Training Calendar

MRWS offers an array of professional training workshops to help you run and manage your water or wastewater system.
Below is the link to the training calendar and further below are the links to training that is confirmed and ready to go!

Click HERE for full MRWS 2026 Calendar pdf

Just click on an event below for details or to register.

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Aug

Tue

35th Annual Yellow Bay Advanced Wastewater Training for Mechanical Systems @ Yellow Bay Bio Station

Tickets

Aug 18 @ 7:30 am – Aug 20 @ 12:00 pm

35th Annual Yellow Bay Advanced Wastewater Training for Mechanical Systems

Montana Rural Water is excited to host the 35th Annual Yellow Bay training at the Flathead Lake Bio Station- an extension of University of Montana. The three-day course takes students into a deeper understanding of the biological and chemical reactions that occur in wastewater. Please bring a settlometer and 2 liters of your mlss so we can look at your bugs under the microscope! There are 2 options for accommodations for the course – stay on sight in the cabins on the lake or get your own hotel in Bigfork or Polson. On Day 2, we tour 3 different wastewater treatment plants so please bring a pair of pants and appropriate footwear. For a full description of the course please CLICK HERE

Check in for your cabins is Monday 8/17/2026 4pm- 7pm in the Lakeside Classroom. An interactive map of the Bio Station can be found here: Campus Map (Interactive) | FLBS-UMT

If you have any questions about the course please call Christine at 406-595-3502 or our office at 406-454-1151. The course is worth 20 hours = 2.00 Wastewater CECs.

REGISTRATION CLOSED ON JULY 24th, 2026

Advanced Wastewater Training for Lagoon Systems – Billings, MT @ Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch

Tickets

Aug 18 @ 8:00 am – Aug 20 @ 12:00 pm

Each year, MRWS offers Advanced Wastewater Training for Mechanical Treatment Facilities at
Yellow Bay Bio Station on Flathead Lake. This Lagoon Track is being offered in conjunction with
the Yellow Bay course at an alternative site:
Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch
(YGBR)
1732 South 72nd Street West,

Billings, MT

This 2-and-a-half-day course is designed for new or seasoned lagoon operators and will include hands on data collection and interpretation. This is a fun and exciting learning environment that will help optimize operation and maintenance of any lagoon system.

This course is FREE OF CHARGE

The text book “Wastewater Lagoon Troubleshooting” is available for $100. Books will be available on site. 20 contact hours = 2.00 Wastewater CECS

For the full course description and AGENDA please click here: LAGOON COURSE AGENDA

MRWS Lagoon Course Billings

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This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Workshop Date*
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Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Sep

Tue

Water/Wastewater Operator Training @ Forsyth City Hall

Tickets

Sep 1 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Water and Wastewater Operator Training
Forsyth, MT September 1, 2026

Forsyth City Hall

247 N 9th Ave, Forsyth, MT

0.600 Water CECs Available
0.600 Wastewater CECs Available

9:00-10:00am Cybersecurity
(David Carlson, AE2S) [0.100 Dual CECs]

10:00-11:00am Electrical System Safety
(David Carlson, AE2S) [0.100 Dual CECs]

11:00-12:00pm Intro to Backflow
(Christine Maday, MRWS) [0.100 Dual CECs]

12:00-1:00pm — Lunch on Your Own

1:00-2:00pm Records Retention
(Nikki Rogers, MRWS) [0.100 Dual CECs]

2:00-4:00pm Valves- Uses and Operation
(Dylan Boyle, Clow Valve) [0.200 Dual CECs]

$60 for members

$90 for non-members

MRWS Regular Workshop Registration

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This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Workshop Date*
Please put the date of the workshop you are registering for.
System/Company Name*
PWS ID #*
This number begins with MT000 and is assigned to your system by MDEQ
Attendee Name*
First Last
Attendee Name
First Last
Use if two people are attending and you're paying for both.
Attendee Name
First Last
Use if three are attending and you're paying for all three.
Title*
Operator #*
Phone*
Email*
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
Workshop Fee*
Members: $60 per person Non-Members: $90 per person
How Many Attending?*
Workshop Fees are based on a per hour fee of $15 non-members and $10 members.
Donation

Donation to the MT Rural Water Education Fund
Select Your Payment Method*
- Pay Online
- Pay by Phone
- Pay by Check
Convenience Fee (3%)
Price: $0.00
Please note that a 3% convenience fee will be applied for credit card payments.
Total Payment Due
$0.00
To pay by check, submit this form and bring your check to the workshop or mail your payment to:

MRWS
9 3rd st N #304
Great Falls, MT 59401
To pay by phone, submit this form then call MRWS office at 406-454-1151 to pay by credit card over the phone.

Please note that a 3% convenience fee will be applied for credit card payments.
Credit Card

Sep

Thu

Water/Wastewater Operator Training @ MSU Richland County Extension, Sidney, MT

Tickets

Sep 3 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Water and Wastewater Operator Training
Sidney, MT September 3, 2026

MSU Richland County Extension, Sidney, MT

1499 N Central Ave, Sidney, MT 59270

0.500 Water CECs Available
0.500 Wastewater CECs Available

9:00-10:00am Water Audits
(Steve Carter, AE2S) [0.100 Water CECs]

10:00-11:00am NetDMR and FACTS Accounts
(Wendy Simons & Gina Self, MDEQ) [0.100 WW CECs]

11:00-12:00pm Intro to Backflow
(Christine Maday, MRWS) [0.100 Dual CECs]

12:30-1:00pm — Interstate Engineering will graciously sponsor lunch

1:00-2:00pm Records Retention
(Nikki Rogers, MRWS) [0.100 Dual CECs]

2:00-4:00pm Valves- Uses and Operation
(Dylan Boyle, Clow Valve) [0.200 Dual CECs]

$60 for members

$90 for non-members

MRWS Regular Workshop Registration

Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Workshop Date*
Please put the date of the workshop you are registering for.
System/Company Name*
PWS ID #*
This number begins with MT000 and is assigned to your system by MDEQ
Attendee Name*
First Last
Attendee Name
First Last
Use if two people are attending and you're paying for both.
Attendee Name
First Last
Use if three are attending and you're paying for all three.
Title*
Operator #*
Phone*
Email*
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code
Workshop Fee*
Members: $60 per person Non-Members: $90 per person
How Many Attending?*
Workshop Fees are based on a per hour fee of $15 non-members and $10 members.
Donation

Donation to the MT Rural Water Education Fund
Select Your Payment Method*
- Pay Online
- Pay by Phone
- Pay by Check
Convenience Fee (3%)
Price: $0.00
Please note that a 3% convenience fee will be applied for credit card payments.
Total Payment Due
$0.00
To pay by check, submit this form and bring your check to the workshop or mail your payment to:

MRWS
9 3rd st N #304
Great Falls, MT 59401
To pay by phone, submit this form then call MRWS office at 406-454-1151 to pay by credit card over the phone.

Please note that a 3% convenience fee will be applied for credit card payments.
Credit Card

Sep

Wed

Water Operator Certification Review Session – Hardin

Tickets

Sep 9 @ 9:00 am – Sep 10 @ 4:00 pm

Wednesday

8:45 a.m. Sign-in, introductions!

9:00 a.m. Source Water

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

Thursday

9:00 a.m. Water Treatment

12:00 p.m. Lunch on your own

1:00 p.m. Water Treatment

2:00p.m. Equipment Operation and Maintenance

No CECs are offered for this training.

Schedule subject to change to optimize training.

For more information call or email Robin, rfranzen@mrws.org (406) 781-8775

MRWS Workshop Registration (No Fees)

Workshop Date*
System/Company Name*
PWSID #*
This usually begins with MT00 unless you're Tribal.
Attendee Name*
First Last
Your Title*
Operator #*
If you're not certified or do not have a number, please use N/A.
Section:
- Water
- Wastewater
- Both
Phone*
Email*
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Sep

Wed

Certification Review Session – Glasgow MT

Tickets

Sep 23 @ 9:00 am – Sep 24 @ 4:00 pm

Agenda TBD

MRWS Workshop Registration (No Fees)

Workshop Date*
System/Company Name*
PWSID #*
This usually begins with MT00 unless you're Tribal.
Attendee Name*
First Last
Your Title*
Operator #*
If you're not certified or do not have a number, please use N/A.
Section:
- Water
- Wastewater
- Both
Phone*
Email*
Address*
Street Address Address Line 2 City State ZIP Code

Oct

Mon

Backflow Prevention Assembly Testers Course – Billings MT October 5-10, 2026 @ Billings Heights Water District

Tickets

Oct 5 @ 9:00 am – Oct 10 @ 1:00 pm

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

Oct

Tue

Water & Wastewater Certification Review Sessions – Lewistown MT

Tickets

Oct 6 @ 9:00 am – Oct 7 @ 4:00 pm

Agenda TBD