This course is a study of drinking water and wastewater utility systems. Water quality is examined from the perspective of chemical and microbiological measurements and standards, impact on public health, and federal regulation. Sources of water supply including surface water, groundwater, and imported water are compared based on their availability and quality. System design, pipe materials, water storage, and water quality impacts are studied for both water distribution and wastewater collection systems. Finally, the basic technologies used at conventional drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment facility are presented.

This course presents the basic operating principles and techniques of the conventional surface water treatment processes of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration, plus those of disinfection processes. The more advanced technologies of water softening and fluoridation are also covered. Assists in preparation for Grade T1 and T2 Water Treatment Plant Operator's Certificate examination given by the State of California Water Resources Control Board.

This course presents the basic operating principles and techniques of the conventional wastewater treatment processes. This includes screening, sedimentation, activated sludge, media filtration, and chlorination. Alternative treatments such as trickling filters, biological rotating contactors, and lagoon systems are also covered. Assists in preparation for Grade 1 Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator’s certificate examination given by the State of California Water Resources Control Board.

This course provides an introduction to the principles and operation of wastewater collection systems. System design components (pipe, pumps, etc.) are studied connected with normal operations and required maintenance tasks. Different approaches to system inspection and cleaning are compared. The hazards and safety procedures associated with working in traffic and confined spaces are reviewed along with emergency preparedness and capital improvement of the system.

This course introduces basic concepts and processes of drinking water distribution systems, including a general background of drinking water sources, regulations, water system design, and various distribution system appurtenances (pump stations, valves, meters, fire hydrants, water storage, etc.). It also introduces water main construction topics with trenching, laying, testing, backfilling, bringing a new main into service, and new line tapping on an existing main. Assists in preparation for Grade D1 and D2 Water Distribution Operator's Certificate examination given by the State of California Water Resources Control Board.

This course presents an introduction to instrumentation and control devices and process automation approaches used in water and wastewater systems. Electrical power delivery and distribution around treatment plants are examined as a foundation for the course. Basic control theory of linear and dynamic systems is studied alongside control loop designs and PID tuning. Communication network media types and networked architectures are discussed. The final control action of variable frequency drives and motors, actuators, and chemical dosing equipment will be shown and connected with pumps, valves, and chlorinators. Finally, the appropriate instrumentation for different water quality needs will be studied.

This course is an introduction to cross-connection control, cross-connection control hazards and backflow prevention devices. Subjects to be studied will include equipment installation, testing, maintenance and regulations regarding water quality safety. This course will also cover backflow certification.

This course presents the hydraulics necessary to operate water or wastewater plants and systems. The hydraulic basics of pressure, force, velocity, flowrate, and flow continuity are studied as a foundation for the course. The ideas of energy conservation and losses due to friction and turbulence in pipelines and open channels is discussed. Numerical calculations of these losses are practiced for application on the job site. The effect of pumps on pipeline and channel hydraulics is addressed and pump type, application, and efficiency are weighed.

This course presents an introduction to the maintenance and operation of pumps and motors used in the water industry. Single and three phase motors, alongside velocity, centrifugal, and positive displacement pumps are studied as a foundation for the class. Common failures of pumps and motors during water treatment and transportation are examined and connected with preventative maintenance program plans. Pump curves and pumps and motors efficiency are reviewed from the perspective of pump and motor selection criteria and sizing.

This course presents advanced water treatment processes that are available for potable water. Potable water regulations on water quality, for surface water, groundwater, and recycled water, set the foundation for the course. Corrosion chemistry and approaches to stabilize water in distribution systems are presented. Advanced technologies including iron and manganese control, ion exchange, adsorption, membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet light, and advance oxidation processes (AOP) are studied.

This course introduces basic mathematical principles related to drinking water distribution and treatment, and wastewater collection and treatment; including areas, volumes, pressure, flow rates, unit conversion, chemical dosage, detention time, filtration rates and other water and wastewater process parameters. Focuses on mathematical computations within the expected range of knowledge on the State Water Resources Control Board exams for Drinking Water Distribution 1 and 2, Drinking Water Treatment 1 and 2, and Wastewater Treatment 1 and 2.

This course presents the elements of water chemistry and water bacteriology as they apply to the water treatment processes, water conditioning, and the protection of water quality. Solution chemistry, along with the chemistry of acids, bases, and salts are studied to build a foundation. The gross chemical reactions that carryout water treatment, such as odor removal, manganese and iron removal, coagulation, water softening, and disinfection are analyzed. The main microbe types in water, viruses, bacteria, and protozoa are discussed from a public health perspective. The course includes laboratory work to introduce students to basic water quality monitoring techniques.

This course is based upon the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Permits for construction sites (Construction General Permit), industrial activities (Industrial General Permit), and municipalities (Phase I and Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permits). Topics include development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) including how to identify potential sources of pollution, discharge, or contamination, and methods to prevent and control stormwater pollution, Best Management Practices (BMPs), sampling and monitoring strategies, understanding permit conditions, and overview of California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) qualification process for Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD), Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP), Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner (QISP), and other stormwater certifications.

This course is a study of the supervisor's administrative responsibilities managing public utilities. Subjects covered include utility operations and maintenance planning; asset management; water resource management and planning; wastewater system capacity; utility security and emergency response planning (includes federal requirements and guidelines for communicating with the public); financial management (utility capital financing; establishing rates, fees & charges; budgeting); customer service and public relations; supervision of operations and managing employees, industrial safety, and other workplace responsibilities.

Work Experience Education provides supervised employment extending classroom occupational learning at an on-the-job learning station relating to the students’ educational or occupational goals. Each unit of credit requires 54 hours of employment during the semester. Work Experience Education is available to all students.  Students are accepted as a result of consultation with a designated faculty member in the discipline.