BASIC OPERATIONS COURSE

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

WASTEWATER CERTIFICATION TRAINING PROJECT

CURRICULA GUIDE for

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR CERTIFICATION TRAINING

"BASIC OPERATIONS COURSE"

Prepared for: Bureau of Water Compliance New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

625 Broadway, 4th Floor Albany, NY 12233-3506

Contract Number: C-002018 Prepared and Submitted by: INTERNATIONAL STUDIES & TRAINING INSTITUTE, INC.

1750 Deep Run Road Whiteford, MD 21160

(410) 836-1591 FAX (410) 836-3116

JULY, 1994 (Update April 2009)

PREFACE & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The contents and production of this Guide represent the results of numerous individuals from State and local government and the private sector. Working together they produced a document which would ensure a comprehensive listing of knowledge and skills necessary to operate a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effectively, safely, and in compliance with the water quality standards of the State of New York. The most significant contributions were made by a group of professional operators and managers who are routinely involved with the day-to-day operation of WWTPs in the State of New York. Thanks to their efforts and cooperation, the baseline information was established and organized according to New York state certification levels. A complete listing of the individuals involved in this process is provided in Section 10 at the end of this guide. In addition to these individuals, the staff of the Bureau of Water Compliance Programs, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is to be recognized for their insight and recognition of the need for such delineation, and for undertaking this project in a effort to align the training program with the State certification program. Two individuals in particular are to be recognized for their contributions: Mr. Andrew Weist, P.E., and Mr. Phil Smith, P.E., Chief of the Operation Assistance Section. Their guidance and assistance during this project were invaluable. Other contributors to be recognized include Dr.William Engel, Vice President of ISTI and Ms. Susan McMaster, President of McMaster Training Associates, who conducted the "Facilitated Analysis for Systematic Training" (FAST) workshop. Their guidance during the peer review and consensus process contributed significantly to the establishment and organization of the baseline information required for certification training. Recognition is also due to Mr. Doug Nelson, Assistant Professor, State University of New York, for his contribution to the validation process and to the organization of courses and descriptions; to Mr. Jake Bair, Director of the Maryland Center for Environmental Training, for authoring the skill statements and to Ms. Julia Lannon and Ms. Julie Rison for word processing.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter

Page

Preface and Acknowledgements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . i

Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . iv ! The State Operator Certification Program ! Description of the "Basic Operations" Course ! Description of the Need-to-Know Criteria page

Module 1: "Introduction to Wastewater Treatment". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1 ! Basic math, chemistry and biology skills needed by all wastewater operators ! Basic safety and hazard avoidance ! Basic sampling, testing and SPDES compliance

Module 2: "Preliminary and Primary Wastewater Treatment".. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1 ! Bar Screens and Racks (including safety, cleaning, inspection and operation. . . . . 2-3 ! Comminution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4 ! Grit Removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5 ! Primary Clarification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6

Module 3: "Secondary Wastewater Treatment Processes". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1 ! Introduction to Secondary Treatment.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3 ! Trickling filters and bio-towers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3 ! Secondary Clarifier Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8 ! Rotating Biological Contactors (RBC's). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12

Module 4: "Advanced Wastewater Treatment". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1 ! Sand and granular media filtration.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3 ! Nitrification/Denitrification and ! Phosphorous Removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-4

Module 5: "Disinfection and Effluent Disposal". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1 ! Disinfection chemistry and processes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3 ! Disinfection equipment and safety.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3 ! Effluent sampling.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4 ! Effluent disposal and reporting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5 ! Odor Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6

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TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued)

Module 6: "Solids Management". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-1 ! Sludge Thickening (gravity and flotation thickening). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3 ! Aerobic Digestion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 ! Anaerobic digestion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4 ! Mechanical Sludge Dewatering (vacuum filters, belt filter presses, centrifuges). . . 6-6 ! Sludge drying beds, final sludge disposal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6

Module 7: "Equipment and Support Systems". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-1 ! Types of pumps and blowers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3 ! Pump terms and vocabulary.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3 ! Pump operation and maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3 ! Valves. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4 ! Hydraulic and Flow Measurement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5 ! Data Recording and Monitoring Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6 ! Meters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6 ! Alarm Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7 ! Control Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8

Module 8: "Monitoring and Regulatory Requirements".. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-1 ! Monitoring and Reporting Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3 ! The SPDES Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3 ! Sludge handling and disposal laws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4 ! Pretreatment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4

Module 9: "Management and Supervision". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-1 ! Management and Supervisory Issues (planning, budgeting, staffing). . . . . . . . . . . 9-3 ! Designing health and safety programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4 ! Staff training programs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6 ! Public Relations and Public Education. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7 ! Energy Conservation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7 ! Municipal WWTP Pollution Prevention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9

Appendix: . . "NYSDEC Certification Training Blue Ribbon Panel and FAST Workshop . . . . . . Participants." Spring 1992.

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INTRODUCTION

New York State Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification

Certification of wastewater treatment plant operators in New York State is mandated by Title 6 New York Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYCRR), Section 650, Chapter X. The certification process is a system whereby an individual is determined to be qualified as a chief operator or assistant/shift operator for the purpose of meeting the requirements of the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) Permit.

The New York State Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification Program requires certification candidates to progressively complete a series of certification training courses. The following chart illustrates the training required for each certification Grade.

NOTE: All operators at "A", or activated sludge process facilities, must complete the activated sludge course.

Introductory Wastewater Course (Home Study)

Grade 1

or

Basic Operations Course

Grade 2

Basic Operations Course + Lab Course

Grade 3 Supervision and Technical Operations Course

Grade 4

Management Course

With the exception of Grade 1, all certification candidates must complete the "BASIC OPERATIONS" course. Grade 1 certification candidates may also complete the "Basic Operations" course, or they may choose the alternative of completing an approved home study course in order to complete their training requirement.

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