Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Toolbox
Wastewater treatment plant operators require many resources to keep their facility operating within permit requirements. The following is a list of key topics and resources for plant operations and resources for long-term planning, maintenance, and growth.
Sign up for the Wastewater Operators listerve to receive occasional updates and information about training. To subscribe to the Wastewater Operators listserve, first use this link to subscribe to GovDelivery by entering your e-mail address. Fill in and submit the requested information on the "New Subscriber" page. This will take you to the "Quick Subscription" page where you will see all the topics that you can receive email updates on from DEC. Scroll to the "Water" category and check the box next to "Wastewater Operators" You will receive a welcome email from DEC confirming your subscription(s).
Waste solids removed from treatment plants are reported annually
Resources for Plant Operations
Activated Sludge Bulking & Foaming Resources
- A balanced microbial structure in activated sludge is essential to maintain the effluent quality. Assessment of the oxygen uptake rate and microscopic examination of the activated sludge will help determine what is causing bulking and foaming.
- The Activated Sludge Microbiology Problems and Their Control (PDF) document has detailed guidance on problems and control.
- The course curricula for the Activated Sludge Pre-certification Training
Biosolids Related Resources
- For guidance and education information about the safe recycling and disposal of biosolids go to EPA's Sewage Sludge (Biosolids) website. (leaves DEC website)
- Many facilities need to convert the number of gallons of liquid sludge hauled to metric tons for their annual sludge removal reporting requirements in their Discharge Monitoring Report.
- DEC's Solid Waste Program administers Part 360 Regulations and provides facility oversight, technical and regulatory assistance.
- Plain English guide to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Part 503 Biosolids Rule (leaves DEC website)
- The Cornell Waste Management Institute website provides resources and information about biosolids (leaves DEC website)
Nitrogen Related Resources
- Several publications about nitrogen removal are available through the Water Environment Federation and US EPA
- Training Materials for Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators to evaluate and optimize nitrogen removal. Materials include training modules, practice exercises, and aeration worksheets.
Sampling
- Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) certifies environmental laboratories to analyze samples in NYS (leaves DEC website)
Wet Weather Resources
- Practical operational tools and training to prevent wet weather problems and resources to develop a wet weather operating plan.
- Annual report form for permittees with CSOs to describe progress on their implementation of CSO abatements; Combined Sewer Overflows Annual Report Form (PDF)
Frequently Encountered Operational Issues
Many common operational problems are encountered by operators. Answers to many of these operational issues may be found on the Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation page.
Resources for Long-term Planning, Maintenance, and Growth
Asset Management and Sustainability
Asset Management is a process for maintaining a desired level of customer service at the best cost. It is an approach that combines management, financial, economic, engineering, and other practices to physical assets with the objective of providing the required level of service in the most cost-effective manner.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has an introduction to the approach and links to more resources (leaves DEC website)
- CUPSS is a free, easy-to-use, asset management tool for small drinking water and wastewater utilities. CUPSS provides a simple, comprehensive approach based on EPA's Simple Tools for Effective Performance (STEP) Guide series. (leaves DEC website)
NYSERDA has grant programs for energy
efficiency
Funding Resources
- Municipalities are eligible to apply for Water Quality Improvement Program (WQIP) funds for municipal wastewater treatment, municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4s), nonagricultural nonpoint source abatement and control, aquatic habitat restoration, and water quality management.
Green Infrastructure
- New York State Stormwater Management Design Manual (August, 2010) provides standards and specifications for selection and design of stormwater management practices based on green infrastructure principles to comply with State stormwater management performance standards.
General Information and Links to More Resources
- Water Environment Federation (WEF) provides online educational training and resources for laboratory techniques, standard methods, safety and health, and ABC certification exam (leaves DEC website)
- Rural Community Assistance Program provides information and services to rural communities to help them manage, plan, finance, build, and operate drinking water, wastewater, and ground water projects (leaves DEC website)
- Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (NYWARN) of utilities supports emergency preparedness, disaster response, sharing resources, and developing emergency contacts (leaves DEC website)
More about Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Toolbox:
- Practical Control Methods for Activated Sludge Bulking and Foaming - A two part article presenting the causes of filamentous bulking and practical control measures, as well as physical and chemical filament control and the causes of activated sludge foaming and its control
- Nitrogen Training Material - Training topics and materials that should or might be included in a Nitrogen Removal Workshop.
- Wet Weather Training Materials - Wet Weather resources available online.
