KEEP RURAL AMERICA STRONG!
Today’s Congressional policies and funding decisions are jeopardizing the ability of every community in rural America to keep water and wastewater services affordable. Budget cuts will leave USDA WEP unable to accomplish its mission. WEP is instrumental in helping rural America maintain affordable and sustainable water access for all rural people.
Visit https://www.ruralwaterstrong.org/ for more info!
Upcoming Events!
TRAINING CALENDAR
Operator Certification Review
Columbia Falls Fire Hall
624 1st Ave W, Columbia Falls, MT 59912
December 8th and 9th 2025
9:00AM – 4:00PM
Monday
8:45 a.m. Sign-in, introductions!
9:00 a.m. Water Operations and Maintenance
12:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
1:00 p.m. Math Review. Metric System, Calculations and Formula Sheet Overview
2:30 p.m. Pumps, Motors, and Valves
3:30 p.m. Safety and Security
Tuesday
9:00 a.m. Math Problems
10:00 a.m. Source Water
12:00 p.m. Lunch on your own
1:00p.m. Water Distribution
Please register at www.mrws.org
For further information, contact Robin at rfranzen@mrws.org, or call (406) 781-8775
No CECs are offered for this training.
Schedule subject to change to optimize learning
MRWS Workshop Registration (No Fees)
Wastewater Certification Review
Great Falls, Mt
Sleep Inn & Suits
December 15, 2025
(MRWS John Paddock and MRWS Robin Frazen)
8:30- 9:00 Introduction to wastewater
9:00-9:30 Wastewater characteristics of wastewater
9:30-9:45 Break
9:45-10:45 Pretreatment and Primary treatment
10:45-11:15 Microbiology
11:30-11:45 break
11:45-1:00 Lagoons
1:00-2:30 fixed film
2:30-3:30 Disinfection
3:30-4:00 Pumps presentation
December 16, 2025
(MRWS John Paddock, MRWS Robin Franzen)
9:00-10:30 Activated Sludge — Followed by Math Problems!
10:30- 12:00 Electrical, Safety, Management — Followed by Math Problems!
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 Lab procedures –Followed by Math Problems!
2:00-2:45 Aeration –Followed by Math Problems!
2:45-3:15 Wastewater Treatment Plant Video “From Flush to Finish”
3:15 – 4:00 Final overview and last minute questions… maybe another math problem!
MRWS Workshop Registration (No Fees)
December 17, 2025
(MRWS John Paddock, MRWS Chelsea Dodd and MT DEQ Josh Viall)
8:30- 9:00 Introduction to wastewater
9:00-9:30 Wastewater characteristics
9:30-9:45 Break
9:45-10:45 Math Review
10:45-11:15 Pretreatment and Primary treatment
11:30-11:45 Break
11:45-1:00 Microbiology
1:00-2:30 Lagoons
2:30-3:30 Fixed Film
3:30-4:00 Math review
December 18, 2025
(MRWS John Paddock, MRWS Chelsea Dodd and MDEQ Josh Viall)
9:00-10:30 Activated Sludge
10:30- 12:00 Disinfection
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 2:00 Lab procedures
2:00-2:45 Aeration
2:45-3:15 Electrical, Safety, Management
3:15 – 4:00 Final math review
(Subject to Change)
MRWS Workshop Registration (No Fees)
Water Operator Certification Review
Helena Ten Mile Water Treatment Plant
1115 Rimini Road, Helena, MT 59602
December 17th and 18th, 2025
9:00AM – 4:00PM
Wednesday
8:45 a.m. Sign-in, introductions!
9:00 a.m. Water Operations and Maintenance
12:00 p.m. BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH!
12:30 p.m. Math Review. Metric System, Calculations and Formula Sheet Overview
2:30 p.m. Pumps, Motors, and Valves
3:30 p.m. Safety and Security
Thursday
9:00 a.m. Labs
10:30 a.m. Source Water
12:00 p.m. BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH!
12:30 p.m. Split into – Water Distribution or Surface Water Treatment
Call Robin Franzen at (406) 781-8775 for further information.
Please register at www.mrws.org
No CECs are offered for this training. Schedule subject to change to optimize learning.
MRWS Workshop Registration (No Fees)
Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers Course
A series of lectures followed by guided exercises in a wet lab will provide understanding of field-testing methods on 4 backflow prevention assemblies: pressure vacuum breakers, spill resistant vacuum breakers, reduced pressure principle assemblies, and double check assemblies. Students will gain knowledge in hydraulics, backflow and back siphonage, types of cross connections, and degrees of hazard and state and federal regulations. Friday afternoon participants can take a written exam and on Saturday morning can take a practical exam administered by the American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA). Passing scores on both the exams will result in certification by ABPA as a backflow prevention assembly tester. For more information on ABPA see the back of this training announcement or go to their website www.abpa.com
Click here for more information and how to register
Click here to register for exam through ABPA
Exam registration on ABPA website will be available by Nov 7, 2025
Class is January 5-10, 2026
Water and Wastewater Operator Exam Certification Review Session – Great Falls
Holiday Inn Great Falls
1100 5th St S, Great Falls, MT 59405
January 15th and 16th @ 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
We will use a floating agenda to best fit your needs
· Comprehensive look at the “Needs to Know” list for your classification.
· Math Formula Sheets and several practice questions.
· Intro to all pertinent terminology.
· Water treatment and distribution, Source Water and more.
· Wastewater collection and treatment.
· Safety and Security.
· Discuss pump and valve characteristics.
· Intro to disinfection properties and methods – Chlorine, UV.
BRING ALL STUDY MATERIALS!!!
Whether you’ve applied to take an exam or are planning to apply, this review will get you on the right track for the comprehensive review in March at the MRWS Conference!!
Review presenters are MRWS Staff
Contact Robin Franzen or John Paddock for details!
rfranzen@mrws.org (406) 781-8775 jpaddock@mrws.org (406) 460-1934 Please register at www.mrws.org
MRWS Workshop Registration (No Fees)
Training & Where We Go!
![IMG_3135[1]](https://mrws.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_31351-scaled.jpg)
![IMG_3138[1]](https://mrws.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_31381-scaled.jpg)
![IMG_3140[1]](https://mrws.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_31401-scaled.jpg)
![IMG_3136[1]](https://mrws.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_31361-scaled.jpg)
![IMG_3131[1]](https://mrws.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_31311-scaled.jpg)
Our Mission
At MRWS, our mission is to provide quality training and technical assistance to Drinking Water, Waste Water, and Tribal systems — to enable them to produce the best product with their available resources!
“Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business of industry to which he is engaged. No man has the moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere.”
– Theodore Roosevelt
Need funding to attend training?
The MWEA (Montana Water Environment Association) Board has set aside funds in the current operating budget for assisting Montana operators to attend continuing education/training events. They want to help you get the training you need!
Why Process with GovCard?
For more information please contact: Whitney Johnson wjohnson@poweredbyevolv.com 888.311.7248 Ext 2015
- No processing costs are incurred by the utility company or municipality
- Multiple (ACH, credit, and debit) customer payment options
- Reduce receivables
- Increased service levels for your customers
- Recurring payments
- Customers appreciate the convenience of paying online and by card
- Free landing page with a click-to-pay button https://www.evolvreferral.com/353
