IRR 205 - Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations

Credits: 5
LEC hours per week: 4
LAB hours per week: 2
Provides training in the multiple stages of operations, equipment, and maintenance at a typical wastewater treatment plant. Reviews the science and flow of individual processes and their purpose to manage solids, improve water quality, and/or perform disinfection. Course available to students new to the field and incumbent workers in need of continuing education units. Prepares students for passing the Level I Wastewater Treatment Operator exam. Includes requirements to participate in one wastewater treatment plant tour and shadow wastewater treatment plant operators on at least one eight (8) hour shift. Formerly: WTM 205.
Prerequisite(s): Grade of C or higher in EST 202, EST 106, IRR 190, and IRR 215, or instructor permission.
Corequisite(s): IRR 221 and/or previous or current work experience in the wastewater industry.
Course Outcomes:

Explain the critical processes to protect human health and improve environmental quality in a wastewater treatment plant.
Explain how solids are removed and water quality is improved throughout the states of wastewater treatment.
Identify commonly used equipment and major considerations for maintenance.
Use appropriate units of measure, produce unit conversions, and solve commonly used equations.
Explain how chlorine is safely stored, used, and maintained at a typical facility and its role in disinfection.
Explain the role of health, safety, and environmental regulations on the governance of plant operations.

Course Topics:

Brief history of wastewater and sanitation.
Clean Water Act and NPDES.
Regulations, permitting, and safety.
Preliminary: solids removal.
Primary: sedimentation of suspended solids.
Secondary: BOD, aeration basins, activated sludge, nitrogen and phosphorus removal.
Disinfection.
Solids management: waste activated sludge, de-watering, and anaerobic digestion.
Equipment.
Maintenance.
Process flow.
Third party certification exam preparation.
Resource recovery.