Online Course

Wastewater Pumps, Motors, and Mechanical Equipment

Learn what common plant machines do, what normal operation looks like, and how operators spot warning signs, troubleshoot and keep equipment reliable.

Course Details

Certificate
1.0 hour
Time
About 70 minutes
To pass
80% or better on the final
Price
For credit: $20, or $150 for the Course Pass. To learn with no credit: Included with Premium Pay for this course

For You

Pick your state or province to see if this course counts.

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Your progress

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Start the Course
Try a Sample PagePump Curves, exactly as it appears in the course

What You'll Learn

  • Work safely around equipment: nameplates, duty and standby pumps, guards, operator rounds and reporting changes.
  • Explain how centrifugal pumps work: impellers, suction conditions, priming, pump head, pump curves, cavitation and blockages.
  • Describe positive-displacement pumps: progressing cavity, rotary lobe, diaphragm and peristaltic pumps, relief protection and actual output.
  • Start, run and troubleshoot pumps: wet-well control, short cycling, no flow, low flow, vibration and seal leakage.
  • Describe motors and drives: current, temperature, bearings, couplings, alignment, starters, overloads and variable speed.
  • Explain valves, pipes and support equipment: isolation and check valves, mixers, conveyors, air compressors and hoists.
  • Plan preventive maintenance: lubrication, cleaning, bases, condition monitoring, spare parts, work orders and root cause.
  • Apply lockout/tagout, confined-space and lifting safety, basic pump rate and power math, and whole-system thinking.
What's Inside 8 parts, 72 pages
  1. Working Around Equipment 9 pages
    • Welcome
    • The Equipment Path
    • Normal Operation
    • Read the Nameplate
    • Duty and Standby
    • Guards and Access
    • Operator Rounds
    • Report the Change
    • Checkpoint
  2. Centrifugal Pumps 9 pages
    • Pump Basics
    • The Impeller
    • Suction Conditions
    • Priming
    • Pump Head
    • Pump Curves
    • Cavitation
    • Pump Blockage
    • Checkpoint
  3. Positive-Displacement Pumps 9 pages
    • Different Method
    • Progressing Cavity
    • Rotary Lobe
    • Diaphragm Pumps
    • Peristaltic Pumps
    • Relief Protection
    • Thick Material
    • Actual Output
    • Checkpoint
  4. Pump Operation and Troubleshooting 9 pages
    • Before Start
    • During Operation
    • Wet-Well Control
    • Short Cycling
    • No Flow
    • Low Flow
    • High Vibration
    • Seal Leakage
    • Checkpoint
  5. Motors and Drives 9 pages
    • Motor Basics
    • Motor Current
    • Motor Temperature
    • Bearings
    • Couplings
    • Alignment
    • Starters and Overloads
    • Variable Speed
    • Checkpoint
  6. Valves, Pipes, and Support Equipment 9 pages
    • Valve Jobs
    • Isolation Valves
    • Check Valves
    • Pipes and Fittings
    • Mixers
    • Conveyors
    • Air Compressors
    • Hoists and Cranes
    • Checkpoint
  7. Preventive Maintenance 9 pages
    • Planned Care
    • Lubrication
    • Cleaning Equipment
    • Fasteners and Bases
    • Condition Monitoring
    • Spare Parts
    • Work Orders
    • Root Cause
    • Checkpoint
  8. Safety, Math, and Reliable Operation 9 pages
    • Lockout Tagout
    • Confined Spaces
    • Lifting Safety
    • Biological Hazards
    • Pump Rate Math
    • Power and Cost
    • SCADA Is a Tool
    • Whole System
    • Final Checkpoint
More Details

Who It's For

Wastewater operators at any level and people studying to become operators. No experience needed.

Your authorization and the site procedure control the work.

Format

72 narrated pages with short checks and a final. Built by a working wastewater operator (Washington Group III).

Where Does This Course Count?

A course counts toward your continuing education credit only once your state or province accepts it. Today Minnesota and Montana have approved our courses, they count in Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, South Carolina, where courses need no pre-approval, and we are asking more states. Ask us to add your state or province.

Do I Need an Account?

Yes, to take the course. Signing in lets us record your time and issue your certificate. This page, the topic pages and the practice questions need no account.

Can I Skip Ahead?

No. Each page has a minimum time before the next one opens, and your time is recorded.

What Do I Get When I Finish?

A certificate of completion from Operator Master for 1.0 hour, once you pass the final with 80% or better. Your operator certificate or license always comes from your state, not from Operator Master.

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