WET 210 - Advanced Wastewater Treatment Technologies

Credits: 3
Instructional Contact Hours: 3

Discusses wastewater treatment technologies beyond conventional processes. Includes the processes and techniques commonly used for advanced wastewater treatment, disinfection, solids stabilization and disposal, nutrient reduction and toxics removal. Includes field tours and discussion of safety and health, sampling procedures, record keeping, data preparation and report writing, and analytical procedures used to determine optimal plant operation and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Prerequisite(s): WET 112
Corequisite(s): None
Lecture Hours: 45 Lab Hours: 0
Meets MTA Requirement: None
Pass/NoCredit: Yes

Outcomes and Objectives

Understand terms commonly used in wastewater technology.
1. Define and use more advanced “wastewater” terms.
2. Explain terms and phrases commonly used by wastewater treatment professionals and be able to appropriately use those terms and phrases in verbal and written communication.
Discuss the processes, equipment and safe, efficient operation and maintenance of advanced wastewater systems.
1. Describe and Demonstrate the basic operation and maintenance practices, policies and skills involved in an advanced wastewater facility.
2. Further identify, define and explain the pollutant character, effects and impacts of oxygen demanding substances, solid materials, nutrients, organic and inorganic substances, temperature, p.H., disease causing organisms and toxic materials.
3. Discuss the nitrogen cycle and its importance.
Discuss the processes of chemical addition to enhance and improve the removal of pollutants from in-plant wastewater streams.
1. Explain the concepts of chemical addition to wastewater processes and the anticipated impacts of those treatment aids.
2. Understand the principles of simple “bench-top” jar-tests which can determine target chemical addition dosages.
3. Use correct mathematical formulas to calculate chemical feed rates and usage.
4. Discuss the processes of coagulation and flocculation as aids to sedimentation.
Describe specific advanced wastewater treatment processes.
1. Discuss the processes of reverse osmosis, air flotation, ozonation and other such “advanced” methods of further and better removing pollutants from wastewater.
2. Describe the various filtration processes used to separate solids from water.
3. Discuss “breakpoint chlorination” as an advanced treatment practice.
Evaluate treatment plant operations by application of a logical problem-solving process and review of elated monitoring and analytical data.
1. Identify a problem, determine alternatives to solving the problem and provide a solution to the problem.
2. Develop an annual budget for a specified size and type of wastewater plant.
3. Complete a sample “monthly operations report”; of form and content typically required for submittal to a regulatory agency.
4. Write a sample annual report to a City administration, summarizing the state of the treatment facility and recommendations for improving treatment and cost effectiveness.
Describe and differentiate between the various job descriptions found in atypical wastewater treatment plant and the role that each of those jobs plays in the successful operation of the collection systems and treatment facility.
1. Study job descriptions and talk to working professionals concerning the education,skills, experience and personal traits earned and exhibited by wastewater plant staff.