Tap Talk Podcast: Season 1 Recap With our work here on WaterOperator.org and on our sister program PrivateWellClass.org, our team has a unique national role that weaves in and out of environmental health, water infrastructure, and public policy. While we use our science backgrounds to get the job done well, our purpose is fundamentally about communication. We want to connect people with information and each other. Tap Talk: The Drinking Water in Rural America Podcast was born from noticing and facilitating these connections over the past decade. The first season was released in Fall 2021 and featured twelve episodes: TT001 – The Drinking Water in Rural America Podcast TT002 – Private Wells vs. Public Water Systems TT003 – Mastering Well Owner Education TT004 – The Problem with Springs TT005 – Controlling Nitrification in Chloraminated Systems TT006 – Protecting Well Users in North Carolina TT007 – Helping the Smallest Water Systems TT008 – Asset Management for Rural America (Part 1) TT009 – Asset Management for Rural America (Part 2) TT010 – Understanding Groundwater Quantity and Quality TT011 – Risk Communication and Perception TT012 – Water Supplies and Renter’s Rights Listeners can subscribe to Tap Talk via their favorite podcast player, including Apple Podcasts. April 15, 2022 By Jennifer Wilson Internet podcast 0 0 Comment Read More »
Groundwater and Well Care | Recorded on March 29, 2022 We recently held a webinar to introduce topics covered in our free online class: Groundwater and Well Care for Public Water Systems. The self-paced class (but not this webinar) is pre-approved for continuing education credits in a number of states. For informational purposes only. We are unable to offer certificates for watching a video recording. March 31, 2022 By Jennifer Wilson Groundwater webinar 0 0 Comment Read More »
Additional Free Test Prep Training Resources for Operators Below is a list of free test prep training resources to supplement our previous articles: Free Test Prep Training Resources for Operators, Operator Math Part 3: Continuous Education, and Featured Video: Water Exam Success. These resources can help prospective water and wastewater operators prepare for certification exams. Operator Licensing Requirements Across the United States The 125-page report outlines licensing requirements for water and wastewater operators across all 50 states to determine opportunities for and barriers to cross-training. Drinking Water C & D Level Certification Review This 434-page document contains a collection of 22 presentations that will help operators prepare for their C & D level certification exams. Topics discussed include: how to improve your exam score; filtration; water treatment; the Safe Drinking Water Act; Florida drinking water rules; water sources; well requirements for PWSs; storage systems; chlorination and disinfection; disinfection and disinfection byproducts; water treatment plant maintenance; taste, odor, aeration, iron removal, and stabilization; sedimentation; demineralization; coagulation & flocculation; corrosion control; water softening; water transmission & distribution; basic chemistry; laboratory methods; math; and treatment plant safety. Need-to-Know Criteria Wastewater Treatment Operator Class I This 11-page factsheet was developed to assist operators in understanding the content that will be covered in (a previous version of) ABC’s Standardized Wastewater Treatment Operator Class I exam. A methodical and comprehensive international investigation was conducted to determine the most significant job tasks performed by wastewater treatment operators. The content covered on the exam represents the job tasks identified through this research as essential operator competencies and is not limited to the practices of your system/facility. Regulatory Resources Handbook for Water Distribution System Operators This 39-page handbook contains useful information on approved training courses, related regulations, and associations that assist in training or technical programs. Drinking Water Training System This U.S EPA website provides training on the federal requirements of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Chemistry Resources ABC Formula/Conversion Table for Water Treatment, Distribution and Laboratory Exams This 4-page document can be used as a study tool to help water operators prepare for certification exams. ABC Formula/Conversion Table for Wastewater Treatment, Industrial, Collection and Laboratory Exams This 5-page document lists formula, conversion factors, and abbreviations needed to prepare for the Wastewater Treatment, Industrial, Collection and Laboratory Exams. Water Treatment and Distribution Operator Chemistry Reference Sheet This 3-page factsheet includes frequently used formulas and conversions for water treatment and distribution operators. Math Resources Absolution Water - Conversions This 12-minute video offers a tutorial on math conversions noting special tips for finding the correct answer without any mistakes. Water Treatment and Distribution Operator Math Reference Sheet: Frequently used formulas and conversions This 15-page factsheet contains frequently used formulas and conversions for water treatment and distribution operators. March 30, 2022 By Margaret Certification, Operations and Maintenance 0 0 Comment Read More »
Most Clicked Links from the Innovations Newsletter With growing efforts to enhance water quality and to protect public health, 2021 brought many new innovations to the water sector. From innovative PFAS treatment technologies to enhanced wastewater surveillance to track the spread of COVID-19, the following list highlights the most accessed resources featured in the Innovations for Small Systems newsletter's 2021 archive. Small Drinking Water Systems Webinar Series A webinar series hosted by EPA to communicate the latest information on solutions for challenges facing small drinking water systems. EPA Cybersecurity Best Practices for the Water Sector EPA published a webpage featuring resources to help water and wastewater utilities implement cybersecurity best practices. This new page contains various cyber resilience resources available from EPA. Tracking SARS-CoV-2 RNA through the Wastewater Treatment Process This paper presents data on SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration and removal rates during the different stages of the activated sludge wastewater treatment process to better understand the fate of the virus at the different stages EPA Drinking Water Treatability Database (TDB) The TDB presents an overview of over 120 regulated and unregulated contaminants found in drinking water with current information on treatment processes. EPA updated the TDB on May 19 to include new references and treatment options for PFAS. Expedited Approval of Alternative Test Procedures for the Analysis of Contaminants Under the Safe Drinking Water Act; Analysis and Sampling Procedures On May 26, EPA approved 17 alternative testing methods for use in measuring the levels of contaminants in drinking water to determine compliance with national primary drinking water regulations. EPA Identifies Drinking Water Contaminants for Potential Regulation EPA announced the Draft Contaminant Candidate List 5 (CCL 5) on July 12 to include 66 individual chemicals,12 microbes, and three chemical groups – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), cyanotoxins, and disinfection byproducts (DBPs). Performance of rapid sand filter – single media to remove microplastics This paper aims to analyze the effectiveness and mechanism of rapid sand filters (RSF) for the removal of microplastics (MPs) during drinking water treatment and analyze the effect of research variables on the performance of filter media. Cyanobacteria Assessment Network Application (CyAN app) On August 3, EPA launched the CyANWeb Application, which is an easy-to-use web browser-based tool that provides access to cyanobacterial bloom satellite data for over 2,000 of the largest lakes and reservoirs in the United States. Tap Talk: The Drinking Water in Rural America Podcast The Private Well Class program has launched a new podcast series, Tap Talk, which highlights the unique challenges which small public water systems and many private well users experience. 18th Annual EPA Drinking Water Workshop: Small System Challenges and Solutions This free, annual workshop, which was presented virtually in September, provided in-depth information and training on solutions and strategies for handling small drinking water system challenges. This workshop will be virtual again for 2022. Zapping Untreated Water Gets Rid Of More Waterborne Viruses Texas A&M University researchers published a paper in September 21, where they highlighted their research validating the effectiveness of Iron Electrocoagulation in the removal of viruses from water. EPA Awards $6 Million in Funding to Research Human Viruses Found in Wastewater Intended for Reuse EPA announced on October 27 that five grants have been awarded funding to research on existing and novel alternative methods to detect and monitor viruses that are excreted with feces in wastewater intended for water reuse applications. ASDWA Publishes New PFAS MCLs White Paper for States that are Considering or Developing PFAS Drinking Water Standards or Guidelines ASDWA published a PFAS Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) White Paper on November 5, to serve as a resource for states that are developing or considering developing PFAS drinking water MCL regulatory standards or guidelines. EPA Announces Over $3 Million in Funding to Small Businesses to Develop Environmental Technologies EPA announced on December 14 that 30 American small businesses will receive funding to develop novel technologies to address pressing environmental and public health problems such as domestic greywater, microplastics, and lead service lines. Nutrient Smart Recognition Program WEF and EPA launched the NutrientSmart (NSmart) program in December to help reduce nutrient loadings in waterways by encouraging the adoption of enhanced nutrient management practices by water utilities and distributing information on tools and methods for lowering nutrients. Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule EPA published the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) on December 27 to better understand the national occurrences and levels of 29 PFAS found in the nation's drinking water systems. Check out past issues of the Innovations newsletter. March 29, 2022 By Jennifer Wilson Innovative Technology HABs, PFAS 0 0 Comment Read More »
Additional Resources for Management of Dissolved Oxygen in Activated Sludge Plants Below is a list of free resources on the management of dissolved oxygen in activated sludge plants to supplement our previous article Managing Dissolved Oxygen in Activated Sludge Plants. Troubleshooting Noncompliance at Small Wastewater Treatment Plants This is a 171-page presentation from the Ohio EPA on Troubleshooting Noncompliance at Small Wastewater Treatment Plants that features information on activated sludge process control. Operating Tools and Measurement Techniques for Troubleshooting Activated Sludge Systems This 29-slide presentation discusses tools that can be used to troubleshoot activated sludge systems. The presentation will introduce some simple tools, talk about some that are a little more advanced, and show operators that this is not the realm of only the laboratory or the engineer. Activated Sludge Process Control Manual This is a 106-page Activated Sludge Training Manual that was prepared by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality with information on operating the activated sludge process, including nutrient removal, and troubleshooting. Holistic Aeration and Chemical Optimization Saves Big Money from 1 MGD to 600 MGD This 36-slide presentation outlines automated dissolved oxygen control, which includes reduced operator labor/attention, improved process stability, and energy savings; automated biomass control; and automated chemical feed control for P removal, which includes a 95 percent reduction in chemical usage. Troubleshooting Activated Sludge Processes This 32-slide presentation discusses how to troubleshoot activated sludge processes and covers process types & kinetics, influent monitoring, process monitoring, and control and nitrification. Convert Activated Sludge to BPR This 48-slide presentation discusses improving Bio-P performance by getting to know the system, initial assessment, expanding a zone for increased BPR performance, learning D.O. control, and more. Efficient Nutrient Removal under Low Dissolved Oxygen Concentrations This 25-slide presentation discusses the City of St. Petersburg Southwest WRF, City of Rochester WWTF, and more. Activated Sludge- It’s About Efficiency and Optimization This 167-page compilation of eight presentations discusses the history and application of activated sludge, aeration systems, secondary clarifier design and operation, aeration efficiency studies, dissolved oxygen control, blower technologies, advancements in control systems for WWTPs, and conversion to MBR. Doom & Bloom: Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) in Wastewater Treatment This website from the Environmental Finance Center Network provides an overview of the function of biochemical oxygen demand in wastewater treatment plants. A Tale of Two Filaments: BNR System Recovery from a Major Process Upset This 7-page article discusses the Glendale Wastewater Treatment Plant in Lakeland, Florida that had a power outage that caused the dissolved oxygen concentrations in the aeration basins to drop very low. These resources and more can be found in our document library. March 24, 2022 By Margaret Operations and Maintenance, Wastewater 0 0 Comment Read More »
COVID-19 in Wastewater Surveillance Over the past two years, researchers have turned to wastewater to find out more about the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic. In September of 2020 the CDC developed the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) to help monitor and better understand the spread of COVID-19 throughout communities. The NWSS works directly with public health departments to track the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the wastewater of communities across the country. They are able to do this because humans infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus shed the virus in their feces making it detectable within community wastewater systems. The CDC has been able to gather a large amount of data because 80 percent of households in the United States are served by municipal wastewater collection systems. Wastewater surveillance programs have been implemented across the country in places like Utah, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Illinois. Programs have also been implemented internationally. Wastewater surveillance technology has proven to be very beneficial to communities because it is able to detect the virus even before people start showing symptoms. This is helpful because once health departments are aware, communities can immediately take stricter precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. You can stay up to date on the presence of COVID-19 in your community by checking the COVID Data Tracker which provides regularly updated information on the presence of SARS-CoV-2 levels in wastewater at testing sites across the country. March 22, 2022 By Margaret Emergency Response, Wastewater 0 0 Comment Read More »
Outstanding Webinars: Plan, Promote, and Present The pandemic changed the game for online learning, with webinars becoming a staple for many organizations. At the end of 2020 we shared a webinar on best practices for planning, presenting, and promoting your webinar event. If you are a seasoned trainer, you might glean something new from this presentation. For informational purposes only. We are unable to offer certificates for watching a video recording. March 21, 2022 By Jennifer Wilson Internet webinar 0 0 Comment Read More »
A Day in the Life of a Water Operator While the specific details of each day can differ, the general tasks remain largely the same for water and wastewater operators in the United States. Below is a list of videos showcasing the different daily experiences of water and wastewater operators across the country. Carmichael Water District Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Cal Water Saco Water Resource Recovery Division The Northwestern Water & Sewer District Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Whether you share these on social media to help inform the public or use the examples to inspire your own video, telling the story of what you do every day can help inspire future generations of water industry professionals. March 17, 2022 By Margaret Asset Management, Operations and Maintenance 0 0 Comment Read More »
The Benefits of Drones in the Water Industry Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones, have slowly made their way into various parts of society, including the water sector. They offer a more accessible and affordable way for water utility managers to survey their systems. They also offer plant managers the ability to collect detailed information about the status of their utility through aerial photos and videos. The greatest benefits of drones are that they are highly efficient while still being relatively inexpensive. Drones can be used to collect data ranging from updating processes to designing additions, as well as building changes, maintenance, and demolition. Some water companies in France are even using drones to inspect sewer operations. They are also being used in New Zealand as part of a water quality monitoring project. Drones are being used in Ireland to survey problems before they arise and catch unlawful dumping that would eventually become issues for wastewater treatment workers to handle. Drones have proven to be especially helpful in the wastewater industry by increasing worker safety, reducing energy consumption, streamlining planning, improving insight and education, and efficiently collecting samples. Any current or future users of drones should know that entities utilizing drones are now required to comply with new federal laws enacted as part of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. Despite this hurdle, drones provide a great opportunity to help upgrade and improve an otherwise outdated water industry. Overall, drones can be a great tool to help water utilities of the past move more quickly into the future. March 15, 2022 By Margaret Innovative Technology, Operations and Maintenance drones 0 0 Comment Read More »
Free PFAS Resources for Drinking Water and Wastewater Operators Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, have garnered a great deal of attention over the past decade. In 2016 the U.S. EPA established a health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion for combined PFOA and PFOS. Listed below are a collection of free resources on PFAS contamination in drinking water and wastewater facility and what can be done about it. PFAS Factsheet NACWA, 2019 The is a 4-page factsheet that provides background information on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), their prevalence, human health impacts, and how water and wastewater utilities are impacted by receiving PFAS contamination. Laboratory Testing Guidelines for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) for Public Drinking Water Supplies NH Department of Environmental Services, 2020 This is a 6-page factsheet that provides the recommended guidelines for testing for PFAS in water samples collected from private wells or public water systems. Mapping Guide for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Source Water Assessments ASDWA, 2020 The is a 23-page manual that guides utilities in the development of a source water assessment (SWA) to evaluate the susceptibility of drinking water to PFAS contamination through GIS data. The guide includes a description of potential data sources for your assessment. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Drinking Water; Health Issues Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, 2019 This is a 2-page document that provides an overview of the health issues with PFAS, the Lifetime Health Advisory (LHA) level, and what is being done about it. Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Health Minnesota Department of Health, 2021 This is a 4-page factsheet that provides an overview of information on Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water, with an emphasis on topics related to Minnesota. PFAS Action Plan Iowa Department of Natural Resources, 2020 This is a 12-page document that outlines the initial steps the DNR will be taking to determine the extent of PFAS contamination in the state of Iowa. 2021 DW Workshop Session 2b – Source and Treatment I: Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) U.S. EPA, 2021 This is a 2-hour recording is from the 18th Annual EPA Drinking Water Workshop that provides in-depth information and training on solutions and strategies for handling small drinking water system challenges with a focus on monitoring, distribution, source, and treatment topics related to PFAS. 2019 State of the Water Industry Report AWWA, 2019 This is a 51-page full report from the American Water Works Association on the 2019 State of the Water Industry details optimism in the industry and pressing issues that water systems across North America are concerned about. A Clean Water Utility's Guide to Considering Source Identification, Pretreatment, and Sampling Protocols for PFAS NACWA, 2019 The is a 12-page guide from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies that outlines source identification and pretreatment considerations for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in wastewater. The guide includes sampling plans and protocols to reference while the EPA continues to evaluate PFAS. Communicating with Industry on PFAS Contamination ASDWA, 2020 This 4-page factsheet describes the toxicology of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) chemicals and their history in industrial manufacturing. PFAS – Background and Updates for the Water Industry Robinson & Cole LLP, 2018 This is a 31-slide presentation, presented during CWWA's 2019 Fall Conference, which provides introductory information on what PFAS is, sources of PFAS, the health effects due to PFAS exposure, the challenges laboratories face with PFAS analysis, and currently used methods to remove PFAS. EPA Tools and Resources Webinar: Treating Contaminants of Emerging Concern U.S. EPA, 2019 This is a webinar on treatment technologies for three contaminants of emerging concern (CECs)- PFAS, cyanotoxins, and perchlorate- with an emphasis on determining cost-effective solutions for small systems. Proactive Treatment Solutions for PFAS Groundwater Contamination Jacobs, 2019 This is a 27- slide presentation from May 2019 that explains PFAS chemicals are, where they are found, their health concerns, current regulations, and sampling and detection methods. March 11, 2022 By Margaret PFAS 0 0 Comment Read More »