This course takes an in-depth look at the most popular form of water & wastewater disinfection: Chlorination. Topics include disinfection concepts such as load, residual, contact time, and log removal; the chemistry of chlorine dissociation and chloramine formation; and matrix factors that can affect disinfection efficiency. A real-world case study will be presented on chlorine disinfection system optimization.

This course deals with the development of critical laboratory documentation such as the quality assurance manual (QAM) and standard operating procedures (SOPs). Format and chapter-by-chapter content is examined to help the student prepare these documents to meet their specific needs. Document control, distribution, storage, and revision are also covered.

This course explores the development of the data quality process, the need for data integrity, and the implementation of a laboratory ethics program. Topics include the ethics statement, ethics policies, the ethics agreement, ethical & non-ethical behaviors, and ways to evaluate and protect data integrity. Current issues in laboratory ethics and real-world case studies will be presented and discussed.

This course takes a look at general practices and procedures common to the environmental laboratory. Many of these procedures are required elements of state and federal accreditation programs, as they provide a consistent means to generate quality data. Topics that are examined include initial demonstrations of capability, method detection limits, calibrations, laboratory control sample, spikes, blanks, duplicate analyses, accuracy & precision, data quality statements, accessory equipment verification, reagent dilution, sample receiving and chain of custody, data review and QC evaluation, and auditing.

This course looks at the importance, chemistry, and analytical methodology of the major nutrients found in traditional water and wastewater treatment processes. Carbon looks at the demand methods (BOD, CBOD, COD) and biological removal of carbon compounds. Nitrogen examines the different forms of nitrogen (total kjeldahl, organic, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite), their analyses, and the processes of nitrification and denitrification. Phosphorus looks at the forms of phosphorus (total, reactive, orthophosphate), their analyses, and effluent removal practices.

This course takes an in depth look at the important quality assurance elements required for microbiological testing of water and wastewater. Elements such as sampling, media preparation, support equipment verification, sterilization, positive and negative controls, incubation, laboratory water quality, and duplicate analyses are presented. Membrane filtration procedures are also reviewed, along with plate counting, sample dilution, and cfu calculations.

Developed by PADEP, this course teaches important safety and security information to water and wastewater treatment plant operators. Topics such as Security Methodology, Threat and Vulnerability Assessments, and Emergency Response are covered in detail through lecture, group exercises, and Powerpoint presentations. This course is a mandatory requirement of the PADEP Water/Wastewater Operator Certification Program, and must be taken by all water and wastewater treatment plant operators before the end of their next full renewel cycle.

This course takes an in-depth look at the requirements of the 1VAC30 Chapter 45 Laboratory Accreditation for Non-Commercial Laboratories Program. Each section of the standard will be reviewed and explained, with particular attention to the requirements specified in the section on Quality Systems. Operators are encouraged to bring their questions for discussion. As an added bonus, this material meets the requirements for operator continuing education training, so six credit hours can be earned toward your license renewal.

This course takes an in-depth look at the basic non-potable water methods used in the wastewater laboratory. Discussion will center on technique, reagent and standard preparation, calibration of equipment, sample preparation and analysis, method performance QC, and interpretation of the results. Students are encouraged to discuss specific problems and situations they face in their daily lab operations. Analyses covered include pH, Dissolved Oxygen, BOD/CBOD, Fecal Coliform, Chlorine Residual, Residue (Total, Suspended, Dissolved, Settleable Solids), Kit Testing, and Ion-Selective Electrode analyses.

This course takes an in-depth look at the wet chemistry methods used in the wastewater laboratory. Discussion will center on technique, reagent and standard preparation, calibration of equipment, sample preparation and analysis, method performance QC, and interpretation of the results. Students are encouraged to discuss specific problems and situations they face in their daily lab operations. Analyses covered include Oil & Grease, Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Total and Ammenable Cyanide, Phenolics, Ion Chromatography, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), Total Phosphorus (Tphos), and Residue Analyses (Solids).

This course takes an in-depth look at the instrumental methods used in the wastewater laboratory. Discussion will center on technique, reagent and standard preparation, calibration of equipment and instrumentation, sample preparation and analysis, method performance QC, and interpretation of the results. Students are encouraged to discuss specific problems and situations they face in their daily lab operations. Analyses covered include metals digestion, ICP, Flame, Furnace, ICP-MS, cold-vapor mercury, organics sample extractions, TCLP, volatile organics (VOAs), semi-volatile organics, pesticides/PCBs.