**CEC Biennium Ends May 31**
Water and Wastewater Operator Training
April 29, 2026, 9:00AM –4:00PM
Glacier Peaks Hotel
50 Museum Lp, Browning, MT 59417
Safety – Confined Space and PPE
Security – Cyber, Physical, Operational and Situational Awareness
9:00 AM to Noon
Hands-on Valve Training 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Disaster Preparedness – Crisis Communications 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM
For more information, contact Robin at (406) 781-8775
CECs: .6 Water and .6 Wastewater
This training event is free of charge
Please Register at www.mrws.org
MRWS Workshop Registration (No Fees)
Annual Glacier Park and Small System Training Workshop
Park service Community Center
Administration Complex
West Glacier, MT – May 6, 2026
8:00am—8:10am Welcome (Christine Maday, MRWS)
8:10am – 9:00am Water Audits
(Nate Wesienburger, AE2S) [0.100 Water CECs]
9:00am—10:00am Valves- Choosing the Right one for the Job
(Nate Wesienburger, AE2S) [0.100 Dual CECs]
10:00am-11:00am Water Chemistry for Opertaors
(Kyla Terry, MRWS) [0.100 Dual CECs]
11:00am-12:00pm Sampling and Monitoring
(Jon Cuthbertson, ME Labs) [0.100 Dual CECs]
12:00 – 1:00pm — >>>>>> Lunch on your Own <<<<<<
1:00pm— 2:30pm Pump Operations and Troubleshooting- Hands on demo
(Marie Gerrish, Stenner Pumps)[0.150 Dual]
2:30pm—4:00pm Intro to Backflow Prevention
(Christine Maday, MRWS) [0.150 Dual CECs]
Water and Wastewater Operator Exam Certification Review Session
Columbia Falls Fire Department
624 1st Ave W, Columbia Falls, MT 59912
May 19th and 20th @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Lunch on your own 12:00 – 1:00
· 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 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
No CECs for these sessions.
MRWS Workshop Registration (No Fees)
This workshop will be hosted by MRWS and Marty Walker from Prestige Worldwide Technologies. The agenda may be adjusted to provide the best training for those in attendance! Class starts at 9:00am. Lunch is 12:00pm-1:00pm and adjourned at 4:00pm.
0.600 Water and 0.600 Wastewater CECs
AUTOMATIC CONTROL VALVE MAINTENANCE
- SYSTEM SHUT DOWN
- BASIC TROUBLE SHOOTING OF VALVES
- SYSTEM START-UP & PILOT SETTING
How program is related to maintenance and managing the operations of a water/wastewater system
This instruction is intended to provide maintenance personnel with a fundamental understanding.
Guidelines for troubleshooting control valves during emergencies and restoring them to operational status.
Valve Types;
- Main Valve
- Pump control Valve Installation & Applications Water vs Wastewater
- Pressure Reducing
- Pressure Relief
- Pump Control
- Altitude Control Valve
- Basic Troubleshooting
- Trouble Shooting Pilot Controls
- System Shut Down D. System Start-up & Pilot Setting
- Hands on demo in Truck Trailer
Time allotted for questions.
Agenda to be announced
Spring Water School is a offered by MW2OI.
The Montana Water and Wastewater Operators Initiative (MW2OI) is a collaborative effort
between the Montana Department of Environmental Quality and the Department of Civil
Engineering at Montana State University to provide training to the operators so critical to
Montana’s communities Please contact them directly with questions.
Telephone: (406) 994-6550
Fax: (406) 994-7856
E-mail: ato@montana.edu
Click link below for more info:
Spring Water School 2026 – Academic Technology and Outreach | Montana State University
The instructor of this course will be John Schwartz from USABlueBook.

This class will cover the basics of asset management, capacity development and funding. Topics included will be critical infrastructure, maintenance and EPA sustainable practices.
0.200 Dual CECs
$20 for members
$30 for non-members
Use code MRWS2026 for discounted price of $20 (make sure to hit “apply” for the price reduction)
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 may not be posted yet on ABPA website. The dates have been approved, and the exams should be posted soon. As a reminder, it is your responsibility to register for the exam.
June 8-13, 2026
Building Water Sector Natural Hazard Resilience in Montana and Neighboring States
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
In-Person Option: 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM MDT (Montana Wild; Helena, MT)
Online Option: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM MDT (Zoom) Register Here!
Learning Objectives:
1. Review water availability and hydrological challenges in the Northern Great Plains region, discover local drought mitigation and source water protection planning strategies, and learn how local watershed groups are working to improve watershed health to benefit community water resources.
2. Learn how EPA’s Natural Hazard Technical Assistance can help your utility quantify risks to drought, wildfire, flooding, and other natural hazard impacts, pinpoint vulnerable assets, and identify cost-effective mitigation strategies that reduce risk and improve resilience.
3. Gain insights into federal, state, and local funding and assistance programs for water sector utilities by engaging and networking with experts.
Preliminary Agenda: Key topics are in Bold
8:30 AM Arrival & Sign-In
9:00 AM Welcome & Agenda Overview
9:10 AM Water Availability & Hydrological Challenges in the Northern Great Plains (Arin Peters, NWS)
9:40 AM Local Drought Planning & Source Water Protection (Valerie Kurth, MT DNRC)
10:00 AM Watershed Health & Management (Kristy Fortman, EPA)
10:20 AM Break
10:30 AM Intro to EPA Strengthening Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT) Technical Assistance (Audrey Ramming, EPA)
10:45 AM Natural Hazard Risk-Informed Planning for Water Utilities (Geneva Gray, EPA)
11:10 AM Utility Resilience-Building Case Study (TBD)
11:30 AM Resilient Infrastructure Funding & Implementation Pathways (Emily Gillespie, EPA)
12:00 PM Lunch (Online Sessions End)
1:00 PM Peer Sharing: “Utilities in Action” (Small Group Activity)
1:20 PM Break
1:30 PM Speed Consulting Rotations: Resilience, Funding & Assistance Programs Networking Session (Interactive Activity)
2:55 PM Closing Remarks, Resource Highlights, Next Steps
3:00 PM Adjourn
Scan QR Code to Register or Click Here
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) available
Agenda and CECs to be announced
Agenda and CECs to be announced
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 may not be posted yet on ABPA website. The dates have been approved, and the exams should be posted soon. As a reminder, it is your responsibility to register for the exam.
October 5-10, 2026
