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Volumes 1 and 2. A course notebook, with copies of the overheads and handouts, is also provided.

Treatment of Metal Wastes
1- or 2-day course

This one-day course presents concepts of metals wastewater treatment. It is designed for Operators, Technicians, and Managers of facilities that must comply with Pretreatment or NPDES permits for metal finishing, plating, anodizing, coating, etc. Topics include:

• Permits and Reporting
• Sources of Metal Wastestreams
• Plating Waste Characteristics
• Segregation of Waste Streams
• Metal Hydroxide Precipitation
• Chrome and Cyanide Removal
• Sludge Dewatering & Management

Physical-Chemical Treatment
1- or 2-day course

This one-day course presents Physical-Chemical Wastewater Treatment for Operators, Technicians, and Managers. The class is an overview of concepts, equipment, and process control for Industrial NPDES and Pretreatment to comply with their permit and maintain compliance. This class can be an overview or refresher class for licensed operators needing Continuing Education (CE) Hours for license renewal. Topics include:

• Waste Characteristics Review
• Discharge Permits and Compliance Management
• Physical/Chemical Treatment Overview
• pH / Neutralization
• Coagulation and Flocculation
• Clarification, Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF)
• Process Control Testing

Wastewater Jar Testing
1- or 2-day course

Review the basics of Physical/Chemical treatment, pH/neutralization and metals precipitation. Topics include:

• Chemical coagulants and flocculants
• Types of polymers and applications
• Jar testing procedures
• Chemical dosages calculations
• Using results for process control decisions
• Hands-on testing with your plant's wastewater

Stormwater Management
1- or 2-day course

Many Industrial wastewater facilities have exposed materials and activities that are covered under EPA's MULTI-SECTOR GENERAL PERMIT FOR STORMWATER DISCHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY (MSGP), or their state's equivalent General Permit. Wastewater operators must be familiar with the NPDES General Permit requirements and the role wastewater operations can have in affecting stormwater runoff. This course will outline the requirements for operators to comply with the permit requirements, and their duties and responsibilities to prevent contaminants from reaching surface waters of the state. Topics include:

• History of Stormwater Regulations
• EPA Multi-Sector General Permit (MSGP) for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Industrial Activity (or your state's equivalent General permit)
• Identifying Exposed Materials and Activities at Wastewater Facilities
• Outfalls and Dry Weather Flow
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Teams
• Responsibilities, Training, Drills, Clean-up Equipment
• Best Management Practices (BMPs)
• Structural and Non-Structural Controls
• Monthly, Quarterly, Annual Inspections
• Annual Reporting and SWPPP Certification
• Baseline and Semi-Annual Sampling
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SPPP)
• Maintaining Permit Compliance

This course can also be expanded to include Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans.

Hazardous Waste Management
1- or 2-day course

Industrial wastewater treatment plants may produce byproducts that are considered Hazardous Wastes (HW). This requires wastewater operators to follow a myriad of HW requirements under RCRA, USDOT, CERCLA, and others. It is important for operators to understand the HW requirements for generating, storing, and handling HW generated. This course outlines HW requirements for wastewater operations that generate HW and non-HW. Topics include:

• History of Hazardous Waste (HW) Regulations
• RCRA "Cradle to Grave" Requirements
• HW Definition and Waste Characterization
• Identify Wastewater Operations that produce HW
• Requirements for Treating HW
• HW Generator Status
• HW Container, Handling, and Labeling Requirements
• Satellite and Central HW Storage Areas
• HW Accumulation Requirements
• Inspections, Reporting, Training Requirements
• Contingency Plans

The Hazardous Waste course can also be expanded to include the following topics:

• Preparing Hazardous Material for Shipment
• Overview of USDOT Hazardous Material Requirements
• Packaging, Labeling, Placarding, Shipping Papers
• Management of Universal Wastes
• Non-HW Generated by Treatment Plants
• Used Oil, Used Coolants, Used Oily Rages
• Non-HW Slurries and Sludges

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