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Agriculture, Environment & Public Service · course plan
⚠ Pending professional review
This course plan, its lessons and its assessments has not yet been verified by a licensed professional in the field or by a certification or approval body. It is a study draft and may contain errors. Do not use it as instructions for work on a job site or on live equipment. Always follow your instructor, your supervising professional, and current official references and regulations.
VoTechWorks program approval and accreditation are still in progress. Credentials are issued only by the certifying bodies named in each program, after their own exams.
Water / Wastewater Operator
9 courses · 1,350 clock hours · 6–9 mo full-time. Grading is competency-based: each course requires the written exam, a competent skills demonstration with zero safety faults, a signed log, and a passed safety audit; percentage weights only rank performance above the competency floor.
9courses
79lessons
1,350hours
31assessments
Development progressPlanCourses, lessons and assessments written for this tradeLessons79 of 79 lesson pages writtenPractice632 practice questionsResources113 reference entries (study list)Review0 lesson pages reviewed by a licensed professional
Study now: 79 lesson pages are open (lesson titles below are links).
AGR-WATE71-01 Universal core
Universal Core: Safety, Math, Communication & Career for Water/Wastewater Operators
148 hr · $1,185 COMPLIMENTARY
This course builds the foundational knowledge and skills every entry-level water and wastewater operator needs before touching any treatment system: workplace safety to OSHA 10 standards with CPR/First Aid certification, trade-specific mathematics and measurement, technical reading and documentation, digital tools used in the field, and professional career readiness. Lessons are directly mapped to the safety, math, and general knowledge domains tested on State Water and Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing exams. Students who pass this course are prepared to engage safely and confidently in all subsequent technical courses.
Outcomes- Demonstrate compliance with OSHA 10 general industry safety standards, lockout/tagout procedures, confined space entry requirements, and proper PPE selection for water and wastewater hazards.
- Apply arithmetic, unit conversion, and basic algebra to solve flow rate, volume, concentration, and dosage problems typical of Class I–II operator licensing exams.
- Read and interpret Material Safety Data Sheets (SDS), standard operating procedures, permit-to-work forms, and regulatory compliance reports used at water and wastewater facilities.
- Use digital tools—including spreadsheets, computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) interfaces, and online regulatory reporting portals—to record, retrieve, and communicate operational data.
- Demonstrate professional workplace communication skills, including written shift logs, verbal handoffs, and public-facing customer interaction relevant to utility employment.
- Identify the structure of state Water and Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing requirements, exam content domains, and lawful scope of practice at each license class.
Course text
This course builds the foundational knowledge and skills every entry-level water and wastewater operator needs before touching any treatment system: workplace safety to OSHA 10 standards with CPR/First Aid certification, trade-specific mathematics and measurement, technical reading and documentation, digital tools used in the field, and professional career readiness. Lessons are directly mapped to the safety, math, and general knowledge domains tested on State Water and Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing exams. Students who pass this course are prepared to engage safely and confidently in all subsequent technical courses.
How the course runs. 7 blocks: Workplace Safety Foundations: OSHA 10 and Facility Hazard Awareness; Lockout/Tagout, Confined Space Entry, and First Aid/CPR; Trade Math I: Arithmetic, Unit Conversion, and Measurement; Trade Math II: Chemical Dosage, Percent Solutions, and Chlorine Calculations; Technical Reading, SDS Interpretation, and Operational Documentation; Digital Tools: Spreadsheets, CMMS, and Online Reporting Portals; Career Readiness, Professional Conduct, and Licensing Pathways.
What competent looks like. Demonstrate compliance with OSHA 10 general industry safety standards, lockout/tagout procedures, confined space entry requirements, and proper PPE selection for water and wastewater hazards. Apply arithmetic, unit conversion, and basic algebra to solve flow rate, volume, concentration, and dosage problems typical of Class I–II operator licensing exams. Read and interpret Material Safety Data Sheets (SDS), standard operating procedures, permit-to-work forms, and regulatory compliance reports used at water and wastewater facilities. Use digital tools—including spreadsheets, computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) interfaces, and online regulatory reporting portals—to record, retrieve, and communicate operational data. Demonstrate professional workplace communication skills, including written shift logs, verbal handoffs, and public-facing customer interaction relevant to utility employment. Identify the structure of state Water and Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing requirements, exam content domains, and lawful scope of practice at each license class.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Workplace Safety Foundations: OSHA 10 and Facility Hazard Awareness | 24 | theory | Students will identify the OSHA 10 general industry rights, employer obligations, hazard recognition categories, and the specific physical, chemical, and biological hazards present at water and wastewater facilities with at least 80% accuracy on a written check. |
| OSHA 10 General Industry course materials and completion cards; OSHA 29 CFR 1910 reference booklet; facility hazard-map worksheets; PPE display table stocked with nitrile gloves, neoprene gloves, safety glasses, splash goggles, face shields, disposable coveralls, half-face respirator with appropriate cartridges, hard hat; student safety portfolio folders | Students must score ≥80% on a 25-question written OSHA/hazard-recognition quiz and must correctly select and justify PPE for three scenario cards without any critical error (e.g., choosing safety glasses instead of splash goggles for a caustic splash risk); OSHA 10 card must be earned before advancing. |
| 2 | Lockout/Tagout, Confined Space Entry, and First Aid/CPR | 22 | demo | Students will correctly perform a six-step lockout/tagout sequence on a demonstration panel and respond to a simulated confined-space rescue scenario following permit requirements, while holding current First Aid/CPR certification. |
| LOTO training panel with padlocks, hasps, and lockout tags; OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 (LOTO) and 1910.146 (permit-required confined spaces) reference cards; blank confined-space entry permit forms; four-gas personal monitor (demonstration unit); CPR manikins; AED trainer; First Aid/CPR course kit; certification cards | LOTO performance checklist: student completes all six steps in correct order with zero safety-critical omissions (any omission = repeat attempt before advancing); confined-space permit form scored ≥80% against the answer key; First Aid/CPR certification card earned and photocopied into portfolio. |
| 3 | Trade Math I: Arithmetic, Unit Conversion, and Measurement | 24 | practice | Students will convert between common water-industry units (gallons, liters, cubic feet, MGD, ppm/mg/L) and solve volume, flow, and velocity problems using formulas from the operator math reference sheet at ≥75% accuracy. |
| Scientific calculators (non-programmable, as allowed on most state licensing exams); operator math formula reference sheet (state-issued or AWWA equivalent); graduated cylinders (100 mL, 500 mL, 1000 mL); small recirculating pump trainer; stopwatch; field notebooks; unit-conversion drill worksheets; applied word-problem sets | Score ≥75% on a timed 20-question math quiz (same format as licensing exam: no notes except formula sheet); all dimensional analysis steps must be shown for word problems; pump measurement lab report submitted with correct units and percent-deviation calculation. |
| 4 | Trade Math II: Chemical Dosage, Percent Solutions, and Chlorine Calculations | 20 | practice | Students will calculate chemical feed rates, percent solutions, and chlorine dosage/demand/residual relationships for water and wastewater applications at ≥75% accuracy using only a calculator and formula sheet. |
| Scientific calculators; operator math formula reference sheet; chlorine calculation problem sets; whiteboard and markers; AWWA Water Treatment: Principles and Practices of Water Supply Operations (current edition) Chapter on disinfection math (reference only); blank problem-solving templates | Score ≥75% on a 15-question timed chemical-math quiz; peer-teaching demonstration rated by instructor on a 3-point rubric: formula accuracy (must be correct), calculation steps (must be shown), and explanation clarity (must be understandable); any formula error in the demo triggers a redo. |
| 5 | Technical Reading, SDS Interpretation, and Operational Documentation | 22 | theory | Students will accurately extract critical safety, handling, and emergency-response information from Safety Data Sheets and will complete operator log sheets, chain-of-custody forms, and shift reports that meet the documentation standards required by state drinking water and wastewater programs. |
| Three SDS documents (selected for water/wastewater chemicals, OSHA HazCom 2012 GHS format); SDS extraction worksheets; operator log templates (modeled on generic state drinking water log format); chain-of-custody form templates; red-pen correction sets; sample regulatory guidance on operator recordkeeping (generic state drinking water program reference) | SDS extraction worksheet: all four required sections located and summarized correctly for all three chemicals (one critical omission = unsatisfactory); shift log rated on a rubric: entries complete, units correct, no ambiguous language (≥80% of rubric points to pass); chain-of-custody correction memo identifies all intentional errors with accurate regulatory consequence statements. |
| 6 | Digital Tools: Spreadsheets, CMMS, and Online Reporting Portals | 18 | lab | Students will use a spreadsheet to calculate and graph operational data, navigate a simulated CMMS work-order interface, and accurately enter monitoring data into a simulated state online reporting portal. |
| Computers with internet access and spreadsheet software; CMMS simulation module or printed CMMS scenario packets; mock state online reporting portal (instructor-built web form or scenario worksheets); one week of hypothetical operational data handout; graphing rubric; CMMS work-order rubric | Spreadsheet: correct formula logic, accurate weekly averages, threshold flags visible, graph labeled correctly (instructor checks formulas, ≥80% of rubric points); CMMS work order: all required fields completed without critical omissions; mock portal: all data entered in correct fields with correct units and the MCL exceedance trigger correctly identified (any data-entry error in the MCL scenario = redo). |
| 7 | Career Readiness, Professional Conduct, and Licensing Pathways | 18 | theory | Students will describe the employment landscape and career ladder for water and wastewater operators, articulate the Class I and Class II licensing requirements and exam domains in their state, and produce a professional resume and cover letter targeted to an entry-level operator position. |
| State licensing board website access; state operator exam candidate handbook or bulletin (current version); panel speaker coordination materials; entry-level job posting (real or simulated); resume and cover letter templates; peer-review checklist; professional communication rubric | Licensing research presentation rated by instructor: all key Class I and II requirements accurately stated (any inaccurate legal claim about scope of practice = correction required before sign-off); written reflection ≥200 words showing specific connection between panel content and student career plan; resume and cover letter meet all items on employer-perspective checklist (resume must list OSHA 10 and CPR credentials and include no factual errors about the student's own background). |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safety and Hazard Recognition Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | ≥80% correct (40 of 50 questions) | A 50-question multiple-choice exam covering OSHA 10 general industry standards, lockout/tagout procedures, permit-required confined space requirements, PPE selection for water/wastewater hazards, SDS interpretation, and First Aid/CPR recognition; question style mirrors the general knowledge and safety domains of State Water and Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing exams. Students must also present their OSHA 10 completion card and First Aid/CPR certification card to be marked complete on this assessment. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Trade Mathematics Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | ≥75% correct (15 of 20 questions); calculator and formula sheet permitted | A 20-question timed exam (60 minutes) covering unit conversion, volume and flow calculations, detention time, chemical dosage, percent solutions, and chlorine dosage/demand/residual problems at the complexity level of State Water and Wastewater Operator Class I–II exam math domains; students may use a non-programmable calculator and the state-standard operator math formula sheet only, replicating actual licensing exam conditions. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Integrated Documentation Project | Project | 25% | ≥80% of total rubric points; no critical error in any safety-sensitive field | Students receive a realistic scenario packet describing one week of operations at a small community water system and a wastewater facility; they must produce a complete operator shift log, a chemical dosage calculation with all steps shown, a correctly completed chain-of-custody form for a compliance sample, and a one-page spreadsheet summary with a graph—packaged as a professional operator's weekly documentation binder submitted for instructor evaluation against a detailed rubric. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
| Career and Licensing Readiness Oral Defense | Oral / panel | 25% | ≥80% of rubric points across all four categories; any legally inaccurate statement about scope of practice must be corrected on the spot to pass | In a 10-minute one-on-one session with the instructor (and optionally a guest industry evaluator), each student presents their professional portfolio—OSHA 10 card, CPR card, resume, cover letter, and licensing research summary—then answers four to six questions drawn from the following areas: a safety scenario requiring PPE or LOTO decision-making, a math problem solved aloud, an SDS question, and a question about the legal difference between operating with and without a state operator license; responses are scored on accuracy, clarity, and professional communication. Accuracy · Safety · Communication · Professionalism |
AGR-WATE71-02 Trade course
Water Chemistry for Operators
146 hr · $1,840 COMPLIMENTARY
This course builds the chemical and physical knowledge operators need to monitor, interpret, and adjust water quality in drinking-water and wastewater systems. Students learn to measure key parameters, interpret results against regulatory standards, and make safe, accurate chemical dosing decisions. Lessons map directly to the chemistry and water-quality sections of the State Water Operator Class I–II and State Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing exams.
Outcomes- Identify and explain the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water that operators must monitor in drinking-water and wastewater systems.
- Correctly perform bench-scale measurements of pH, turbidity, hardness, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorine residual, and basic nutrient parameters using standard laboratory procedures.
- Calculate chemical dosing requirements using concentration, flow rate, and contact-time relationships for common treatment chemicals.
- Interpret water-quality test results against applicable regulatory benchmarks and determine whether corrective action is required.
- Demonstrate safe chemical handling, storage, and spill-response procedures in compliance with OSHA Hazard Communication (HazCom) and applicable Safety Data Sheet requirements.
- Record, organize, and communicate water-quality data accurately using operator logbooks and basic spreadsheet tools.
Course text
This course builds the chemical and physical knowledge operators need to monitor, interpret, and adjust water quality in drinking-water and wastewater systems. Students learn to measure key parameters, interpret results against regulatory standards, and make safe, accurate chemical dosing decisions. Lessons map directly to the chemistry and water-quality sections of the State Water Operator Class I–II and State Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing exams.
How the course runs. 12 blocks: Properties of Water: Physical and Chemical Fundamentals; The pH Scale, Acids, Bases, and Alkalinity; Turbidity, Suspended Solids, and Color; Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, and Scaling; Dissolved Oxygen, BOD, and the Oxygen Demand Concept; Chlorine Chemistry and Disinfection; Chlorine Residual Testing and Chemical Safety; Nutrients: Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Water and Wastewater; Corrosion, Scale, and Chemical Stabilization; Chemical Dosing Calculations and Feed Systems; Microbiological Water Quality: Indicators and Pathogens; Integrated Water-Quality Monitoring and Data Recording.
What competent looks like. Identify and explain the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of water that operators must monitor in drinking-water and wastewater systems. Correctly perform bench-scale measurements of pH, turbidity, hardness, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorine residual, and basic nutrient parameters using standard laboratory procedures. Calculate chemical dosing requirements using concentration, flow rate, and contact-time relationships for common treatment chemicals. Interpret water-quality test results against applicable regulatory benchmarks and determine whether corrective action is required. Demonstrate safe chemical handling, storage, and spill-response procedures in compliance with OSHA Hazard Communication (HazCom) and applicable Safety Data Sheet requirements. Record, organize, and communicate water-quality data accurately using operator logbooks and basic spreadsheet tools.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Properties of Water: Physical and Chemical Fundamentals | 10.5 | theory | Students will explain the molecular structure of water and describe how polarity, density, specific heat, and the water cycle affect treatment operations. |
| Whiteboard, projector, AWWA Water Quality and Treatment reference (current edition), student notebooks, property-matching worksheet. | Scored worksheet: students correctly match and explain at least 8 of 10 property-scenario pairs (80% pass mark). |
| 2 | The pH Scale, Acids, Bases, and Alkalinity | 12.5 | lab | Students will measure pH and alkalinity of water samples using a calibrated pH meter and titration, and explain why these parameters matter for corrosion control and disinfection. |
| Benchtop pH meters, buffer solutions (pH 4, 7, 10), burettes, volumetric flasks, sulfuric acid titrant (0.02 N), phenolphthalein and bromcresol green indicators, water samples, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (current edition), safety glasses, nitrile gloves, lab aprons. | Lab log entry graded: pH calibration within ±0.05 of buffer value; alkalinity titration results within ±5 mg/L of instructor-prepared known sample; dose calculation correct to within 5% (all three criteria must be met to pass). |
| 3 | Turbidity, Suspended Solids, and Color | 10.5 | lab | Students will measure turbidity in NTU using a nephelometer and total suspended solids by gravimetric method, and relate results to treatment performance standards. |
| Benchtop nephelometer, turbidity standards, glass-fiber filters (0.45 µm), filtration apparatus, drying oven, analytical balance, water samples with varying solids, regulatory reference handout, Standard Methods, safety glasses, gloves. | Gravimetric TSS result within ±10 mg/L of known prepared sample; turbidity reading within ±0.5 NTU of standard at low range; student correctly states applicable regulatory limit on an exit slip (80% pass mark across all three checks). |
| 4 | Hardness, Calcium, Magnesium, and Scaling | 11.5 | lab | Students will determine total hardness and calcium hardness by EDTA titration and calculate the Langelier Saturation Index to predict scale or corrosion tendency. |
| Burettes, EDTA titrant (0.01 M), Eriochrome Black T indicator, murexide indicator, buffer solution (pH 10), water samples, LSI formula sheet, calculator, Standard Methods, safety glasses, gloves, lab aprons. | Titration results within ±10 mg/L as CaCO3 of instructor-prepared known; all five LSI classifications correct on exercise (80% pass mark); lab log entry complete and legible. |
| 5 | Dissolved Oxygen, BOD, and the Oxygen Demand Concept | 13.5 | lab | Students will measure dissolved oxygen using a DO meter and Winkler titration, set up a 5-day BOD test, and explain why BOD is a critical parameter in wastewater treatment. |
| DO meter and probe, Winkler titration reagents (manganese sulfate, alkaline iodide, sulfuric acid, sodium thiosulfate), BOD bottles, incubator set to standard temperature, dilution water, wastewater samples, fill-in notes guide, Standard Methods, safety glasses, gloves, lab aprons. | DO meter reading within ±0.5 mg/L of Winkler titration on same sample; BOD5 calculation correct to within 5% on instructor-provided dataset; lab log entry shows all required data fields completed (all three required to pass). |
| 6 | Chlorine Chemistry and Disinfection | 14.5 | theory | Students will explain free chlorine, combined chlorine, and total chlorine chemistry, describe breakpoint chlorination, and calculate chlorine dose, demand, and residual. |
| Projector, breakpoint chlorination curve handout, calculation worksheet, AWWA Chlorination/Chloramination reference or equivalent operator manual, student notebooks. | Calculation worksheet: students correctly solve at least 4 of 5 dose/demand/residual problems within 5% of correct answer (80% pass mark); annotated breakpoint diagram reviewed by instructor for accuracy. |
| 7 | Chlorine Residual Testing and Chemical Safety | 12.5 | lab | Students will measure free and total chlorine residual using the DPD colorimetric method, and demonstrate safe handling and storage of chlorine-based chemicals according to SDS requirements. |
| DPD reagent tablets or powder, color-wheel comparator, digital colorimeter, water samples dosed with sodium hypochlorite, SDS for sodium and calcium hypochlorite, PPE (face shield, splash goggles, nitrile gloves, aprons), spill kit, SDS worksheet, Standard Methods. | DPD results within ±0.2 mg/L of instructor-prepared known sample; SDS worksheet scored at 80% or above; PPE donning/doffing checklist: all critical steps (eye protection, glove integrity check, correct doff sequence) completed without instructor correction (all three required to pass). |
| 8 | Nutrients: Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Water and Wastewater | 11.5 | theory | Students will trace the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, identify the forms of each nutrient measured in water and wastewater, and explain why nutrient control is required in treatment. |
| Projector, nitrogen and phosphorus cycle diagrams (handout), sample plant data table, eutrophication case-study reading, AWWA or WEF operator reference. | Labeled cycle diagram checked for accuracy (all major forms and transformations correctly placed); data exercise: removal calculations within ±2% of correct answer and compliance determination correct; case-study questions scored at 80% or above (all three required to pass). |
| 9 | Corrosion, Scale, and Chemical Stabilization | 10.5 | theory | Students will identify the electrochemical mechanisms of pipe corrosion, explain methods operators use to control corrosion and scale formation, and calculate a basic corrosion-inhibitor dose. |
| Corroded pipe sections or high-resolution photographs, reference tables for corrosion control, calculation worksheet, AWWA Distribution System Requirements for Fire Protection or equivalent operator manual, student notebooks. | Pipe-section identification: at least 4 of 5 samples correctly identified with cause and response (80% pass mark); dose calculation within 5% of correct answer; structured notes reviewed for completeness. |
| 10 | Chemical Dosing Calculations and Feed Systems | 14.5 | practice | Students will solve multi-step chemical dosing problems involving unit conversions, percent solutions, and feed-pump settings for the chemicals commonly used in water and wastewater treatment. |
| Scientific calculators, dosing calculation worksheet, peristaltic pump, graduated cylinder, stopwatch, chemical feed tubing, water (plain, for simulation), unit-conversion reference card. | Calculation worksheet: at least 8 of 10 problems solved correctly within 5% of correct answer (80% pass mark); pump calibration output within ±5% of target; all five errors in the error-analysis exercise correctly identified and explained. |
| 11 | Microbiological Water Quality: Indicators and Pathogens | 11.5 | theory | Students will identify the major categories of waterborne pathogens and explain how indicator organisms are used to assess microbiological water quality and guide treatment decisions. |
| Projector, coliform result interpretation worksheet, blank diagram template for barrier mapping, AWWA Waterborne Pathogens reference or equivalent, marker pens. | Coliform worksheet: all violation determinations and required responses correct (100% required for this safety-critical item); barrier diagram reviewed by instructor for at least four correctly labeled barriers with accurate pathogen and mechanism annotations. |
| 12 | Integrated Water-Quality Monitoring and Data Recording | 12.5 | field | Students will conduct a simulated monitoring round at a practice panel or training facility, measure at least five water-quality parameters, record data in a standard operator logbook, and flag any out-of-range results for supervisor review. |
| pH meter, turbidity meter, DPD chlorine test kit, DO meter, thermometer, calibrated instruments, standard operator logbook forms, checklist for data review, regulatory reference handout, PPE (safety glasses, gloves). | Logbook entry: all required fields complete, units correct, and no uncorrected blanks (pass/fail, all fields required); peer data-quality review checklist completed accurately; out-of-range response note addresses measurement meaning, immediate action, and reporting requirement at 80% quality rating using an instructor rubric. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water Chemistry Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% or higher (38 of 50 items correct) | A 50-question multiple-choice and short-answer written exam covering all lesson content: water properties, pH and alkalinity, turbidity, hardness, dissolved oxygen, BOD, chlorine chemistry, nutrients, corrosion, microbiology, and dosing calculations. Items are written at the cognitive level required by State Water Operator Class I–II and State Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing exams, including calculation problems requiring unit conversion and formula application. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Chemical Dosing and Measurement Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | All critical steps performed correctly; calculation within ±5% of correct answer; instructor checklist score of 80% or higher on procedural steps | Each student independently calibrates a pH meter or DO probe, measures a prepared water sample for at least two parameters (chlorine residual and one assigned parameter), and solves one on-the-spot chemical dosing problem given a flow rate and target residual. The instructor scores performance using a structured checklist covering instrument calibration procedure, measurement technique, correct PPE, data recording, and calculation accuracy. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Laboratory Log Portfolio | Log | 15% | 80% of entries rated as complete and accurate on the instructor's rubric; no safety omissions accepted | Students submit the lab log maintained throughout the course, which must contain dated entries for every lab lesson (pH/alkalinity titration, turbidity/TSS, hardness/LSI, DO/BOD, DPD chlorine, and the field monitoring round). Each entry is evaluated for completeness (all data fields present), accuracy of calculations, correct units, legible handwriting or typed format, and notation of any anomalous results. Missing safety observations or SDS references in relevant entries result in automatic resubmission. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Chemical Safety and PPE Check | Safety audit | 15% | Pass/fail: all critical safety behaviors must be demonstrated correctly; any critical failure requires immediate remediation and recheck before the student may continue lab work | The instructor conducts a direct observation assessment in which each student reads an SDS for an assigned treatment chemical, selects the correct PPE from a supplied kit, dons and doffs the PPE in the proper sequence, identifies storage incompatibilities for the chemical, and describes the correct spill-response steps. Critical behaviors (eye protection worn before chemical contact, gloves inspected before use, correct doff sequence to prevent self-contamination) are evaluated on a binary pass/fail checklist aligned with OSHA HazCom requirements. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
AGR-WATE71-03 Trade course
Water and Wastewater Treatment Processes
146 hr · $1,840 COMPLIMENTARY
This course covers the physical, chemical, and biological unit processes used in drinking water and wastewater treatment, from raw-water intake through finished effluent discharge. Students learn how each process works, how to operate and troubleshoot it safely, and how to document performance in compliance with state operator licensing requirements. Lessons are mapped directly to the process-knowledge domains tested on Class I–II water and wastewater operator licensing exams.
Outcomes- Explain the purpose, operating principles, and sequence of major unit processes in both drinking water and wastewater treatment systems.
- Calculate chemical feed rates, detention times, and hydraulic loading rates for common treatment processes using standard operator formulas.
- Adjust process controls—including coagulant dose, chlorine residual, aeration rate, and sludge wasting rate—to maintain permit-compliant effluent quality.
- Identify and correct common process upsets such as filter breakthrough, sludge bulking, and inadequate disinfection residual using systematic troubleshooting procedures.
- Apply OSHA-required safety practices including confined-space entry procedures, chemical handling protocols, and lockout/tagout when operating or maintaining treatment equipment.
- Record process data, prepare daily operating logs, and interpret trend data to support regulatory reporting.
Course text
This course covers the physical, chemical, and biological unit processes used in drinking water and wastewater treatment, from raw-water intake through finished effluent discharge. Students learn how each process works, how to operate and troubleshoot it safely, and how to document performance in compliance with state operator licensing requirements. Lessons are mapped directly to the process-knowledge domains tested on Class I–II water and wastewater operator licensing exams.
How the course runs. 12 blocks: Overview of Water and Wastewater Treatment Systems; Chemical Safety and Hazard Communication in Treatment Plants; Screening, Grit Removal, and Preliminary Treatment; Coagulation, Flocculation, and Sedimentation; Filtration: Rapid Sand and Membrane Processes; Disinfection: Chlorination, UV, and Alternative Methods; Primary and Secondary Wastewater Treatment; Biological Process Control and Troubleshooting; Solids Handling: Thickening, Digestion, and Dewatering; Confined Space Entry, Lockout/Tagout, and Fall Protection in Treatment Plants; Process Monitoring, Instrumentation, and SCADA; Integrated Process Review, Operational Calculations, and Exam Mapping.
What competent looks like. Explain the purpose, operating principles, and sequence of major unit processes in both drinking water and wastewater treatment systems. Calculate chemical feed rates, detention times, and hydraulic loading rates for common treatment processes using standard operator formulas. Adjust process controls—including coagulant dose, chlorine residual, aeration rate, and sludge wasting rate—to maintain permit-compliant effluent quality. Identify and correct common process upsets such as filter breakthrough, sludge bulking, and inadequate disinfection residual using systematic troubleshooting procedures. Apply OSHA-required safety practices including confined-space entry procedures, chemical handling protocols, and lockout/tagout when operating or maintaining treatment equipment. Record process data, prepare daily operating logs, and interpret trend data to support regulatory reporting.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overview of Water and Wastewater Treatment Systems | 10.5 | theory | Students will trace the flow of water through a complete drinking water treatment train and through a conventional activated-sludge wastewater plant, naming each unit process and stating its function. |
| AWWA Water Treatment operator manual (current edition), state drinking water and wastewater operator study guides, blank process flow diagram worksheets, projector for virtual plant tour video. | Score ≥ 70% on a 20-question written quiz requiring students to correctly sequence unit processes and state the primary function of each; instructor reviews labeled diagrams for completeness. |
| 2 | Chemical Safety and Hazard Communication in Treatment Plants | 10.5 | theory | Students will identify the hazards of chemicals commonly used in water and wastewater treatment—including chlorine gas, sodium hypochlorite, alum, and ammonia—and demonstrate proper SDS lookup, PPE selection, and emergency response procedures. |
| SDS binder for treatment chemicals, PPE samples (goggles, face shield, nitrile and butyl gloves, apron, half-face respirator with appropriate cartridges), OSHA Hazard Communication standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) summary handout, emergency response plan template. | Pass a PPE donning skills check with zero critical errors (defined as failure to protect eyes, face, or hands); score ≥ 70% on a 15-question SDS and chemical hazard written quiz. |
| 3 | Screening, Grit Removal, and Preliminary Treatment | 10.5 | demo | Students will describe the design and operation of bar screens, mechanical screens, and grit chambers at the headworks of a water intake or wastewater plant, and calculate screenings and grit quantities for disposal. |
| Cutaway diagrams of bar screens and grit chambers (manufacturer literature), physical bench-scale screen model if available, operator math formula sheet, equipment inspection log form, calculator. | Correctly solve at least 2 of 3 calculation problems (work shown); complete the inspection checklist with all critical items checked and a brief written note on one observed or simulated deficiency. |
| 4 | Coagulation, Flocculation, and Sedimentation | 14.5 | lab | Students will perform a jar test to determine optimum coagulant dose for a turbid water sample, then explain how flocculation and sedimentation basin design parameters—including detention time and overflow rate—affect settled-water quality. |
| Jar-test apparatus (six-position stirrer), alum solution, turbid water sample, turbidimeter, graduated cylinders, operator reference manual (AWWA or state equivalent), calculator, lab notebook. | Jar-test report identifies the correct optimum dose (within the instructor-established acceptable range), turbidity removal ≥ 80% at that dose, and both sedimentation calculations are correct; lab notebook entry is complete and legible. |
| 5 | Filtration: Rapid Sand and Membrane Processes | 12.5 | demo | Students will explain the mechanisms of filtration in a rapid sand filter and in membrane systems (microfiltration/ultrafiltration), identify conditions that indicate a filter needs backwashing, and describe the backwash sequence. |
| Bench-scale rapid sand filter (or PVC column model), filter sand, turbid coagulated water, turbidimeter, head-loss gauge, filter run log form, sample membrane system operating data printout, AWWA Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration Membranes manual excerpt. | Student correctly identifies the turbidity breakthrough point on the filter run log and states two conditions requiring backwash initiation; successfully sequences all backwash steps in correct order on a written step-sequence exercise (≥ 80% correct steps). |
| 6 | Disinfection: Chlorination, UV, and Alternative Methods | 14.5 | lab | Students will calculate chlorine dose, demand, and residual for a water sample, explain CT concept for pathogen inactivation, and demonstrate safe operation of a chlorine feed system including cylinder handling and leak detection. |
| DPD colorimetric test kit or spectrophotometer, water samples, sodium hypochlorite solution, CT value reference table (from state study guide or EPA guidance), chemical feed log form, chlorine cylinder (water-filled training prop) or demonstration video, leak-detection solution, PPE (goggles, gloves, apron). | Chlorine demand calculations correct to within ±0.1 mg/L on at least two of three problems; CT calculation correct on at least two of three problems; cylinder change-out demonstration completed with zero safety errors on the instructor checklist. |
| 7 | Primary and Secondary Wastewater Treatment | 12.5 | theory | Students will explain how primary sedimentation removes settleable solids and how biological secondary treatment—activated sludge and trickling filters—uses microbial metabolism to reduce BOD and suspended solids in wastewater. |
| Wastewater operator study guide (state or WPCF/WEF manual), BOD/TSS calculation worksheets, activated-sludge process diagram handout, case study handouts, calculator. | All three primary-treatment calculations correct; activated-sludge diagram labeled with all major components and flow paths; both case-study response sets earn ≥ 70% on the instructor rubric. |
| 8 | Biological Process Control and Troubleshooting | 12.5 | practice | Students will calculate mean cell residence time (sludge age) and food-to-microorganism ratio, adjust wasting rate to reach a target sludge age, and identify the cause of common biological upsets including sludge bulking and rising sludge. |
| SRT/F:M calculation worksheets, microscope or printed photomicrographs of activated sludge floc types, troubleshooting scenario cards, blank troubleshooting log forms, calculator, WEF Operation of Water Resource Recovery Facilities manual excerpt. | SRT calculation correct and wasting adjustment logically derived (within ±5% of instructor answer key); floc identification correct for all three image types; troubleshooting log for at least three scenarios earns ≥ 70% on the rubric for correct cause identification and reasonable corrective action. |
| 9 | Solids Handling: Thickening, Digestion, and Dewatering | 10.5 | demo | Students will describe the purpose and operating principles of gravity thickening, anaerobic digestion, and mechanical dewatering, and calculate solids loading and volatile solids reduction for a digester. |
| Digester volatile solids reduction calculation worksheet, EPA Part 503 rule summary handout (general overview, not specific numeric values), thickener/dewatering observation form, calculator, WEF solids handling manual excerpt or state operator manual chapter. | Volatile solids reduction calculation correct; observation form fully completed with all labeled components; note-taking guide captures class A vs. class B distinction and two pathogen reduction strategies—reviewed by instructor for accuracy. |
| 10 | Confined Space Entry, Lockout/Tagout, and Fall Protection in Treatment Plants | 12.5 | practice | Students will apply OSHA permit-required confined-space entry procedures and lockout/tagout protocols to realistic treatment-plant scenarios, correctly identifying hazards, required equipment, and the roles of entrant, attendant, and entry supervisor. |
| OSHA confined space entry permit forms, personal gas monitor (4-gas or equivalent), lockout/tagout training kit (hasp, locks, tags, training pump), OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 and 1910.147 summary handouts, NIOSH FACE report excerpts, PPE (harness, retrieval line for demonstration). | Confined-space permit completed with all required fields and no safety-critical omissions; LOTO demonstration completed with zero critical errors (any failure to verify zero energy is an automatic fail); all three case-study corrections correctly identified—instructor signs off on skills checklist. |
| 11 | Process Monitoring, Instrumentation, and SCADA | 12.5 | practice | Students will read, calibrate, and interpret data from common treatment-plant instruments—including turbidimeters, pH meters, dissolved oxygen meters, and flow meters—and explain how SCADA systems are used to monitor and control treatment processes remotely. |
| pH meter with buffer standards (4, 7, 10), DO meter with calibration cap, turbidimeter, prepared water samples, calibration log forms, printed SCADA trend chart (one week of data), instrument troubleshooting reference card. | Calibration logs completed correctly for both meters with calibration within manufacturer-specified accuracy range; at least two SCADA anomalies correctly identified with plausible causes; meter troubleshooting exercise ≥ 70% correct matches. |
| 12 | Integrated Process Review, Operational Calculations, and Exam Mapping | 12.5 | practice | Students will solve a comprehensive set of operational calculations spanning all treatment processes covered in the course, identify which calculation types appear on Class I–II water and wastewater operator licensing exams, and demonstrate readiness on a timed practice assessment. |
| Mixed calculation problem set (instructor-prepared), operator math formula sheet, Class I–II exam content outline (water and wastewater, from state licensing authority), personal study matrix template, calculators. | Score ≥ 70% on the 30-problem timed calculation set; study matrix completed with all course lessons mapped and weak areas identified; corrective action plan presentation earns ≥ 70% on a rubric assessing accuracy of process diagnosis and prioritization of actions. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment Processes Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 70% or higher (35 of 50 questions correct) | A 50-question written exam covering unit process theory, operational calculations, process control concepts, and regulatory context for both water and wastewater treatment, mapped to Class I–II licensing exam content domains. Questions include multiple choice, short calculation, and process-identification items administered under timed, closed-book conditions with only the standard operator formula sheet permitted. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Process Operations Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | No critical safety errors; ≥ 70% of performance items rated satisfactory on the instructor checklist | Students perform three observed tasks selected by the instructor from: jar test with dose optimization, chlorine demand test and residual calculation, bench-scale filter backwash sequence, pH and DO meter calibration, and LOTO procedure on a training pump. Each task is scored on a binary (satisfactory/unsatisfactory) checklist; any critical safety error (unprotected chemical exposure, failure to verify zero energy state) results in an automatic fail and required remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Laboratory and Field Log Portfolio | Log | 15% | All required entries present; ≥ 70% of entries rated complete and accurate on the rubric | Students submit the complete set of lab notebooks and data log forms completed during hands-on lessons, including jar-test data, filter run logs, chlorine demand worksheets, calibration logs, digester calculation sheets, and confined-space entry permits. Entries are evaluated for accuracy of data recording, completeness of calculations, and legibility, reflecting the standard expected of a licensed operator completing daily operating records. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Chemical and Confined-Space Safety Check | Safety audit | 15% | Zero critical errors; all items on the safety checklist rated satisfactory | A practical safety evaluation in which each student independently demonstrates: correct PPE selection and donning for a specified chemical hazard, proper SDS lookup and hazard identification for an assigned chemical, and completion of a confined-space entry permit for a given scenario. Any failure to protect against an identified hazard or any omission of a required permit field constitutes a critical error requiring immediate remediation before the student may continue with externship placement. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
AGR-WATE71-04 Trade course
Pumps & Distribution Systems
146 hr · $1,840 COMPLIMENTARY
Students learn to select, operate, troubleshoot, and maintain the pumps, pipelines, valves, meters, and storage facilities that move treated water from the plant to customers. Emphasis is placed on hydraulic principles, pump curves, system pressure management, and cross-connection control as required for State Water Operator Class I–II licensure. Safe work practices including confined space entry, lockout/tagout, and electrical hazard awareness are integrated throughout.
Outcomes- Apply hydraulic principles—head, pressure, flow, friction loss—to analyze and adjust a water distribution system.
- Read and interpret pump curves and system curves to select an appropriate pump operating point for given system conditions.
- Safely perform startup, shutdown, routine maintenance, and basic troubleshooting on centrifugal and submersible pumps following lockout/tagout and PPE procedures.
- Operate and document the performance of valves, meters, hydrants, pressure-reducing valves, and storage tanks in a distribution system.
- Identify and correct cross-connection hazards and explain the regulatory basis for backflow prevention and cross-connection control programs.
- Calculate disinfectant dosages for distribution system maintenance, including pipeline disinfection, using CT concepts and standard formulas.
Course text
Students learn to select, operate, troubleshoot, and maintain the pumps, pipelines, valves, meters, and storage facilities that move treated water from the plant to customers. Emphasis is placed on hydraulic principles, pump curves, system pressure management, and cross-connection control as required for State Water Operator Class I–II licensure. Safe work practices including confined space entry, lockout/tagout, and electrical hazard awareness are integrated throughout.
How the course runs. 12 blocks: Hydraulic Fundamentals for Distribution; Pump Types, Components, and Selection; Reading and Applying Pump Curves; Pump Station Safety: LOTO, Electrical, and Confined Space; Pump Operation, Startup, and Shutdown; Valves, Hydrants, and Pressure Control Devices; Distribution System Meters and Water Accounting; Storage Tanks and Distribution System Pressure Management; Pipeline Materials, Installation, and Repair; Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention; Distribution System Disinfection and Water Quality Maintenance; Troubleshooting, System Records, and SCADA Basics.
What competent looks like. Apply hydraulic principles—head, pressure, flow, friction loss—to analyze and adjust a water distribution system. Read and interpret pump curves and system curves to select an appropriate pump operating point for given system conditions. Safely perform startup, shutdown, routine maintenance, and basic troubleshooting on centrifugal and submersible pumps following lockout/tagout and PPE procedures. Operate and document the performance of valves, meters, hydrants, pressure-reducing valves, and storage tanks in a distribution system. Identify and correct cross-connection hazards and explain the regulatory basis for backflow prevention and cross-connection control programs. Calculate disinfectant dosages for distribution system maintenance, including pipeline disinfection, using CT concepts and standard formulas.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hydraulic Fundamentals for Distribution | 13 | theory | Students calculate pressure, head, flow velocity, and friction loss using the Hazen–Williams equation and convert freely among common hydraulic units. |
| Whiteboard, Hazen–Williams nomographs, scientific calculators, AWWA M32 Distribution Network Analysis reference, pipe friction loss tables, student workbooks | Graded 15-question hydraulics quiz; students must score ≥75% to advance; instructor reviews each missed item individually before the next lesson. |
| 2 | Pump Types, Components, and Selection | 13 | theory | Students identify the major types of pumps used in water distribution—centrifugal, turbine, submersible, and booster—and explain the function of each major internal component. |
| Cutaway centrifugal pump display model, disassembled pump for inspection, feeler gauges, pump manufacturer's O&M manual, AWWA M49 Butterfly Valves and AWWA M51 Air-Release/Air-Vacuum Valves references, student inspection forms | Students correctly label all eight major pump components on a blank diagram and answer five short-answer questions on pump selection; pass mark is 75%. |
| 3 | Reading and Applying Pump Curves | 10.5 | demo | Students overlay a pump curve and a system curve to determine the operating point and predict the effect of impeller trimming or parallel pump operation. |
| Manufacturer pump performance data sheets, graph paper or spreadsheet software, scientific calculators, sample system design drawings, AWWA Water Distribution Operator Training Handbook | Students submit their completed pump/system curve graph with operating point identified and labeled; instructor checks that the plotted operating point is within ±5% of the correct answer and that efficiency and NPSH adequacy are noted; pass mark is 75%. |
| 4 | Pump Station Safety: LOTO, Electrical, and Confined Space | 13 | practice | Students execute a full lockout/tagout procedure on a simulated pump station and identify confined space entry requirements that apply to wet wells and valve vaults. |
| LOTO training panel, personal padlocks and tags, calibrated 4-gas confined space monitor, confined space entry permit forms, tripod and retrieval system, PPE (hard hat, gloves, safety glasses, hearing protection), OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 and 1910.146 texts | OSHA-style skills checklist: each student must correctly complete all steps of both the LOTO and confined space permit procedures with zero critical errors; any critical error (failure to verify zero energy; entry without permit) requires repeat of the entire exercise before the next lesson. |
| 5 | Pump Operation, Startup, and Shutdown | 13 | lab | Students start, operate, and shut down a centrifugal pump following a written standard operating procedure and record performance data including flow, suction pressure, discharge pressure, amperage, and vibration. |
| Lab pump trainer (centrifugal pump with suction and discharge gauges, flow meter, clamp meter), vibration tester or handheld probe, operations log forms, SOP template, hearing protection, safety glasses | Student operations log must contain all required data fields completed accurately and the post-run analysis must correctly identify whether each parameter is within the acceptable range; pass mark is 75% of data fields correct with no safety-critical steps skipped. |
| 6 | Valves, Hydrants, and Pressure Control Devices | 13 | demo | Students identify, operate, and document gate valves, butterfly valves, check valves, pressure-reducing valves, and fire hydrants, and explain when each is used in a distribution system. |
| Valve specimen collection (gate, butterfly, check, ball, PRV), PRV trainer bench, pressure gauges, training fire hydrant, pitot gauge and diffuser, hydrant flow test form, AWWA M17 Installation of Ductile Iron Mains reference, safety glasses, gloves | Students correctly identify all six valve types and complete the hydrant flow test form with all required fields; instructor verifies flow test calculations; pass mark is 75%. |
| 7 | Distribution System Meters and Water Accounting | 10.5 | theory | Students explain how positive-displacement, turbine, electromagnetic, and ultrasonic meters work, read meter data, and calculate system water loss using production and billing records. |
| Meter cross-section diagrams, simulated meter reading cards, sample monthly water production and billing dataset, scientific calculators, AWWA M6 Water Meters reference, student workbooks | Students submit the comparison matrix, meter reading worksheet, and water loss calculation; all three must be ≥75% correct for pass; errors in NRW percentage calculation are discussed individually. |
| 8 | Storage Tanks and Distribution System Pressure Management | 10.5 | theory | Students calculate the hydraulic grade contributed by an elevated storage tank and explain how tank cycling, booster stations, and pressure zones maintain system pressure within acceptable bounds. |
| Distribution system map (instructor-created for the course), scientific calculators, AWWA M42 Steel Water Storage Facilities reference, AWWA D100 standard summary, elevation profile drawings, student workbooks | Students submit pressure calculation problems and hydraulic grade line sketch; pass mark is 75% on calculations; instructor verifies the grade line direction is correct before advancing. |
| 9 | Pipeline Materials, Installation, and Repair | 10.5 | field | Students identify common distribution pipe materials, describe standard installation and bedding requirements, and demonstrate a small-diameter pipe repair using a repair clamp and a corporation stop. |
| Pipe material specimens (DI, PVC C-900, HDPE, copper), repair clamps and gaskets, torque wrench, hand pressure test pump, pressure gauge, sandpit trench mockup, AWWA M23 and M41 references, maintenance work order forms, hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, steel-toed boots | Students must correctly identify all four pipe materials and complete the repair exercise; the repaired joint must hold specified test pressure with no drop for 10 minutes; a failed repair requires one repeat attempt before the lesson is considered passed. |
| 10 | Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention | 13 | theory | Students classify cross-connection hazard levels, select the correct backflow prevention assembly for a given hazard, and explain the regulatory framework for a utility cross-connection control program. |
| Backflow preventer specimens or cutaway models (AVB, PVB, DCVA, RPZ), hazard classification worksheet, sample utility cross-connection control program document, USEPA Cross-Connection Control Manual (excerpts), AWWA M14 Recommended Practice for Backflow Prevention reference, student workbooks | Students pass a 20-question written quiz on hazard classification and device selection at ≥75%; the one-page regulatory summary is reviewed for three required program elements. |
| 11 | Distribution System Disinfection and Water Quality Maintenance | 13 | lab | Students calculate chlorine dosage for new main disinfection, prepare a diluted hypochlorite solution, apply it to a simulated pipeline segment, and verify disinfection effectiveness with a colorimetric chlorine test. |
| Sodium hypochlorite solution (household-grade for training), graduated cylinders, mixing buckets, PVC pipe training loop with sample port, DPD colorimetric chlorine test kit, disinfection documentation forms, chemical-splash goggles, face shields, nitrile gloves, chemical-resistant apron, AWWA C651 Disinfecting Water Mains standard (excerpts), student workbooks | Students submit the completed dosage calculation and disinfection documentation form; the chlorine test result must meet the target residual within ±10%; calculation accuracy must be ≥75%; any chemical handling safety violation requires immediate stop and remediation before the student may continue. |
| 12 | Troubleshooting, System Records, and SCADA Basics | 13 | practice | Students diagnose common pump and distribution system problems from operational data, complete standard maintenance and work order records, and describe how SCADA systems monitor and control distribution components. |
| Troubleshooting scenario cards, diagnostic worksheets, pump maintenance log forms, valve exercise record forms, work order forms, SCADA training simulator or software (vendor-provided or instructor-built), computer workstations, AWWA Water Distribution Operator Training Handbook, student workbooks | Troubleshooting worksheets must identify the most likely cause correctly in at least four of five scenarios; record forms must be 100% complete with no blank required fields; pass mark for combined activity is 75%. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydraulics and Systems Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% or higher (38 of 50 questions correct) | A 50-question written exam covering hydraulic calculations (head, pressure, flow, friction loss), pump theory and curves, valve and meter types, storage and pressure zones, cross-connection control, and distribution disinfection—aligned to the theory content tested on the State Water Operator Class I–II written examination. Students have 90 minutes; the exam is closed-book except for a provided formula sheet. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Pump Operation and LOTO Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | All critical safety steps completed without error; overall checklist score ≥80% | Using the lab pump trainer and LOTO training panel, each student individually performs a full lockout/tagout procedure, executes a pump startup and shutdown sequence per the written SOP, records performance data, and explains one observed abnormal reading. An instructor scores the student on a standardized rubric; any critical safety error (failure to verify zero energy, bypass of pre-start checklist) constitutes an automatic failure requiring full remediation and retest. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Lab Log: Pump Operations and Disinfection Records | Log | 15% | All required entries present and ≥75% of calculations verified correct | Students submit their compiled lab log from Lessons 5 and 11, including the pump startup operations log with performance data, the post-run analysis comparing readings to pump curve values, the disinfection dosage calculation, solution preparation notes, and the disinfection documentation form with chlorine test results. The log is evaluated for completeness, accuracy of calculations, and professional documentation quality consistent with utility recordkeeping standards. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Safety Practices Check: Confined Space and Chemical Handling | Safety audit | 15% | Zero critical errors on both checklists; 100% of PPE steps correct | A direct-observation safety check combining the confined space permit and 4-gas monitor calibration procedure from Lesson 4 with the chemical handling protocol from Lesson 11. The instructor uses separate checklists for each task; any critical error—entering a simulated confined space without a completed permit, failing to don required chemical PPE before handling hypochlorite—results in an immediate stop, mandatory remediation, and a full repeat of both tasks before the course is considered passed. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
AGR-WATE71-05 Trade course
Sampling & Laboratory Procedures for Water and Wastewater Operations
146 hr · $1,840 COMPLIMENTARY
Students learn how to collect, preserve, handle, and analyze water and wastewater samples in accordance with standard methods accepted by state regulatory agencies and the US EPA. The course covers chain-of-custody documentation, common bench-top laboratory tests, and quality assurance/quality control practices required for regulatory compliance reporting. Lesson content maps directly to the sampling and laboratory competency areas tested on State Water and Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing exams.
Outcomes- Collect grab and composite samples from water distribution and wastewater collection systems using correct technique, container type, and preservation method for each analyte.
- Perform standard bench-top tests—including chlorine residual, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, coliform presence/absence, and basic wastewater parameters—following accepted standard methods and SOPs.
- Maintain complete and accurate chain-of-custody records, field logs, and laboratory notebooks that meet regulatory documentation requirements.
- Apply quality assurance and quality control procedures, including blanks, duplicates, and calibration checks, and identify when results are out of control and require corrective action.
- Identify laboratory safety hazards, apply appropriate PPE, handle and dispose of chemical reagents and biological samples in compliance with OSHA Hazard Communication standards, and respond correctly to spills.
- Interpret laboratory results in the context of permit limits and drinking water standards, recognize values that require operator action, and report findings accurately on standard regulatory forms.
Course text
Students learn how to collect, preserve, handle, and analyze water and wastewater samples in accordance with standard methods accepted by state regulatory agencies and the US EPA. The course covers chain-of-custody documentation, common bench-top laboratory tests, and quality assurance/quality control practices required for regulatory compliance reporting. Lesson content maps directly to the sampling and laboratory competency areas tested on State Water and Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing exams.
How the course runs. 12 blocks: Laboratory Safety and Hazard Communication in the Water/Wastewater Lab; Principles of Sampling: Why, When, and Where to Sample; Sample Collection Techniques: Containers, Preservation, and Holding Times; Chain of Custody and Laboratory Documentation; Chlorine Residual Testing: DPD Colorimetric and Amperometric Methods; pH, Dissolved Oxygen, and Turbidity Measurement; Microbiological Testing: Total Coliform and E. coli Presence/Absence; Wastewater Parameters: BOD, TSS, and Settleable Solids; Quality Assurance and Quality Control in the Environmental Lab; Laboratory Math: Dilutions, Concentrations, and Unit Conversions; Regulatory Reporting: Completing Monitoring Reports and Interpreting Results; Integrated Field Sampling and Lab Simulation Exercise.
What competent looks like. Collect grab and composite samples from water distribution and wastewater collection systems using correct technique, container type, and preservation method for each analyte. Perform standard bench-top tests—including chlorine residual, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, coliform presence/absence, and basic wastewater parameters—following accepted standard methods and SOPs. Maintain complete and accurate chain-of-custody records, field logs, and laboratory notebooks that meet regulatory documentation requirements. Apply quality assurance and quality control procedures, including blanks, duplicates, and calibration checks, and identify when results are out of control and require corrective action. Identify laboratory safety hazards, apply appropriate PPE, handle and dispose of chemical reagents and biological samples in compliance with OSHA Hazard Communication standards, and respond correctly to spills. Interpret laboratory results in the context of permit limits and drinking water standards, recognize values that require operator action, and report findings accurately on standard regulatory forms.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Laboratory Safety and Hazard Communication in the Water/Wastewater Lab | 10.5 | theory | Students will identify laboratory hazards specific to water and wastewater testing, select correct PPE for each task, locate Safety Data Sheets, and demonstrate proper chemical storage and spill response procedures. |
| Lab coat, nitrile gloves, splash goggles, face shield, chemical spill kit, SDS binder (facility-provided or EPA/OSHA online database), OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) summary poster, lab floor-plan handout | Scored checklist: student correctly identifies all emergency equipment locations, selects appropriate PPE without prompting, and narrates spill response with no critical safety steps omitted; pass = 80% or higher on checklist. |
| 2 | Principles of Sampling: Why, When, and Where to Sample | 10.5 | theory | Students will explain the regulatory basis for sampling requirements in drinking water and wastewater permits, distinguish between grab and composite sampling strategies, and match sampling location to the analyte and regulatory requirement. |
| Sample NPDES permit (publicly available model permit), state drinking water monitoring plan excerpt, facility P&ID diagram handout, AWWA Water Quality and Treatment reference, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater (current edition) overview chapter | Written quiz: 15 questions covering regulatory basis, grab vs. composite distinction, and sampling location rationale; pass = 75% or higher. |
| 3 | Sample Collection Techniques: Containers, Preservation, and Holding Times | 13 | demo | Students will select the correct sample container and preservation method for assigned analytes, demonstrate aseptic technique for microbiological samples, and record collection data that meet chain-of-custody requirements. |
| Sterile whirl-pak bags and sterile bottles with sodium thiosulfate for bacteriological sampling, amber glass BOD bottles, plastic bottles with H2SO4 for nutrient preservation, cooler with ice, thermometer, permanent markers, pre-printed field data sheets, Standard Methods preservation table (Method 1060) | Practical checklist per student at each station: correct container selected, preservative added correctly, aseptic technique maintained for micro samples, field sheet complete and accurate; pass = no critical errors on any station and 80% overall checklist score. |
| 4 | Chain of Custody and Laboratory Documentation | 8.5 | practice | Students will complete a chain-of-custody form from field collection through laboratory receipt, identify the documentation errors in a set of flawed sample records, and explain the legal importance of unbroken custody in regulatory compliance. |
| Blank COC forms (state environmental agency format or ELAP-style), flawed COC example set (instructor-prepared), sample custody seals, cooler with simulated samples, regulatory reference handout summarizing documentation requirements | Students correctly complete a COC form with zero missing required fields and identify at least four of five errors in the flawed-form exercise; pass = 80% accuracy on error identification and error-free own COC form. |
| 5 | Chlorine Residual Testing: DPD Colorimetric and Amperometric Methods | 13 | lab | Students will measure free and total chlorine residual in prepared samples using the DPD colorimetric method, compare results against an acceptable range, and correctly record and interpret findings relative to regulatory minimum residual requirements. |
| Portable colorimeter (DPD method), DPD reagent pillows or powder packs, chlorinated tap water samples, known-concentration chlorine standards, sample cells, deionized water, lab notebooks, state drinking water residual disinfectant requirement reference card | Calculated percent error on blind standards must be within ±10% of known value for at least two of three samples; lab notebook entry complete with date, method, raw data, calculated result, and interpretation; pass = all criteria met. |
| 6 | pH, Dissolved Oxygen, and Turbidity Measurement | 13 | lab | Students will calibrate and operate a pH meter, DO meter, and turbidimeter, collect and record accurate measurements from water and wastewater samples, and identify results that exceed permit or drinking water standard limits. |
| Benchtop or field pH meter, DO meter (electrochemical or optical), portable turbidimeter, pH buffer solutions, turbidity calibration standards, DO calibration reference, DI water, prepared samples, lab notebooks, instrument SOPs, sample permit limit reference sheet | Calibration data recorded before and after sample run; all sample results within ±5% of instructor-measured reference values; compliance statements accurate for all five samples; pass = 80% of criteria met with no omitted calibration entries. |
| 7 | Microbiological Testing: Total Coliform and E. coli Presence/Absence | 15 | lab | Students will inoculate presence/absence broth or a membrane filtration system with drinking water samples using aseptic technique, incubate cultures at the required temperature and time, and correctly read and record results according to the method. |
| P/A broth tubes or m-ColiBlue24 or equivalent membrane filtration media, sterile membrane filtration apparatus, incubator set to method temperature, sterile sample bottles with sodium thiosulfate, positive and negative controls, aseptic technique supplies (alcohol lamp or biosafety cabinet), lab notebooks, EPA Total Coliform Rule summary reference | Aseptic technique checklist (no contamination events observed); correct reading of positive and negative controls; accurate result recording and compliant interpretation statement; pass = all controls read correctly and no observed aseptic technique breaks. |
| 8 | Wastewater Parameters: BOD, TSS, and Settleable Solids | 15 | lab | Students will prepare and incubate BOD5 samples, filter and dry TSS samples, and measure settleable solids using an Imhoff cone, recording all data in the correct format and calculating final results in standard reporting units. |
| BOD bottles (300 mL), DO meter, 20°C BOD incubator, dilution water (aerated, seeded as needed), vacuum filtration unit, glass fiber filters (Whatman GF/C or equivalent), analytical balance (0.1 mg readability), drying oven, desiccator, Imhoff cones and stand, volumetric glassware, lab notebooks, Standard Methods BOD and TSS method reference pages | BOD calculation formula applied correctly with correct dilution factor; TSS result within ±10% of instructor reference value; settleable solids reading recorded with units; lab notebook entries complete; pass = correct calculation with no arithmetic errors and complete documentation. |
| 9 | Quality Assurance and Quality Control in the Environmental Lab | 13 | theory | Students will define QA/QC terms (blank, duplicate, spike, matrix spike, method detection limit), calculate percent recovery and relative percent difference, and determine whether a QC result is within acceptable control limits using a control chart. |
| QA/QC terminology handout, calculator, pre-drawn control chart worksheet, QC calculation problem set, case study QC summary sheet (instructor-prepared), Standard Methods QA/QC chapter excerpt, EPA QA/QC guidance for environmental labs reference | All four QC calculations correct (or within rounding); control chart plotted accurately; corrective action memo addresses all required elements; pass = 80% correct on calculation set and complete memo with no omitted required elements. |
| 10 | Laboratory Math: Dilutions, Concentrations, and Unit Conversions | 13 | practice | Students will accurately perform dilution calculations, concentration conversions (mg/L, %, ppm), and unit conversions relevant to lab reporting, applying results to determine regulatory compliance. |
| Scientific calculator, volumetric pipettes (1 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL), volumetric flasks (100 mL, 1000 mL), colored standard solution, colorimeter, problem set worksheet, DMR table template, unit conversion reference card | Drill set score 80% or higher; pipetted dilution within ±5% of theoretical ratio; DMR table accurate with correct units in all cells; pass = all three criteria met. |
| 11 | Regulatory Reporting: Completing Monitoring Reports and Interpreting Results | 13 | practice | Students will transfer laboratory results onto a simulated state drinking water monitoring report and a discharge monitoring report, flag exceedances, and describe the required notification and follow-up actions for each violation scenario. |
| Blank state DMR form (publicly available model), blank drinking water monitoring report form, set of 10 lab result cards (instructor-prepared), permit limit reference table, state public notification regulation summary, model completed DMR for reference | All 10 values transferred correctly to the correct field; all exceedances flagged; operator response summaries identify correct notification requirements for at least four of five exceedance scenarios; pass = 80% accuracy on data transfer and notification identification. |
| 12 | Integrated Field Sampling and Lab Simulation Exercise | 8.5 | field | Students will independently plan and execute a complete sampling event—from site selection and container preparation through bench analysis, QC, and report completion—demonstrating all skills from the course in an integrated, realistic scenario. |
| Full sampling kit assembled by student (containers, preservatives, COC forms, cooler, ice, field data sheets), all bench instruments from prior lessons (calibrated), lab notebook, monitoring report form, QC log, PPE | Instructor-scored rubric covering 10 performance areas: sampling technique, container/preservation selection, aseptic technique (if applicable), field documentation, instrument calibration, bench analysis accuracy (within ±10% of known values), QC checks performed, results correctly reported, exceedances identified, and oral question responses; pass = 80% rubric score with no critical safety violations. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sampling and Laboratory Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% or higher (38 of 50 questions correct) | A 50-question written exam covering regulatory sampling requirements, container and preservation selection, chain-of-custody rules, QA/QC concepts, laboratory math (dilutions, unit conversions, percent recovery, RPD), interpretation of common water and wastewater parameters, and regulatory reporting obligations. Questions are written at the same level of difficulty and in the same format (multiple choice, short calculation, scenario-based) as State Water and Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing exam items. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Laboratory Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | Pass all five task areas with no critical safety violations; minimum 80% on the scored performance rubric | Each student independently performs five consecutive tasks observed by the instructor: (1) calibrate a pH meter using two-point calibration; (2) collect a bacteriological sample from a tap using correct aseptic technique and container; (3) run a DPD chlorine residual test on an unknown sample and report the result with units; (4) complete a COC form for the collected sample; (5) identify the correct preservative and holding time for three additional analytes from a provided list. A critical safety violation (e.g., failure to use PPE when handling acid preservative, contaminating a sterile sample) results in automatic failure requiring remediation. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Laboratory Notebook and Documentation Log | Log | 15% | Complete and accurate entries for all 12 lessons; no missing required fields; 80% or higher on the documentation rubric | Students maintain a bound laboratory notebook throughout the course; each lab and practice entry must include the date, objective, method reference, raw data in tabular format, calculated results with units, QC data, and a brief interpretation statement. The instructor reviews the completed notebook at the end of the course using a rubric that checks completeness, accuracy of calculations, correct use of units, and legibility; entries from the integrated field exercise carry double weight. The notebook simulates the legal record-keeping standard expected of licensed operators. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Safety and Hazard Identification Check | Safety audit | 15% | 100% on critical safety items; 80% overall on the full checklist; any critical failure requires immediate remediation before student may continue lab work | A practical safety walkthrough conducted by the instructor at mid-course and again at the end of the course: the student is shown or described seven scenarios (chemical spill, unknown reagent, broken glassware, positive bacteriological result, instrument malfunction, missing PPE, expired reagent) and must verbally state and physically demonstrate the correct response for each. Critical items include correct PPE selection for corrosive preservatives and correct biohazardous waste disposal; these must be answered correctly without prompting to pass. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
AGR-WATE71-06 Trade course
Water and Wastewater Regulations
145 hr · $1,825 COMPLIMENTARY
This course covers the federal and state regulatory framework governing safe drinking water and wastewater treatment, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act, permit requirements, reporting obligations, and operator compliance responsibilities. Students learn to read and apply regulations, complete required records and reports, and respond to violations and enforcement actions. Lessons are directly mapped to the regulatory and compliance knowledge domains tested on state Class I and Class II water and wastewater operator licensing exams.
Outcomes- Explain the authority, structure, and key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act as they apply to drinking water and wastewater operations.
- Interpret a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and identify effluent limits, monitoring requirements, and reporting deadlines.
- Identify Maximum Contaminant Levels, treatment technique requirements, and public notification triggers for drinking water systems.
- Complete required operational records, discharge monitoring reports, and consumer confidence reports accurately and on time.
- Describe the consequences of permit violations, the enforcement process, and corrective actions operators must take or document.
- Apply right-to-know and community notification requirements, including Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 public notification rules for drinking water.
Course text
This course covers the federal and state regulatory framework governing safe drinking water and wastewater treatment, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act, permit requirements, reporting obligations, and operator compliance responsibilities. Students learn to read and apply regulations, complete required records and reports, and respond to violations and enforcement actions. Lessons are directly mapped to the regulatory and compliance knowledge domains tested on state Class I and Class II water and wastewater operator licensing exams.
How the course runs. 12 blocks: The Regulatory Framework: Federal and State Authority; Safe Drinking Water Act: National Primary and Secondary Drinking Water Regulations; Surface Water Treatment Rule and Ground Water Rule Requirements; Lead and Copper Rule and Disinfection Byproduct Rules; Public Notification and Consumer Confidence Report Requirements; Clean Water Act and NPDES Permit Structure; Discharge Monitoring Reports and Recordkeeping Requirements; Violations, Enforcement, and Corrective Action; Operator Certification Requirements and License Reciprocity; Right-to-Know, Worker Safety Regulations, and Chemical Reporting; Sanitary Surveys and Regulatory Inspections: Preparation and Response; Integrated Regulatory Compliance Simulation.
What competent looks like. Explain the authority, structure, and key provisions of the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act as they apply to drinking water and wastewater operations. Interpret a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit and identify effluent limits, monitoring requirements, and reporting deadlines. Identify Maximum Contaminant Levels, treatment technique requirements, and public notification triggers for drinking water systems. Complete required operational records, discharge monitoring reports, and consumer confidence reports accurately and on time. Describe the consequences of permit violations, the enforcement process, and corrective actions operators must take or document. Apply right-to-know and community notification requirements, including Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 public notification rules for drinking water.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Regulatory Framework: Federal and State Authority | 12.5 | theory | Students will explain the roles of the EPA, state primacy agencies, and local utilities in regulating drinking water and wastewater, and trace how a federal rule becomes an enforceable state requirement. |
| EPA plain-language summaries of SDWA and CWA, state drinking water program website printouts, whiteboard, flowchart template, highlighters | Five-question written quiz on regulatory chain, primacy, and definitions; students must score 80% or higher to proceed. |
| 2 | Safe Drinking Water Act: National Primary and Secondary Drinking Water Regulations | 14 | theory | Students will identify the difference between Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs), and treatment technique requirements, and look up MCL values for common regulated contaminants using the current EPA contaminant list. |
| EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations reference table (current edition), secondary drinking water standards table, sample result worksheets, graphic organizer handout | Written quiz with 10 MCL identification and application questions; 80% passing score required. |
| 3 | Surface Water Treatment Rule and Ground Water Rule Requirements | 12.5 | theory | Students will describe the treatment requirements of the Surface Water Treatment Rule and Ground Water Rule, including filtration and disinfection performance standards and conditions that trigger additional action. |
| EPA Surface Water Treatment Rule and Ground Water Rule fact sheets, sample turbidity and CT calculation worksheets, case study handout, whiteboard | Students correctly classify three scenarios as compliant or non-compliant and state the required operator action; instructor verifies accuracy of all three before marking complete. |
| 4 | Lead and Copper Rule and Disinfection Byproduct Rules | 12.5 | theory | Students will explain the monitoring, action level, and public notification requirements of the Lead and Copper Rule and the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule. |
| EPA Lead and Copper Rule summary, Stage 2 D/DBP Rule fact sheet, sample monitoring data sets, action level reference card, role-play scenario cards | Students correctly calculate the 90th percentile result from a ten-sample data set and state whether it exceeds the action level; 100% accuracy required on this calculation. |
| 5 | Public Notification and Consumer Confidence Report Requirements | 11.5 | theory | Students will classify a drinking water violation into Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 public notification and draft a compliant notice, and describe annual Consumer Confidence Report content requirements. |
| EPA Public Notification Handbook, CCR template (EPA), sample monitoring results, intentionally flawed notification document handout | Students correctly tier-classify 8 of 10 violation scenarios and produce a CCR entry with all required elements present; instructor checklist used for CCR entry, all required elements must be present. |
| 6 | Clean Water Act and NPDES Permit Structure | 12.5 | theory | Students will read a sample NPDES permit and identify effluent limits, monitoring frequencies, required sampling locations, and reporting deadlines. |
| Sample NPDES permit (publicly available or instructor-prepared model), Clean Water Act Section 402 plain-language summary, permit-reading worksheet, EPA secondary treatment regulation summary | Completed permit-reading worksheet reviewed by instructor; students must correctly identify all effluent limits and at least three monitoring/reporting requirements to pass. |
| 7 | Discharge Monitoring Reports and Recordkeeping Requirements | 12.5 | practice | Students will accurately complete a Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) using provided lab results and permit limits, identifying any exceedances and the required notification steps. |
| Blank DMR forms (EPA or state version), sample effluent lab result data sets, calculators, permit limits reference sheet, recordkeeping requirements summary, compliance calendar template | Both completed DMRs checked for calculation accuracy and correct exceedance notation; 90% accuracy on numerical calculations required, and all exceedances must be correctly identified. |
| 8 | Violations, Enforcement, and Corrective Action | 11.5 | theory | Students will distinguish between monitoring and reporting violations and health-based violations, describe the steps of a typical enforcement process from notice of violation to consent order, and state the operator's immediate and documented response obligations. |
| Sample notice of violation letter (redacted real example or instructor-prepared), enforcement process flowchart, corrective action report template, state operator ethics guidelines | Students correctly categorize 9 of 10 violation examples and produce a corrective action summary containing all required elements (description, cause, corrective steps, schedule); instructor rubric used. |
| 9 | Operator Certification Requirements and License Reciprocity | 10.5 | theory | Students will describe the class structure, experience and education requirements, continuing education obligations, and license renewal process for state Class I and Class II water and wastewater operator certification. |
| State operator certification regulations (current, from state agency website), state certification board contact information, AWWA and WEF operator certification resources, comparison chart template | Completed comparison chart reviewed by instructor; all required fields accurate and sourced from the state agency website; 100% accuracy on Class I/II requirements required. |
| 10 | Right-to-Know, Worker Safety Regulations, and Chemical Reporting | 10.5 | theory | Students will explain OSHA Hazard Communication Standard requirements, SARA Title III community right-to-know reporting thresholds, and Tier II chemical inventory reporting obligations that apply to water and wastewater facilities handling chemicals such as chlorine, ammonia, and sulfuric acid. |
| OSHA HazCom standard summary, three sample SDS documents (chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, sulfuric acid), EPA SARA Title III Tier II reporting guidance, hypothetical chemical inventory list, Tier II checklist template | Students correctly identify all threshold-triggering chemicals from the hypothetical inventory and produce a complete Tier II checklist; 100% accuracy on which chemicals trigger reporting. |
| 11 | Sanitary Surveys and Regulatory Inspections: Preparation and Response | 11.5 | demo | Students will prepare a set of facility records and documentation that would be reviewed during a state sanitary survey of a small drinking water system, and demonstrate how to respond professionally to inspector questions. |
| EPA Sanitary Survey Guidance Manual, sample operational records set (provided by instructor), sanitary survey checklist (state version or EPA model), manila folders for organizing packet, role-play question cards | Documentation packet reviewed against instructor checklist; all eight survey elements must have at least one supporting document correctly filed; role-play responses evaluated for accuracy and professionalism using a four-point rubric, minimum score 3 of 4 on each element. |
| 12 | Integrated Regulatory Compliance Simulation | 13 | practice | Students will manage a simulated month of combined water and wastewater regulatory compliance tasks, completing all required records, reports, and notifications accurately and on time within the simulation timeline. |
| Simulation packet (instructor-prepared, including monitoring data, calendar, permit limits, and scenario narrative), blank DMR form, blank public notification template, corrective action report template, regulatory compliance checklist | All four required documents must be present and complete; DMR calculations must be 90% accurate; public notification must be correctly classified as Tier 1 with all required language elements present; corrective action summary must include cause, corrective steps, and schedule. Peer review comments reviewed by instructor. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Knowledge Exam | Written exam | 25% | 75% correct (38 of 50 questions) | A 50-question written exam covering SDWA MCLs and treatment technique requirements, CWA and NPDES permit concepts, public notification tiers, DMR completion, violation types, enforcement process, operator certification requirements, HazCom and Tier II reporting, and sanitary survey elements. Questions are written in the format and at the difficulty level of state Class I and Class II operator licensing exams, with multiple-choice and short-answer items. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Regulatory Documents Skills Demonstration | Skills demonstration | 45% | All required documents present and complete; DMR calculations 90% accurate; public notification correctly tiered with all required elements; corrective action summary contains cause, corrective steps, and schedule | Using a new, unseen simulation scenario involving both a drinking water MCL exceedance and a wastewater NPDES permit violation, students independently produce a complete DMR, a correctly tiered public notification, and a corrective action summary within a two-hour timed session, demonstrating the ability to apply regulatory requirements without instructor assistance. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Regulatory Compliance Log | Log | 15% | 10 of 12 entries complete and accurate; all exceedances and notification actions documented | Throughout the course, students maintain a running compliance log with a minimum of 12 entries documenting regulatory scenarios encountered in lessons and practice activities; each entry must identify the applicable regulation, the required operator action, the timeline for action, and the form of documentation required. The log is submitted at the end of the course and evaluated by the instructor using a structured rubric. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
| Chemical Right-to-Know Safety Check | Safety audit | 15% | 100% on SDS location and emergency procedures; correct identification of all threshold-triggering chemicals; no unsafe actions observed | In a hands-on station check, students demonstrate the ability to locate and use an SDS for a designated chemical at a simulated facility station, identify the required PPE and emergency procedures for a spill scenario, and confirm which chemicals in the station's inventory would trigger Tier II reporting. The check is evaluated by the instructor using a pass/fail checklist; any unsafe action or failure to identify the correct PPE results in an immediate recheck before the student may progress. Standard met · Safety · Time · Quality/finish · Documentation |
AGR-WATE71-07 Capstone
Capstone Project: Integrated Water/Wastewater System Design and Operations Defense
162 hr · $1,620 COMPLIMENTARY
Students design, document, and defend a complete operational solution for a real or realistic water or wastewater treatment scenario, integrating treatment process knowledge, regulatory compliance, sampling protocols, pump and distribution calculations, and workplace safety. The capstone requires students to produce a professional operations package—process narrative, O&M checklist, regulatory compliance summary, and emergency response plan—and present it to a panel of instructors and industry evaluators. This course mirrors the documented planning and decision-making responsibilities that licensed Class I–II operators perform daily.
Outcomes- Integrate water chemistry, treatment process selection, hydraulic calculations, and regulatory requirements into a single coherent written operations plan for an assigned water or wastewater scenario.
- Produce a complete O&M documentation package—including process flow diagram, daily log forms, sampling schedule, and chemical feed calculations—that meets the format expected by a state primacy agency.
- Identify applicable federal and state regulatory requirements (Safe Drinking Water Act or Clean Water Act authority) for the assigned scenario and document how the proposed operations plan achieves compliance.
- Develop a site-specific emergency response and spill-prevention plan that applies OSHA Hazard Communication, lockout/tagout, and confined-space entry requirements to the scenario facility.
- Defend all design and operational decisions before a panel using clear technical language, respond accurately to examiner questions, and revise the plan based on feedback received during the defense.
- Evaluate a peer's operations plan using a structured rubric, provide written technical feedback, and incorporate peer and instructor review comments into a final revised submission.
Course text
Students design, document, and defend a complete operational solution for a real or realistic water or wastewater treatment scenario, integrating treatment process knowledge, regulatory compliance, sampling protocols, pump and distribution calculations, and workplace safety. The capstone requires students to produce a professional operations package—process narrative, O&M checklist, regulatory compliance summary, and emergency response plan—and present it to a panel of instructors and industry evaluators. This course mirrors the documented planning and decision-making responsibilities that licensed Class I–II operators perform daily.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Scenario Launch and Integrated Site Assessment; Operations Plan and Compliance Documentation; Emergency Response Plan and Safety Integration; Capstone Defense: Presentation, Peer Review, and Final Revision.
What competent looks like. Integrate water chemistry, treatment process selection, hydraulic calculations, and regulatory requirements into a single coherent written operations plan for an assigned water or wastewater scenario. Produce a complete O&M documentation package—including process flow diagram, daily log forms, sampling schedule, and chemical feed calculations—that meets the format expected by a state primacy agency. Identify applicable federal and state regulatory requirements (Safe Drinking Water Act or Clean Water Act authority) for the assigned scenario and document how the proposed operations plan achieves compliance. Develop a site-specific emergency response and spill-prevention plan that applies OSHA Hazard Communication, lockout/tagout, and confined-space entry requirements to the scenario facility. Defend all design and operational decisions before a panel using clear technical language, respond accurately to examiner questions, and revise the plan based on feedback received during the defense. Evaluate a peer's operations plan using a structured rubric, provide written technical feedback, and incorporate peer and instructor review comments into a final revised submission.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scenario Launch and Integrated Site Assessment | 36 | practice | Given an assigned water or wastewater scenario packet, the student will conduct a structured site assessment, identify all relevant process units, hazards, and regulatory triggers, and produce a written scope-of-work document that frames the entire capstone project. |
| Scenario packet (instructor-developed, based on actual small-system or municipal facility), Site Assessment Worksheet template, blank process flow diagram paper and straightedge, state drinking water or wastewater operator study manual, EPA Small System Compliance Technology guides, colored pencils for PFD annotation, peer review checklist | Instructor scores the submitted scope-of-work document and annotated PFD using a 20-point rubric: all unit processes correctly identified (5 pts), all major regulatory triggers listed with correct authority cited (5 pts), all OSHA-relevant hazards identified (5 pts), PFD is legible and logically sequenced (5 pts). Pass mark: 14/20 (70%). |
| 2 | Operations Plan and Compliance Documentation | 54 | practice | The student will produce a complete written operations plan for the assigned scenario that includes a process narrative, chemical feed and dosing calculations, a sampling and monitoring schedule aligned with permit requirements, daily log forms, and a regulatory compliance summary referencing applicable federal and state standards. |
| Word processor or technical writing software, engineering calculator, Chemical Feed Calculation Worksheet (instructor template), state operator study manual, EPA Guidance on Small Drinking Water System Compliance or comparable wastewater effluent guidelines, blank daily log form template, spreadsheet software for table construction, scenario permit document (simulated) | Instructor evaluates the draft operations plan using a 40-point rubric: process narrative is technically accurate and complete (10 pts), chemical feed calculations are correct with units shown (10 pts), sampling schedule covers all permit-required parameters at correct frequency (10 pts), regulatory compliance summary cites correct authorities and maps each permit condition to an operational control (10 pts). Pass mark: 28/40 (70%). Students below pass mark receive written corrective feedback and one opportunity to revise within five school days. |
| 3 | Emergency Response Plan and Safety Integration | 36 | lab | The student will draft a site-specific emergency response and hazard control plan for the scenario facility that correctly applies OSHA Hazard Communication (SDS management), lockout/tagout, confined-space entry, and spill-prevention procedures, and will demonstrate one scenario emergency procedure in a tabletop exercise. |
| SDSs for scenario chemicals (instructor-provided set), OSHA 29 CFR 1910.147 one-page summary card, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 confined-space permit template, PPE reference chart, calibrated four-gas monitor (demonstration unit or training replica), tabletop exercise scenario cards (instructor-developed), emergency response plan template, calculator for secondary containment volume | Chemical Inventory and Hazard Communication Summary is scored on accuracy and completeness (10 pts); LOTO procedure and confined-space permit template are scored against OSHA procedural elements (10 pts); tabletop exercise evaluator checklist score is recorded by the peer evaluator and confirmed by instructor observation (10 pts). Pass mark: 21/30 (70%). Any LOTO or confined-space omission that would constitute an immediately dangerous condition is an automatic resubmit regardless of total score. |
| 4 | Capstone Defense: Presentation, Peer Review, and Final Revision | 36 | field | The student will deliver a structured oral defense of the complete operations plan package to a panel of at least two evaluators, accurately answer technical questions drawn from all program content areas, provide written peer review of one classmate's plan, and submit a final revised package incorporating all panel and peer feedback. |
| Complete assembled operations plan package (from Lessons 1–3), process flow diagram (printed at least 11×17 in.), presentation timer, Peer Review Rubric, Defense Evaluation Rubric (panel scoring sheet), Revision Response Table template, word processor, binder or digital folder for final package assembly | Panel scores the defense on the Defense Evaluation Rubric: technical accuracy of presentation content (15 pts), ability to correctly answer panel questions without coaching (15 pts), clarity and professionalism of communication (10 pts). Pass mark: 28/40 (70%). The Revision Response Table is reviewed by the instructor to confirm every panel comment was addressed; an incomplete Revision Response Table delays final grade until resolved. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Integrated Operations Plan Package (Project) | Project | 60% | Cumulative score of 70% or higher across all four lesson rubrics (130 total points); no unresolved OSHA safety omission; Revision Response Table complete | The final assembled binder or digital folder containing all deliverables from Lessons 1–4—site assessment, annotated PFD, process narrative, chemical feed calculations, sampling schedule, regulatory compliance summary, emergency response plan, LOTO and confined-space documents, and the Revision Response Table—is evaluated as a unified professional operations package. This artifact demonstrates the student's ability to integrate all program content areas into the kind of documented operational guidance a licensed operator is responsible for maintaining at a permitted facility. Meets specification · Within estimate · Workmanship · Safety · Documentation |
| Technical Documentation Portfolio (Portfolio) | Portfolio | 20% | All required documents present and complete; instructor confirms each document meets the professional format standard described in the course style guide; overall portfolio rated Meets Standard or above on a four-level scale (Does Not Meet / Approaching / Meets / Exceeds) | The portfolio collects the student's best or most fully revised version of each major written deliverable produced across Lessons 1–4, organized with a table of contents and a one-page reflective cover memo in which the student identifies two technical skills they strengthened during the capstone and one area they intend to develop further during the externship. The portfolio is evaluated for technical accuracy, completeness, professional format, and the quality of the student's self-reflection, and it becomes the student's professional work sample to share with externship employers. Completeness · Organization · Evidence quality |
| Oral Defense Examination (Oral) | Oral / panel | 20% | 28/40 points on the Defense Evaluation Rubric; all critical safety questions answered correctly (any answer that would direct an operator toward an immediately dangerous action results in an automatic retest of the defense) | The 15-minute presentation and 10-minute examiner question period, scored by the instructor and guest industry evaluator using the Defense Evaluation Rubric, constitutes the oral assessment; questions are drawn from all credential exam content domains including treatment processes, water chemistry, distribution and collection system hydraulics, sampling and laboratory procedures, and regulatory compliance. A student who does not pass the first defense attempt receives targeted written feedback and one opportunity to redefend within ten school days after submitting a written corrective action plan identifying the content gaps and the steps taken to address them. Explains decisions · Answers technical questions · Professional communication |
AGR-WATE71-08 Externship / clinical
Externship / Worksite Placement
243 hr · $970 COMPLIMENTARY
Students complete a minimum of 243 supervised hours at a licensed water or wastewater facility, applying classroom knowledge to real plant operations under the direct oversight of a licensed operator. Rotations cover treatment processes, distribution or collection systems, laboratory sampling, regulatory recordkeeping, and equipment maintenance. A licensed operator-supervisor evaluates student performance using a structured rubric, and students maintain a detailed daily field journal documenting tasks, safety observations, and process data.
Outcomes- Perform assigned plant operations tasks—including chemical feed adjustments, equipment checks, and process monitoring—under licensed-operator supervision in compliance with facility SOPs and applicable regulations.
- Collect, label, preserve, and document water or wastewater samples following standard methods and chain-of-custody procedures with zero documentation errors on supervisor evaluation.
- Apply lockout/tagout, confined-space entry protocols, and required PPE correctly on every observed or assigned task as verified by supervisor sign-off.
- Interpret process instrumentation readings and daily operating data, record values accurately in facility logs, and report anomalies to a supervisor in a timely manner.
- Complete all required regulatory forms and operating records legibly and on schedule, meeting the facility's compliance documentation standards.
- Demonstrate professional workplace conduct—punctuality, communication, and teamwork—as rated satisfactory or above on all supervisor evaluation categories.
Course text
Students complete a minimum of 243 supervised hours at a licensed water or wastewater facility, applying classroom knowledge to real plant operations under the direct oversight of a licensed operator. Rotations cover treatment processes, distribution or collection systems, laboratory sampling, regulatory recordkeeping, and equipment maintenance. A licensed operator-supervisor evaluates student performance using a structured rubric, and students maintain a detailed daily field journal documenting tasks, safety observations, and process data.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Facility Orientation, Safety Integration, and Site Protocols; Treatment Process Operations and Equipment Rounds; Sampling, Laboratory Tasks, and Regulatory Recordkeeping; Integrated Operational Shift and Final Supervisor Evaluation.
What competent looks like. Perform assigned plant operations tasks—including chemical feed adjustments, equipment checks, and process monitoring—under licensed-operator supervision in compliance with facility SOPs and applicable regulations. Collect, label, preserve, and document water or wastewater samples following standard methods and chain-of-custody procedures with zero documentation errors on supervisor evaluation. Apply lockout/tagout, confined-space entry protocols, and required PPE correctly on every observed or assigned task as verified by supervisor sign-off. Interpret process instrumentation readings and daily operating data, record values accurately in facility logs, and report anomalies to a supervisor in a timely manner. Complete all required regulatory forms and operating records legibly and on schedule, meeting the facility's compliance documentation standards. Demonstrate professional workplace conduct—punctuality, communication, and teamwork—as rated satisfactory or above on all supervisor evaluation categories.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Facility Orientation, Safety Integration, and Site Protocols | 30 | field | The student will correctly follow all site-specific safety protocols—including emergency response, lockout/tagout, confined-space procedures, and PPE requirements—as verified by zero safety violations during the orientation period. |
| Facility SOP manual, site emergency action plan, SDS binder, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 confined-space reference, PPE kit (hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, steel-toed boots, respirator), student field journal, site safety map template | Supervisor-signed safety orientation checklist with all items initialed; site safety quiz score ≥ 80%; zero safety protocol violations documented during the 30-hour orientation block. |
| 2 | Treatment Process Operations and Equipment Rounds | 100 | field | The student will carry out assigned process-monitoring rounds, record accurate instrument readings, adjust chemical feed or process controls as directed by the licensed supervisor, and document all actions in the facility operating log within acceptable tolerances. |
| Facility rounds sheets and operating logs, process control instrumentation (flow meters, turbidimeters, DO meters, pressure gauges, level indicators), chemical feed equipment, maintenance work order forms, student field journal, relevant equipment O&M manuals, calculator | Supervisor rates student on the Treatment Operations rubric (accuracy of recorded data, proper procedure follow-through, communication of anomalies) with a score of satisfactory or above on all categories; field journal entries reviewed weekly and confirmed complete and legible by supervisor. |
| 3 | Sampling, Laboratory Tasks, and Regulatory Recordkeeping | 73 | lab | The student will collect representative water or wastewater samples using correct technique and chain-of-custody documentation, perform or assist with routine on-site analyses, and accurately complete all required regulatory operating records with no critical errors. |
| Approved sample containers, coolers with ice, chain-of-custody forms, field parameter meters (pH meter, turbidimeter, colorimeter/comparator for chlorine residual, DO meter), bench data sheets, facility daily and monthly operating report forms, relevant state regulatory reporting guidance, student field journal | Supervisor scores sampling and lab technique using the Sampling and Recordkeeping rubric; all chain-of-custody forms accepted without critical errors; operating report entries verified against source data with no arithmetic or transcription errors rated critical; overall rubric score satisfactory or above. |
| 4 | Integrated Operational Shift and Final Supervisor Evaluation | 40 | field | The student will independently (with supervisor present but not directing) complete a full operational shift—performing rounds, sampling, recordkeeping, and at least one process adjustment—demonstrating readiness for entry-level licensed operator work as rated satisfactory or above on the final comprehensive supervisor evaluation form. |
| Facility operating logs, rounds sheets, process control instrumentation, sampling equipment, student field journal (complete), final supervisor evaluation form (program-issued rubric), hour-log attestation form | Final supervisor evaluation form completed with all categories rated satisfactory or above (overall passing standard); total externship hours attested at 243 or more with supervisor and facility manager signatures; field journal submitted complete with entries for every shift worked. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supervisor Skills Demonstration Evaluation | Skills demonstration | 70% | All rubric categories rated Satisfactory or above on the program's Externship Supervisor Evaluation Form; any category rated Unsatisfactory requires a documented remediation plan and re-evaluation before the externship is recorded as complete. | The site supervisor completes the program's structured rubric at the midpoint and at the conclusion of the externship, rating the student on process operations technique, safety compliance, sampling and laboratory procedure, regulatory recordkeeping accuracy, equipment handling, and professional conduct. The midpoint evaluation is formative and guides the final four weeks; the final evaluation must show all categories at Satisfactory or above for the externship to be credited. Competency · Safety · Attendance · Conduct · Initiative |
| Field Journal and Hour-Log Review | Log | 30% | Field journal contains a legible, substantive entry for every externship shift; entries demonstrate accurate data recording, safety observations, and reflective notes on tasks performed; hour log is signed by both site supervisor and facility manager attesting to 243 or more completed hours; program instructor rates journal content as Complete and Acceptable. | The student submits the complete handwritten or digital field journal and the signed hour-log attestation form to the program instructor at the conclusion of the externship. The instructor reviews journal entries for completeness, technical accuracy of recorded data, and evidence that the student engaged with all required rotation areas (treatment operations, sampling and lab, and regulatory recordkeeping); any missing entries or unattested hours must be resolved before the course grade is recorded. Complete · Verified |
AGR-WATE71-09 Exam prep
Certification Exam Preparation: Water and Wastewater Operator Class I–II
68 hr · $680 COMPLIMENTARY
This course systematically reviews every content domain tested on the State Water Operator and State Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing exams, using spaced practice, worked problems, and timed mock exams to build accuracy and exam-day confidence. Learners identify personal knowledge gaps through diagnostic quizzes early in the course and concentrate subsequent study on those areas before sitting two full-length mock exams under realistic timed conditions. Successful completion prepares students to meet the eligibility requirements and pass both licensing exams, which are legally required to work as a water or wastewater operator.
Outcomes- Correctly solve water and wastewater math problems—including flow rates, chemical dosing, detention time, unit conversions, and percent removal—at a level consistent with Class I–II exam expectations.
- Accurately recall and apply key concepts from all major exam domains: treatment processes, distribution and collection systems, pumping, laboratory procedures, sampling, and applicable regulations.
- Interpret process diagrams, operating data tables, and regulatory language as presented in exam item formats and select correct responses at or above the established passing score.
- Demonstrate effective time-management and test-taking strategies by completing a full-length timed mock exam within the allotted time while maintaining accuracy.
- Identify personal weak-domain areas through diagnostic scoring and self-direct focused review using study references such as state-approved operator study guides and AWWA/WEF operator manuals.
- Complete the exam registration process, including verifying eligibility documentation, application requirements, and the state licensing board's procedures.
Course text
This course systematically reviews every content domain tested on the State Water Operator and State Wastewater Operator Class I–II licensing exams, using spaced practice, worked problems, and timed mock exams to build accuracy and exam-day confidence. Learners identify personal knowledge gaps through diagnostic quizzes early in the course and concentrate subsequent study on those areas before sitting two full-length mock exams under realistic timed conditions. Successful completion prepares students to meet the eligibility requirements and pass both licensing exams, which are legally required to work as a water or wastewater operator.
How the course runs. 4 blocks: Diagnostic Assessment and Exam Domain Orientation; Focused Domain Review: Treatment, Distribution, Collection, and Regulations; Operator Math and Calculation Intensive; Full Mock Certification Exams and Final Review.
What competent looks like. Correctly solve water and wastewater math problems—including flow rates, chemical dosing, detention time, unit conversions, and percent removal—at a level consistent with Class I–II exam expectations. Accurately recall and apply key concepts from all major exam domains: treatment processes, distribution and collection systems, pumping, laboratory procedures, sampling, and applicable regulations. Interpret process diagrams, operating data tables, and regulatory language as presented in exam item formats and select correct responses at or above the established passing score. Demonstrate effective time-management and test-taking strategies by completing a full-length timed mock exam within the allotted time while maintaining accuracy. Identify personal weak-domain areas through diagnostic scoring and self-direct focused review using study references such as state-approved operator study guides and AWWA/WEF operator manuals. Complete the exam registration process, including verifying eligibility documentation, application requirements, and the state licensing board's procedures.
| # | Lesson | Hr | Type | Objective | Activities | Materials | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diagnostic Assessment and Exam Domain Orientation | 10 | practice | Students complete a timed diagnostic practice test covering all major exam content domains and use scored results to build a personalized study plan that prioritizes low-scoring areas. |
| 100-question diagnostic practice exam (instructor-prepared or state-approved study guide bank), state licensing board exam content outline, personal gap-analysis worksheet, AWWA Water Operator Field Guide, WEF Wastewater Operator Field Guide, exam application checklist from the licensing board website | Completed and scored diagnostic with all items mapped to domains; completed application checklist with no missing fields. Pass mark: 100% completion of both documents; diagnostic score is used for planning, not grading. |
| 2 | Focused Domain Review: Treatment, Distribution, Collection, and Regulations | 22 | theory | Students recall and correctly explain the principles, operational procedures, and regulatory requirements for water treatment, distribution systems, wastewater treatment, collection systems, and relevant drinking water and wastewater regulations as tested on Class I–II exams. |
| AWWA Water Treatment: Principles and Practices of Water Supply Operations (current edition), WEF Operation of Water Resource Recovery Facilities (current edition), state-approved operator study guides, process-diagram flashcards, six-station practice quiz sets, Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act summary handouts, whiteboard and markers | Station quiz average of at least 70% correct across all six domains before moving to the next lesson; written explanation reviewed by peer and initialed by instructor as factually accurate. Students below 70% on any station complete a targeted re-read and retake an alternate 10-question quiz for that domain. |
| 3 | Operator Math and Calculation Intensive | 18 | practice | Students accurately set up and solve the full range of water and wastewater math problems appearing on Class I–II exams—including flow, volume, detention time, chemical dosing, percent removal, pump efficiency, and unit conversions—using dimensional analysis within allotted exam time limits. |
| Scientific calculator (student-supplied), dimensional analysis reference card, 30-problem timed math sprint packet, error-log sheet, AWWA and WEF operator math chapters, whiteboard for worked examples, answer keys with full solution steps | Timed math sprint score of at least 70% correct (21 of 30 problems); error log completed for every missed item. Students below 70% meet individually with the instructor, rework missed problem types with guided practice, and complete an alternate 15-problem sprint before lesson 4 begins. |
| 4 | Full Mock Certification Exams and Final Review | 18 | practice | Students complete two full-length, timed mock certification exams under realistic conditions and use scored results to confirm readiness or identify any remaining gaps before sitting the official licensing exams. |
| Mock Exam 1 packet (Water Operator, full-length, timed), Mock Exam 2 packet (Wastewater Operator, full-length, timed), answer keys with rationales, readiness tracker sheet, scientific calculator, exam-condition signage (no talking, phones off), item-analysis tally sheet for instructor | Score of at least 70% on each mock exam (or the current state-published passing threshold, whichever is higher); completed readiness tracker with both domain-level scores recorded. Students below 70% on either mock receive a written remediation plan from the instructor specifying domains and resources for self-study before exam registration is finalized. |
| Assessment | Type | Weight | Pass standard | Method & rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dual Mock Certification Examination | Mock certification exam | 100% | Minimum 70% correct on each full-length mock exam (one Water Operator, one Wastewater Operator), or the current published passing threshold of the state licensing board, whichever is higher; both exams must meet the standard independently. | Students sit two complete, timed mock licensing exams—one aligned to the State Water Operator Class I–II content domains and one aligned to the State Wastewater Operator Class I–II content domains—under strict exam-room conditions with no reference materials, replicating the official testing experience. Scores are analyzed by domain to confirm overall readiness and to generate a final, individualized remediation recommendation for any student who does not yet meet the passing threshold before sitting the official state licensing exams. Score · Time management |
Program completion
External credential: State Wastewater Operator Class I-II; State Water Operator Class I-II
Students sit the State Water Operator Class I or II exam and the State Wastewater Operator Class I or II exam, administered by the applicable state drinking water and wastewater regulatory licensing board (requirements and exam format vary by state). Pass standard: Credential issued by the body.
Back to Water / Wastewater Operator · How the school gets authority to award these credentials
