Online Course
Wastewater Solids Handling Fundamentals
Follow the solids from where they are removed to where they go: pumping, storage, thickening, digestion, dewatering, sampling and the final destination, and how one step affects the next.
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.
Your progress
Checking your course record…
What You'll Learn
- Follow the solids from where they begin through the treatment train, and explain water versus dry solids and returned liquids.
- Move and store sludge safely: pumps, air and plugging, valve lineups, tank mixing and levels, and truck transfers.
- Explain gravity and mechanical thickening, feed changes, underflow control, supernatant quality and polymer.
- Describe stabilization, aerobic and anaerobic digestion, feed and draw, mixing and heat, digester gas, foam and scum.
- Run dewatering equipment: belt presses, belt tracking and wash, centrifuges, drying beds and cake conveyance.
- Sample solids, calculate percent solids, read capture, returns and trends, and keep records and chain of custody.
- Work safely around biological contact, moving equipment, confined spaces, hydrogen sulfide, digester gas and chemicals.
- Plan destinations: land application, landfill, truck loading, odor and neighbors, spills, and documentation.
What's Inside 8 parts, 72 pages
Follow the Solids 9 pages
- Why Solids Matter
- Sludge and Biosolids
- Where Solids Begin
- The Treatment Train
- Water Versus Dry Solids
- Liquids That Return
- Storage and Timing
- A Complete Handoff
- Checkpoint
Moving and Storing Sludge 9 pages
- Sludge Pumps
- Air and Plugging
- Valves and Lineups
- Holding Tank Mixing
- Tank Levels
- Sludge Truck Transfers
- Cold and Hot Weather
- Transfer Troubles
- Checkpoint
Thickening and Feed 9 pages
- Why Thicken
- Gravity Thickening
- Mechanical Thickening
- Feed Variability
- Underflow Control
- Supernatant Quality
- Polymer Basics
- Thickening Troubles
- Checkpoint
Digestion and Stabilization 9 pages
- What Stabilization Means
- Aerobic Digestion
- Anaerobic Digestion
- Feed and Draw
- Mixing and Heat
- Digester Gas
- Foam and Scum
- Digestion Response
- Checkpoint
Dewatering Equipment 9 pages
- Why Dewater
- Belt Press Path
- Belt Tracking and Wash
- Centrifuge Basics
- Drying Beds
- Cake Conveyance
- Starting a Run
- Ending a Run
- Checkpoint
Quality, Sampling, and Math 9 pages
- Sampling Solids
- Percent Solids
- A Simple Solids Example
- Capture and Returns
- Process Records
- Chain of Custody
- Odor and Appearance
- Reading Trends
- Checkpoint
Safety and Maintenance 9 pages
- Biological Contact
- Moving Equipment
- Confined Spaces
- Hydrogen Sulfide
- Digester Gas Safety
- Chemical Handling
- Maintenance Coordination
- Housekeeping
- Checkpoint
Destinations and Stewardship 9 pages
- After the Plant
- Land Application
- Landfill and Other Routes
- Truck Loading
- Odor and Neighbors
- Spills and Releases
- Documentation and Rules
- Closing the Loop
- Checkpoint
More Details
Who It's For
Wastewater operators at any level and people studying to become operators. No experience needed.
Handling it well protects the liquid process, workers, neighbors, and the final use or disposal site.
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.