Surface Water Treatment
The conventional surface water plant from intake to clearwell: what each process does, the rules behind it, the turbidity numbers that matter, and the math to run it.
CEUs not yet approved, for learning only
Who it is for
Operators of surface water and GWUDI plants, operators studying for a treatment certificate, and dual licensed operators who want to understand the water side.
Format
Online, self-paced. Take it when it suits your shift.
Length and price
4 hours, $120.
What you will learn
10 modules. Worked examples use fictional drinking water systems.
- Surface Water and the Multiple Barrier ApproachWhat is in a river or lake, the germs of concern (Giardia, Cryptosporidium, viruses, bacteria), the multiple barrier idea, and the White River plant.
- Surface Water Treatment Rule ConceptsLog removal and inactivation, the 3 log Giardia and 4 log virus requirement, filtration credit, Cryptosporidium rules (IESWTR, LT1, LT2), turbidity standards, residual requirements and the Filter Backwash Recycling Rule.
- Intakes, Screens and Raw Water PumpingRiver, lake and reservoir intakes, screens, zebra mussels and frazil ice, multiple level intakes, raw water monitoring, and pump horsepower.
- Coagulation and Rapid MixCoagulation in the treatment train, rapid mix design and detention, chemical feed points, alkalinity and pH at the rapid mix, and dose control.
- FlocculationPurpose of flocculation, gentle mixing and tapered energy, detention time, short circuiting, and reading floc.
- Sedimentation and ResidualsHow a settling basin works, surface overflow rate, detention time, weir loading, sludge removal, high rate settlers, and handling plant residuals.
- Filtration in the Treatment TrainWhat the filters do, dual media filters at WRWTP, filter loading rate, filter to waste, backwash recycle, and individual and combined filter effluent monitoring.
- Disinfection, the Clearwell and CTPrimary and secondary disinfection, chlorine feed at WRWTP, T10 and baffling factor, CT calculation with plant data, and post treatment (pH, fluoride, orthophosphate).
- Turbidity Monitoring and ReportingWhat turbidity is, NTU and turbidimeters, calibration and verification, combined and individual filter monitoring, follow up triggers, and calculating monthly compliance.
- Running the Plant Through ChangeStorm events, cold water, algae and taste and odor, manganese season, low flow periods, a daily routine, and a troubleshooting table using the September 2026 storm.
What operators take away
- How each step of a conventional plant removes particles and germs.
- Surface Water Treatment Rule concepts: log removal, turbidity limits and residuals.
- Detention time, overflow rate, weir loading, filter rate and CT math with plant numbers.
- How to run the plant through a storm, cold water and algae season.
- A certification quiz for paid students, and a certificate of completion from Wastewater Academy™ when you pass it. The certificate does not carry CEU credit.
- A student manual to download (comes with the class).
Register
4 hours, $120.
CEUs for this class are not yet approved in any state. If you need CEU credit, please wait; we'll announce approval here. Purchase is for learning only.
Need CEU credit? Ask us to tell you when CEUs are approved (tell us your state and this class), or email help@ActivatedSludge.com.
Registration is open for learning only. At checkout you confirm that you understand this class has no CEU credit yet.
After you pay, you are taken to a page where you download the student manual. The class includes a certification quiz, which opens for you after you pay, and a certificate of completion from Wastewater Academy™ when you pass it. Online access, including the manual, quiz, and certificate, lasts 90 days from purchase.
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