Water & Environmental Technology Schedule
MODEL SCHEDULE FOR WATER & ENVIRONEMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
SEMESTER 1
WET 111 Drinking Water Distribution 3
WET 116 Water Resources 4
WET 156 Drinking Water I 4
MATH 137 Intermediate Algebra 3
ENG 106 English Composition 3
SEMESTER 2
WET 106 Waste Water Collection 3
WET 121 Safety, Health, and Security 2
WET 161 Waste Water I 4
WET 166 Administration/Rules & Regulations 2
MATH ELECTIVE MATH 132 or MATH 150 3
CHEM 100 Conceptual Chemistry (or higher) 3
SEMESTER 3
WET 206 Waste Water II 5
WET 211 Print Reading/GIS 3
WET 216 Industrial Waste 3
BIO 210 General Biology I 4
CIS 111 Intro to Computer Applications 3
SEMESTER 4
WET 256 Drinking Water II 4
WET 261 Advanced Waste Water and Solids Handling 4
WET 266 Equipment Maintenance 3
ANY SEMESTER
HEAL ELECTRIVE HEAL 106 or HEAL 111 1
ELECTIVE Humanities Elective 3
ENG Tech Writing or Public Speaking 3
TOTAL CREDITS 70
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WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY (WET)
WET 106 (3 credits)
Wastewater Collection
This course provides students with an introduction to the practical aspects of operating and maintaining wastewater collection systems with a focus on the knowledge and skills operators need to identify collection system problems and select appropriate methods to solve them. Students learn the components and typical layouts of collection systems, and be introduced to safety procedures for construction, inspection, and testing of sewers, inspection of manholes, and underground construction and repair. Students learn the basics of closed-circuit television inspections, clearing stoppages, cleaning sewers, and controlling roots, grease, odors, and corrosion in collection systems, and learn to solve arithmetic problems relating to the operation and maintenance of wastewater collection systems.
WET 111 (2 credits)
Drinking Water Distribution
Students learn about the practical aspects of operating and maintaining water distribution systems, emphasizing safe practices and procedures, including the role and duties of water distribution system operators, procedures for operating and maintaining clear wells and storage tanks, and components and characteristics of distribution system facilities. The course covers the basics of operating and maintaining distribution systems, maintaining water quality in the system, disinfecting new and repaired facilities as well as water delivered to consumers. Techniques for recognizing hazards and developing safe procedures and programs is also taught.
WET 116 (4 Credits)
Water Resources
Introducing students to topics such as the properties of water, water resources management, sources of water, management of storm water, and water quantity and quality requirements, this course provides an understanding of the characteristics of surface water and groundwater sources and examines the impacts of urbanization on runoff. Students discuss the relationship between the hydrological cycle and the treatment of water and wastewater and gain hands-on experience through laboratory exercises, case studies, and field trips, as appropriate.
WET 121 (2 credits)
Safety, Health, and Security
An introduction to safety, health, and security procedures to address the hazards and risks associated with operating and maintaining water and wastewater systems. Students learn about industry accepted safety practices to provide the workforce with a safe working environment. Students learn to identify and predict hazards in the work environment and learn proper use of personal protective equipment. The biological and chemical hazards associated with operating treatment facilities is also covered. Students are introduced to safety and emergency preparedness and the importance of coordinating activities with other agencies.
WET 156 (4 credits)
Drinking Water I
An introduction to the equipment and processes used in the treatment of drinking water, the course introduces students to different sources of water, reservoir management, and intake structures. Students learn how to safely operate and maintain coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection processes. Topics such as the control of tastes and odors in drinking water, the Lead and Copper Rule, and solving arithmetic problems related to water treatment plant operations are also covered. Students are introduced to daily operating procedures, regulation of flows, chemical use and handling, records and reports, plant maintenance, safety and security, emergency conditions and procedures, handling complaints, and energy conservation.
WET 161 (4 credits)
Wastewater I
The course serves as an introduction to the equipment and processes used in the treatment of wastewater. Students are introduced to the different components of wastewater treatment facilities, including racks and screens, grit removal, sedimentation and floatation, trickling filters, rotating biological contactors, activated sludge, wastewater stabilization ponds, and disinfection. Topics such as why we treat wastewater, the duties of a wastewater treatment plant operator, and NPDES permits are also introduced.
Prerequisite: WET 106
WET 166 (2 credits)
Administration/Rules and Regulations
Covering the major areas of responsibility of a utility manager, the course also includes the legal requirements of federal legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the importance of developing policies and procedures for dealing with harassment, grievances, and violence in the workplace. Students also discuss the financial management of a utility, including assessing the financial strength and stability of the utility, budgeting, and funding capital improvements. Finally, the course introduces students to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection regulations governing water and wastewater treatment facilities.
WET 206 (5 credits)
Wastewater II
Building upon the topics covered in WET 161, the course covers conventional activated sludge processes, sludge digestion and basic solids handling, effluent disposal, plant safety and good housekeeping, plant and equipment maintenance, laboratory procedures and chemistry, use of computers for plant operation and maintenance, analysis and presentation of data, and records and report writing. Operators also learn to analyze and solve operational problems and to perform mathematical calculations relating to wastewater treatment process control. A laboratory component allows students to gain hands-on experience.
Prerequisite: WET 161
WET 211 (3 credits)
Print Reading/Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
This course introduces students to blueprint reading, geographical information systems (GIS), and the types of blueprints students may expect to encounter working in the water and wastewater industries. This includes land development prints and water and wastewater treatment facility prints. The GIS portion of the course introduces students to GIS mapping as it relates to municipal services.
WET 216 (3 credits)
Industrial Waste
Topics include the operation and maintenance of industrial wastewater treatment facilities, regulations governing industrial waste, types of industrial waste, operation and maintenance of flow measurement equipment, preliminary treatment processes, physical-chemical treatment processes, and physical treatment processes. Students are also introduced to the treatment of metal waste streams.
Prerequisite: WET 106
WET 256 (4 credits)
Drinking Water II
The course introduces students to the practical aspects of operating and maintaining water treatment plants. Topics covered include drinking water regulations (including the Safe Drinking Water Act), iron and manganese control, fluoridation, softening, trihalomethanes, demineralization, handling and disposal of process wastes, maintenance, instrumentation, and advanced laboratory procedures. A laboratory component allows students to gain hands-on experience.
Prerequisite: WET 156
WET 261 (4 credits)
Advanced Wastewater and Solids Handling
Building upon the material covered in WET 161 and WET 206, the course covers the equipment and advanced treatment processes used for odor control, pure oxygen activated sludge treatment, solids removal from secondary effluents, residual solids management, enhanced biological control including nitrogen and phosphorus removal, and wastewater reclamation. Additional topics such as sludge types, characteristics, and quantities; sludge thickening using gravity thickeners, dissolved air flotation units, centrifuges and thermal conditioning as well as wet oxidation and elutriation; dewatering with pressure filtration (plate and frame, belt, vacuum), centrifuges and drying beds; volume reduction using composting, mechanical drying, incineration, and lagoons; and disposal methods for dewatered or liquid stabilized sludge are covered.
Prerequisite: WET 206