Program Outlines
Choose a program, then open a module to see its full description and learning outcomes.
Drinking Water Operator-in-Training (OIT) Certification Preparation
This program provides a practical foundation in the operation of drinking water treatment and distribution systems. Delivered through three modules, it introduces the scientific, mathematical and technical principles used in water operations, including unit conversions, chemistry, hydraulics, electricity, pumps, motors, and the major processes and support systems involved in treating and distributing drinking water. Students develop an understanding of how these systems work together to support safe, reliable and efficient operation.
Explore the modules
Module description
This module introduces the fundamentals of drinking water treatment and distribution systems, including the major treatment stages, water quality considerations, distribution-system components, operator and technician roles, and essential safety and regulatory responsibilities. Students learn how raw water is treated and delivered to consumers, how treatment and distribution systems work together, and how operators use monitoring, testing, equipment knowledge, and safe operating practices to maintain reliable water quality and protect public health.
Learning outcomes
- Name the main components of water distribution systems.
- Explain the basic stages of water treatment and their purposes.
- Differentiate between municipal and industrial systems and their challenges.
- Describe the functions of water distribution systems.
- Identify causes and impacts of inflow, infiltration, blockages, and overflows.
- Explain operator and technician roles and the differences between them.
- List key safety practices such as PPE and hazard awareness.
- Explain regulatory compliance and the operator’s role in monitoring and reporting.
- Describe the role of laboratory analysis and process monitoring.
- Identify consequences of system failures on health, environment, and compliance.
Module description
This module provides an introduction to the physical, chemical, biological, and mathematical concepts that support drinking-water treatment operations. Students examine important water-quality and process parameters such as pH, alkalinity, turbidity, hardness, and disinfectant residual, along with fundamental principles of hydraulics, electricity, sampling, and unit conversion. The module also develops practical operator calculation skills involving flow, volume, detention time, loading, concentration, and chemical dosing. Emphasis is placed on using these fundamentals to understand operating data, assess treatment conditions, and make informed process-control decisions.
Learning outcomes
- Describe key drinking-water chemistry and water-quality parameters.
- Explain basic chemical and microbiological concepts in drinking-water treatment.
- Recognize microorganisms and biological concerns affecting drinking water.
- Perform common flow, volume, mass, concentration, and time conversions.
- Explain basic electrical and hydraulic principles used in treatment operations.
- Describe proper sampling, preservation, calibration, and quality-control practices.
- Explain the purpose of common drinking-water laboratory tests.
- Calculate flow, volume, detention time, loading, and chemical dosing.
- Combine calculations while maintaining consistent units.
Module description
This module introduces the major equipment and operating processes used in drinking-water treatment, including pumps and hydraulics, valves and piping, aeration, clarification, instrumentation, and SCADA. Students learn how these components work together, how to recognize normal and abnormal operating conditions, and how routine inspection, maintenance, reporting, housekeeping, and safe work practices support reliable plant operation.
Learning outcomes
- Identify major treatment plant equipment and processes.
- Explain how plant components work together.
- Describe basic pump and hydraulic operation.
- Explain the function of valves, piping, and flow control.
- Describe the role of aeration and air systems.
- Explain the purpose of clarifiers in water treatment.
- Identify the purpose of instrumentation and SCADA.
- Recognize normal and abnormal operating conditions.
- Explain the importance of maintenance, reporting, and housekeeping.
- Apply safe work practices around plant equipment.
Wastewater Operator-in-Training (OIT) Certification Preparation
This program provides a practical foundation in wastewater collection and treatment and prepares students for entry-level work in the field. Topics include wastewater treatment processes, unit conversions, applied mathematics, chemistry, hydraulics, electricity, pumps, motors, and other equipment and support systems used in wastewater operations. Students examine how physical, chemical, biological, hydraulic and electrical principles influence treatment performance and plant operation.
Explore the modules
Module description
This module introduces the fundamentals of wastewater treatment systems, including major treatment stages, collection systems, common contaminants, operator and technician roles, process monitoring, and basic safety and regulatory responsibilities. Students learn how wastewater is collected, treated, monitored, and discharged, while developing an understanding of the equipment, processes, and operating practices that support reliable wastewater treatment and environmental protection.
Learning outcomes
- Name the main components of wastewater collection systems.
- List the main stages of wastewater treatment and contaminants removed.
- Differentiate between municipal and industrial systems and their challenges.
- Describe the functions of collection systems and lift stations.
- Identify causes and impacts of inflow, infiltration, blockages, and overflows.
- Explain operator and technician roles and the differences between them.
- List key safety practices such as PPE and hazard awareness.
- Explain regulatory compliance and the operator’s role in monitoring and reporting.
- Describe the role of laboratory analysis and process monitoring.
- Identify consequences of system failures on health, environment, and compliance.
Module description
This module introduces the physical, chemical, biological, and mathematical principles used in wastewater treatment. Students learn key process parameters such as pH, alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, BOD, COD, and TSS, along with basic hydraulics, electricity, sampling, laboratory practices, unit conversions, and operator calculations for flow, volume, detention time, loading, and chemical dosing. The module emphasizes applying these fundamentals to interpret operating data, evaluate treatment performance, and support sound process-control decisions.
Learning outcomes
- Explain the roles of physics, chemistry, biology, and math in wastewater treatment.
- Define key wastewater parameters such as pH, alkalinity, DO, BOD, COD, and TSS.
- Describe how pH, alkalinity, DO, and nutrients affect biological treatment.
- Identify the roles of bacteria and protozoa in wastewater treatment.
- Explain basic electrical and hydraulic principles used in wastewater operations.
- Perform unit conversions for flow, volume, mass, concentration, and time.
- Distinguish between grab and composite sampling methods.
- Describe proper wastewater sample handling, preservation, and holding times.
- Explain the purpose of basic tests such as pH, DO, TSS, and VSS.
- Calculate flow, volume, detention time, loading, and chemical dosing.
- Apply calculations to evaluate wastewater treatment performance.
Module description
This module introduces the major equipment and systems used in wastewater treatment, including pumps and hydraulics, valves and piping, aeration systems, clarifiers and sludge handling, instrumentation, and SCADA. Students also learn how these systems work together, how to recognize normal and abnormal operating conditions, and how routine inspection, maintenance, reporting, housekeeping, and safe work practices support reliable plant operation.
Learning outcomes
- Identify major treatment plant equipment and systems.
- Explain how plant equipment works together as a system.
- Describe the basic operation of pumps and hydraulic systems.
- Discuss the function of valves, piping, and flow control equipment.
- Explain the role of aeration and air systems in treatment.
- Describe the purpose of clarifiers and sludge handling systems.
- Identify the purpose of instrumentation and SCADA systems.
- Recognize normal and abnormal operating conditions.
- Explain the importance of maintenance, reporting, and housekeeping.
- Apply safe work practices around plant equipment.