Clean water is essential for everyday life. Environmental technicians and water treatment plant and system operators treat water so that it is safe to drink as well as remove harmful pollutants from domestic and industrial liquid waste so that it is safe to return to the earth.
Industrial facilities that send their wastes to municipal treatment plants must meet certain minimum standards to ensure that the wastes have been adequately pretreated and will not damage municipal treatment facilities. Plant operators must be familiar with the guidelines established by Federal regulations and how they affect their plant.
In addition, operators must be aware of any guidelines imposed by the State or locality in which the plant operates. Employment is concentrated in local government and private water, sewage, and other systems utilities.
Through Salina Tech’s 16-week environmental technology program and workshop options municipalities or businesses can train new employees and update the skills of the current workforce.
Salina Tech College offers 16-week semester courses designed for personnel working in operation, maintenance, and management of wastewater utilities. These classes provide participants the knowledge and skills necessary to operate and maintain wastewater treatment facilities.
A variety of information-packed workshops are also presented throughout the year that cover a wide variety of wastewater and collection systems topics such as: wastewater characteristics and chemistry, preliminary /primary treatment, biosolids, anaerobic digestion, trickling filters, collection systems and lift stations, pumps, safety, confined space, BOD, DO, math, and many others.
Note: Each workshop participant will receive a certificate of hours attended to fulfill KDHE certification requirements.
Associate of Applied Science Degree:
This program does not offer an Associate of Applied Science degree at this time.
Dale Vanderhoof has been a Class 4 Wastewater Operator since 1996. He worked for the City of McPherson for more than eight years. His responsibilities included plant and lift station operation and maintenance. During his tenure the treatment facility won several awards including a national EPA 1st place award in Plant O&M, a national 4th place award in Biosolids and several 1st place State of Kansas awards for Best Plant O&M.
Dale is currently the department head of the Environmental Technology Department at Salina Area Technical College where he has taught Wastewater / Collections for the past ten years.
He has presented classes and workshops for to over 3000 students and provided operating, consulting, and training services for more than 90 systems across the state.
In addition to earning his Class 4 Wastewater Certification in 1996, Dale also holds a Kansas Technical Education Teacher’s License, and is an OSHA Outreach Trainer. He was also nominated for the Kansas Excellence in Teaching Award.
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATION Fall 2011 -- Aug. 25 - Dec. 13 ………………Concordia, KS
Spring 2012 -- Jan. 12 - May 8 ………………Hutchinson, KS
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will equip wastewater operators and other personnel with the skills necessary to operate and maintain their wastewater treatment facilities and collection systems.
COURSE TOPICS:
| CWA, NPDES, Safety | Sludge dewatering & Disposal, Intro to Secondary Treatment |
| WW Characteristics, Environmental Effects |
Activated Sludge Process |
| Introduction to Collections and Math | Activated Sludge Tour |
| Plant Equipment & Preventative Maint. | Stabilization Ponds & Disinfection |
| Lab: WW Sampling, pH & TSS | Pond & Disinfection Tour |
| Lab: DO, BOD and Flow Measurement | Advanced WW Treatment and Process Troubleshooting |
| Preliminary & Primary Treatment | Review and Math |
| Sludge Conditioning & Stabilization | Final Exams |
Class meetings are on Thursday from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Tuition/Fees: $1639.00
COLLECTION SYSTEMS OPERATION AND MAINTENANCEClass available by request for 6 or more students.
Contact: dale.vanderhoof@salinatech.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The 16-week Wastewater Collection Systems course is designed to help C. S. operaters gain a better understanding of their chosen field and prepare them for the Collection Systems Certification. (Although KDHe does not require Collection Systems Certification for their operators, many of the cities do.)
COURSE TOPICS:
| Certification, Importance of Collection Systems, The CS Operator |
TV, inspection, Cleaning II and Sewer Rehab |
| Collectiion System Components | Introduction to Wastewater Treatment |
| Safety | Wastewater Treatment |
| Math I | Wastewater Treatment Facility Tour |
| Lift Stations I | Math II |
| Lift Station II | Collection Systems Tour |
| Manhole Rehab | Computers - Record-Keeping, Data |
| TV, inspection, Cleaning I | Review and Final |
Class meetings are on Fridays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
Tuition/Fees: $1639.00
WASTERWATER STABILIZATION PONDS
Dates: September 20 & 21
Days: Tues. & Wed.
Times: Day 1 – 8:00 am – 5:00 pm |
Day 2 – 8:00 am – 12:00 n.
Cost: $102
Location: WaKeeney, KS
Workshop Presenter: Dale Vanderhoof
Workshop Description:
Attendees of this workshop will learn about the different types of wastewater ponds, their history, different applications, safety, troubleshooting, and typical math problems. Also, other topics such as wastewater characteristics, confined space, and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) will be covered.
The attendees will learn about how to tell if a pond is “sick” or healthy, and what to do if a pond is not healthy. The workshop participants will take a pond tour; and using actual samples collected from the pond during the tour, will apply the information gained from the workshop toward troubleshooting the pond.
As the participants will be walking around the pond facility, please dress appropriately for the weather and for walking outdoors around a wastewater pond facility.
Be sure to bring a pencil/pen and a calculator, as we will also be doing wastewater math.
This 1 ½ day workshop will help you prepare for Class I or Small Systems Certification.
WATER/WASTEWATER COLLECTIONS MATH
Dates: Oct. 11 & 12 Days: Tues. & Wed. Location: Lyons, KS
Dates: Oct. 25 & 26 Days: Tues. & Wed. Location: Arkansas City
Times: Day 1 – 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | Day 2 – 8:00 am – 12:00 n.
Tuition/Fees: $102.
Workshop Description:
This workshop is for operators who want to learn basic water and wastewater math skills. Participants will learn skills, techniques, tips, and tricks that will help them better understand and solve wastewater math.
This is not just a workshop where a math problem is put up on the board, and you are expected to solve the problem on your own. Participants in this workshop will learn several steps they can apply to any math problem they encounter, and will be able to use the knowledge gained for “real life” problem solving.
Bring a pencil and/or pen and a calculator; we will be solving typical water/wastewater math problems.
(1 ½ days – Provides 10 hours credit for Wastewater Operators’ State Certification)
WASTEWATER DISTRICT SCHOOL
Dates: Dec. 14 & 15 Dates: May 9 & 10
Days: Wed. & Thurs. Days: Wed. & Thurs.
Times: Day 1 – 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | Day 2 – 8:00 am – 12:00 n
Tuition/Fees: $102.
Location: Flint Hills Technical College
3301 W. 18th Street, Emporia, KS
Workshop Presenter: Dale Vanderhoof
Workshop Description:
The 1 ½ day Wastewater District School is an excellent review for those who have taken a long-term class, as well as for those interested in taking certification exams. This is a fast-paced, information-packed workshop that will cover many wastewater subjects, such as wastewater characteristics and chemistry, preliminary/primary treatment, biosolids, anaerobic digestion, trickling filters, collection systems and lift stations, pumps, safety, confined space, BOD, DO, math, and many others.
Since this workshop covers such a wide variety of topics, it cannot be expected that every topic related to wastewater and collections will be covered, nor will the topics be discussed in great depth. Rather, this is a workshop that is designed to give the operator an overview and review of some of the many wastewater and collection system topics. The operators who are already familiar with the topics, as well as those who are new and have little experience will both get much useful information from this workshop.
(1 ½ days – Provides 10 hours credit for Wastewater Operators’ State Certification)
SMALL WASTEWATER SYSTEMS, OPERATION AND MAINTANCE
Dates: Jan. 24, 2012 Dates: Mar. 13
Days: Tues Days: Tues.
Location: Concordia Location: Clearwater
Times: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuition/Fees: $58.
This workshop will focus on the small wastewater systems and cover regulations, operations, and responsibilities for small wastewater operations.
WASTEWATER COLLECTIONS SYSTEMS
Dates: Feb. 21 - 22 Dates: Apr. 24 -25
Days: Tues & Wed. Days: Tues. & Wed.
Location: Manhattan Location: McPherson
Times: Day 1 – 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | Day 2 – 8:00 am – 12:00 n
Tuition/Fees: $102.00
Workshop Presenter: Dale Vanderhoof
Workshop Description:
This workshop is for operators who want to learn the basics of collections systems. Topics presented include: Basic Terminology; Purpose, Components and Design; Street Safety; Confined Space Safety; Manhole Inspection; CCTV Inspection; Smoke Testing, and more. The state of Kansas currently does not require Collection Systems Operators to be certified, however, many municipalities are requiring, or at least highly encouraging their Collection System Operators to obtain certification. Even if your employer does not require it, it is a good idea to get training and knowledge in the Collection System field.
This 2-day workshop is KDHE approved for 10 hours of continuing education credits for wastewater operators.
OSHA 10 GENERAL INDUSTRY TRAINING
The 10-hour OSHA Program is intended to provide a variety of training on General Industry safety and health to the entry level worker. In addition to the required topics, class topics may be customized to fit specific industry needs.
OSHA 30 GENERAL INDUSTRY TRAINING
Note: Persons who have already taken the 10-hour OSHA class need only to take 20 hours of the 30 hour class to complete the OSHA 30 General Industry Training.
Class Dates and Times: TBA Tuition/Fees: (varies depending on how many students attend.)
OSHA classes are available by arrangement for Business and Industry. We can customize these classes to meet your specific needs. To schedule a class contact the Continuing Education Office at: 785-309-3105 or the instructor, Dale Vanderhoof at: 785-309-3175
Specialized Training for Industrial, Municipal, Fire and EMS Personnel
Presented by: Mid West Fire Training Associates
TRENCH & EXCAVATION FOR the COMPETENT PERSON
This 8 hour course is designed for day to day trench & excavation work and covers OSHA 1926.650 Subpart (P); OSHA 1926.51 Subpart (P); and OSHA 1926.652 Subpart (P). Classroom study and hands-on training in a mobile trench simulator will be provided. Competent Person trainees may include: Safety Personnel, Engineers, Labor Workers, Heavy Equipment Operators, Supervisors, and Crew Foremen. (Class size limited to 24 participants)
Date: Apr. 25 Day: Wed. Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuition & Fees: $147 Class Location: SATC Campus
CONFINED SPACE ENTRY
Taught by Certified Professional Instructors, this training has been recognized by OSHA and is required training for: Entry Personnel, Authorized Attendants, & Entry Supervisors
This 8 hour course combines classroom and hands-on training and covers OSHA Title 29 CFR 1910.146, including: definition of a confined space and permit required confined spaces, duties of entry personnel, authorized attendant, and entry supervisor. Atmosphere testing, ventilation, personal protective clothing, fall protection and lockout, tag out will also be covered. (Class size limited to 32 participants)
Date: Apr. 26 Day: Thurs. Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tuition & Fees: $147 Class Location: SATC Campus
Registration Information and Application
KDHE- Water and Wastewater Operator Certification webpage:
http://www.kdheks.gov/water/tech.html
KDHE Bureau of Water website:
http://www.kdheks.gov/water/
EPA NPDES Permit Program:
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=45
