NOV 16 Mon
- In person
Water & Wastewater Sampling. EPA/DEQ Rule Changes & Updates
- Monday, November 16, 2026, 9:00 AM
- Anaconda, MT
- .4 CECs
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Yellowstone National Park Training Seminar
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About this training
Water & Wastewater Operator Continuing Education Session Descriptions
Proposed technical training: approximately 7.5 contact hours
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Location is The Mess Hall is in the government area by Fishing Bridge
Coordinates are 44.56272° N, 110.39630° W
Program Focus: Operator-oriented technical training addressing pump operation, filtration, and drinking water/wastewater treatment processes applicable to treatment facilities, pump stations, collection systems, distribution systems, and related utility infrastructure.
Session 1 - Pumps 101: Fundamentals of Pump Operation, Troubleshooting & Maintenance (1.5 Hours)
Presenter: David Poole, Ferguson
This session provides water and wastewater operators with a practical review of centrifugal pump fundamentals and their application in treatment plants, pump stations, lift stations, and distribution/collection systems. Topics include pump components and operating principles, reading pump curves, system head, flow and pressure relationships, NPSH, cavitation, efficiency, common operating problems, troubleshooting, preventive maintenance, and practices that can improve equipment reliability and service life.
Learning Objectives
What we'll cover
- Explain basic centrifugal pump operating principles and major pump components.
- Interpret pump curves and relate flow, head, pressure, and efficiency to system operation.
- Recognize common causes and warning signs of cavitation, loss of performance, vibration, and pump failure.
- Apply routine inspection, troubleshooting, and preventive maintenance practices in water and wastewater service.
- Describe the purpose of filtration within drinking water and wastewater treatment processes.
- Compare common filtration methods, media, and ratings used for different treatment applications.
- Identify operating conditions that can reduce filtration performance or shorten filter life.
- Use basic process information to support filter selection, troubleshooting, and maintenance decisions.
- Identify major stages commonly used in drinking water and wastewater treatment.
- Explain the purpose of key physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes.
- Recognize operational factors that can affect treatment performance and finished-water or effluent quality.
- Describe basic monitoring and troubleshooting approaches used to maintain stable and reliable treatment processes.
- Relate individual treatment processes to overall plant performance and protection of public health and the environment.
- Identify common pipe, valve, and fitting materials used in water and wastewater facilities.
- Understand basic pressure, temperature, corrosion, and chemical-compatibility considerations.
- Recognize common valve types and their typical water and wastewater applications.
- Compare common joining methods, including flanged, grooved, threaded, welded, restrained-joint, and fused systems.
- Recognize common causes of premature PVF failure and ways proper material selection can improve system reliability.
- Identify critical components that may warrant on-site spare inventory or advance planning.
- Develop basic documentation for valves, pumps, piping, fittings, gaskets, and other critical equipment.
- Understand how specifications, dimensions, pressure ratings, materials, and service conditions affect replacement-product sourcing.
- Recognize risks associated with substituting materials or components without verifying compatibility and system requirements.
- Develop strategies for planned outages, emergency repairs, and long-lead equipment.
- Improve communication among operators, maintenance personnel, engineers, contractors, manufacturers, and suppliers during repair and replacement activities.
Good to know
Session 2 - Filtration Technologies & Process Applications for Water and Wastewater Treatment (1.5 Hours)
Presenter: Brian Rugg, Ferguson
This session reviews filtration principles and technologies used to remove suspended solids and protect downstream treatment equipment in drinking water and wastewater applications. Discussion may include cartridge and depth filtration, filter media and micron ratings, pretreatment, differential pressure, contaminant loading, filter selection, operating performance, troubleshooting, change-out considerations, and filtration applications associated with treatment processes, chemical systems, reuse, and equipment protection.
Learning Objectives
Session 3 - Water & Wastewater Treatment Process Fundamentals and Operational Considerations (1.5 Hours)
Presenter: Troy Houser, Veolia
This session will provide a practical overview of treatment processes and operational considerations commonly encountered in drinking water and wastewater facilities. Depending on facility needs and presenter emphasis, topics may include source-water or influent characteristics, clarification and solids separation, filtration, biological treatment, disinfection, chemical treatment, nutrient or contaminant removal, sludge/biosolids handling, process monitoring, water quality, equipment optimization, and troubleshooting. The session will also discuss how treatment stages work together and how operators can use process observations and operating data to support reliable treatment performance.
Learning Objectives
Session 4 - Water & Wastewater PVF Fundamentals: Materials, Selection & Applications (1.5 Hours)
Presenter: Bill Ungricht, Ferguson
This session provides an operator-focused overview of pipe, valves, fittings, and related components commonly used in drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities, pump stations, distribution systems, and collection systems. Participants will review common piping materials and valve types, pressure classes, joining methods, corrosion and chemical compatibility, and practical factors that should be considered when selecting PVF materials for different applications. Examples may include ductile iron, carbon steel, stainless steel, PVC, CPVC, HDPE, lined piping, grooved and flanged systems, and commonly used gate, butterfly, check, plug, ball, knife gate, and control valves.
Learning Objectives
Session 5 - Maintenance Material Planning, Sourcing & Emergency Preparedness for Water Utilities (1.5 Hours)
Presenter: Bill Ungricht, Ferguson
This session focuses on practical strategies water and wastewater facilities can use to improve maintenance preparedness and reduce downtime associated with material availability. Participants will discuss identifying critical PVF components, developing spare-parts strategies, documenting existing equipment, understanding lead times, evaluating potential replacement options, and preparing for emergency repairs. The course may also address obsolete equipment, long-lead valves and pumps, specialty materials, emergency pipe repairs, manufacturer and component identification, cross-referencing replacement products, and the information needed to source compatible materials while maintaining appropriate specifications and system requirements.
Learning Objectives
Questions?
Please feel free to contact (307) 690-6497 if you have trouble locating it.
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