Water School Schedule

 

DAY 1

Tuesday, October 25 
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

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8:00-9:00 a.m. 
Ballroom A
Opening General Session: Yellowstone River Flooding Lessons Learned
Shannon Holmes
0.1 Dual CECs 

DEQ staff will provide a review of current and pending regulations for water and wastewater systems. 

 

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9:00-10:00 a.m.
Ballroom A 
Operator Online Training Development and UCMR5 Discussion  
Libby Henrikson
0.1 Dual CECs

This presentation will review the new online operator training system under development and include a discussion of the current round of the unregulated contaminant monitoring rule.

 

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10:00-11:00 a.m.
Ballroom A
Wetland Treatment Systems
Chris Allen 
0.1 Wastewater CECs

This presentation will provide an overview of the process flow, treatment mechanisms and potential applications for two wetland-based pilot systems under construction at the Bozeman Water Reclamation Facility. The systems test three primary wetland applications: 1) cold season nitrification, 2) primary wastewater treatment, and 3) tertiary treatment.

 

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11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Ballroom A
Glendive Water Treatment Plant  
Amy Deitchler and Susan Hayes
0.1 Water CECs

Lessons learned from the design, start-up, and operation of the water treatment facility in Glendive, Montana. 

 

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1:00-2:00 p.m.
Ballroom A
Mammoth Water System Emergency Repairs 
Jarrett Moran
0.1 Water CECs

Lessons learned from the emergency repair of the Mammoth water system after the spring Yellowstone River floods.  

 

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2:00-3:00 p.m.
Ballroom A
Lagoon Treatment Processes
Rika Lashley
0.1 Wastewater CECs

This presentation will cover the primary biological treatment processes in a wastewater treatment lagoon system, including BOD removal, nitrification, denitrification, and sludge processes. The presenter will describe primary tools for assessing lagoon process health and responding to upsets. The presentation will highlight the benefits of lagoon treatment for small systems and present ideas for adapting to changing MPDES permitting requirements without giving up lagoon treatment.

 

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3:00-5:00 p.m.
Ballroom A
Water Loss Detection and Control
Mike Uthe
0.2 Drinking Water CECs

 

This workshop will provide operators with training from product experts. Operators will learn the fundamentals of the operation and maintenance of automatic control valves for use in water and wastewater systems. The presenter will also provide tips for improving valve operation and maintenance, using valves to help troubleshoot systems (e.g., reducing non-revenue water) and mitigating water quality concerns.

 

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9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Ballroom B 
Wastewater Certification Review Session 
Pete Boettcher and Josh Viall 
No CECs

This session is designed to prepare operators to take the wastewater certification exam. The exam will be offered at the conference on Thursday, October 27 from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Ballrooms B and C.

 

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9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Ballroom C 
Water Certification Review Session 
DEQ Staff 
No CECs 

This session is designed to prepare operators to take the water certification exam. The exam will be offered at the conference on Thursday, October 27 from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

 

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9:00-11:00 a.m.
Ballroom D 
DEQ Regulatory Review: What Operators Need to Know
DEQ staff 
0.2 Dual CECs

Review of regulatory changes and program updates at DEQ.

 

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11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Ballroom D
Rural Development Finance Programs
Ashley Kroon
0.1 Dual CECs

A review of financing programs available for rural water and wastewater systems.

 

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1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.
Ballroom D
Building Cyber Resilience for Montana’s Water and Wastewater Services
Randy Middlebrook and Joe Frohlich 
0.4 Dual CECs

Our nation’s adversaries are targeting water and wastewater services and ICS/SCADA systems. This workshop will cover cyber resilience concepts, then apply them to water and wastewater services through scenario-based exercises and discussions. Learn to leverage “no” or “low” cost services and resources to help your organization improve its cyber and physical resilience.

 

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9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Procrastinator Theater
Lead and Copper: Montana Implementation 
DEQ Staff
0.3 Water CECs 

An overview of how the State of Montana is implementing the new lead and copper rule. 

 

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1:00-5:00 p.m. 
Procrastinator Theater
Controlling Lead and Copper in Water, Part 1 
Kyla Jacobsen and John Donahue
0.4 Water CECs 

This workshop provides an overview of the requirements for addressing lead and copper in drinking water, specifically for small water systems. Topics covered in the workshop include the regulations, corrosion basics, conducting an inventory, monitoring requirements, treatment requirements, public notification requirements and lead service line replacement.  

 

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9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Room 233
Wastewater Fundamentals 
Diane Monahan
0.3 Wastewater CECs 

This workshop will review the purpose and function of wastewater treatment ponds (lagoons). In addition, we will cover common performance evaluation findings from Montana lagoon systems and the corresponding troubleshooting recommendations.

 

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1:00-5:00 p.m.
Room 233
Water Loss
Diane Monahan 
0.4 Water CECs 

This workshop will provide an introductory-level understanding for utility personnel on water losses and the method to compile a water audit to control losses. We will review the Free AWWA Water Audit Software and AWWA Software Compiler Tool, corresponding exercises, and class report-outs.

 

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9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Room 235
Advancing Maintenance Management in Utilities
Kurt Vause and Dave Weirauch
0.7 Dual CECs

The first half of this workshop will cover the basics of maintenance management systems (horizontal/linear and vertical/plant assets), including terms and definitions, asset life cycles and maintenance approaches. Workshop participants will develop a better understanding (through an individual self-assessment) of their asset data and understand how asset data support existing and upcoming regulatory requirements. The second half of the workshop will focus on the “business end” of maintenance management. Participants will review data organization, best practices, business risk and levels of service, and key performance indicators. The instructors will use case studies from small utilities to illustrate how operators can use maintenance management concepts in practice. Finally, participants will use individual assessments and group discussions to develop plans and procedures for implementing asset management in their organizations.

 

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1:00-3:00 p.m.
City of Bozeman Shops Complex 
Wastewater Collection System Maintenance: Tools and Techniques  
Nick Pericich
0.2 Wastewater CECs

Hands-on demonstration of modern tools used to maintain and repair Bozeman’s wastewater collection system.   

 

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DAY 2

Wednesday, October 26 
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

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8:00-9:00 a.m. 
Ballroom D
Capacity Development in Montana
Michael Kropp
0.1 Dual CECs 

An overview of the DEQ capacity development program. 

 

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9:00-10:00 a.m. 
Ballroom D
Asset Management Planning and Applications in Montana 
David Carlson
0.1 Dual CECs

Case studies of asset management in Montana. 

 

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10:00-11:00 a.m. 
Ballroom D
Funding Options 
Autumn Coleman
0.1 Dual CECs

An overview of the DNRC funding options for Montana water and wastewater systems.

 

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11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 
Ballroom D
Cashing In on Your Comprehensive Financial Plan: Proactive Reserve and Rate Strategy 
David Carlson
0.1 Dual CECs

Financial planning fundamentals for water and wastewater systems. 

 

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1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. 
Ballroom D
Distribution System O&M 
Ted Meckes
0.4 Water CECs 

This workshop covers problems with common distribution system components (piping, valves, storage tanks and hydrants) and how they can drastically affect water quality and public health.  It also will provide preventive actions and solutions to common problems.

 

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8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Procrastinator Theater
Controlling Lead and Copper in Water, Part 2
Kyla Jacobsen and John Donahue 
0.4 Water CECs 

This workshop provides an overview of the requirements for addressing lead and copper in drinking water, specifically for small water systems. Topics covered in the workshop include the regulations, corrosion basics, conducting an inventory, monitoring requirements, treatment requirements, public notification requirements and lead service line replacement.  

This workshop is a continuation of Part 1 which was presented on Tuesday.  

 

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1:00-5:00 p.m.
Procrastinator Theater
Operation and Troubleshooting SCADA and Instrumentation Systems
James Sletten and Ross Hanson
0.4 Dual CECs 

This workshop will provide a general overview of how modern control systems operate, key terms, cybersecurity, and provide detailed information on:

• Instrumentation and devices available to measure information and control processes throughout a water or wastewater system’s flow meters, pressure transmitters, ultrasonic devices, etc., and how to select and connect them to SCADA systems.
• Telemetry systems to move data beyond where it is collected. The workshop will review applicable methods and cover considerations in telemetry system operation.
• Electrical and safety will cover the basics of electrical equipment and safety regarding interacting with established infrastructure.
• Control panel troubleshooting and demonstration will cover basic troubleshooting and review reading and interacting with a control panel and its schematics. By understanding how to troubleshoot, attendees may be able to provide service providers with more precise information about the problem they are encountering.
• Control valves will review the types of valves and actuators used in water and wastewater systems and how control systems integrate these valves.
• Water and wastewater systems process control will discuss how controls can work together. It will also describe process controls for specific water and wastewater processes and how SCADA systems can improve system efficiencies and operations.
• SCADA overview covers the instrumentation, control, and digitalization of water ate wastewater plants. This presentation will cover the computer and actual plant processes interact, best practices, and linking all the presentations together for operators.
  
  

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8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (Session 1) and 1:00-5:00 p.m. (Session 2)
Room 233
Skills Required for Effective Leadership
Nilaksh Kothari and Craig Woolard
0.4 Dual CECs

Leaders come in all shapes, sizes and forms. Some become leaders by choice or ambition, while necessity thrusts others into the role. Regardless of the circumstances or the individual, leaders work with people by leading people at any position in the organization. This means being "in charge," which requires a base level of skills necessary for leadership. This interactive workshop will offer insights from experienced water and wastewater utility leaders and a roadmap to put both emerging and seasoned leaders on a path to success. The workshop will provide insights on building effective leadership skills that contribute to a more efficient and productive workplace. The focus will be on the skills it takes to be a leader in today's workplace and pick up skills to be successful. The workshop is designed specifically for water and wastewater operators in formal or informal leadership positions in their organizations. Note that there are two sessions for this workshop. Both sessions will cover the same material. Interested attendees should choose one of the two sessions.

 

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8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Room 235
Nutrient Removal at Montana Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Grant Weaver and Mike Tate 
0.8 Wastewater CECs

The first half of this workshop will cover nutrient removal fundamentals. This includes science and biology, nitrification and denitrification, and biological phosphorus removal. Next, the material will focus on “what wastewater operators should know” about nitrogen and phosphorus removal. This includes a practical explanation of the science and technologies employed by design engineers to achieve biological nutrient removal. Finally, the afternoon session will review the findings of the report on Montana system nutrient removal, with emphasis on reviewing different technologies and case studies from around the state.

 

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1:00–5:00 p.m.
Cobleigh Hall, Room 207 
Jar Testing 
Kyla Jacobsen
0.4 Water CECs 

This workshop will follow the programs in the AWWA M37 manual covering jar testing theory and practicality for water treatment processes. We will address how an operator can go from full scale to bench scale in the water treatment plant's rapid mix, flocculation and sedimentation steps. In addition, we will do some hands-on jar testing.

 

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9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. AND Wednesday, October 26, 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Ballroom B 
Wastewater Certification Review Session 
Pete Boettcher and Josh Viall 
No CECs

This session is designed to prepare operators to take the wastewater certification exam. The exam will be offered at the conference on Thursday, October 27 from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. in Ballrooms B and C.

 

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9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. AND Wednesday, October 26, 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Ballroom C 
Water Certification Review Session 
DEQ Staff 
No CECs 

This session is designed to prepare operators to take the water certification exam. The exam will be offered at the conference on Thursday, October 27 from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

 

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DAY 3

Thursday, October 27
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

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8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Ballrooms B and C
Water and Wastewater Certification Testing
No CECs

 

EXAM REGISTRATION

Operators must register and pay for the exam through DEQ at least 30 days before they want to take the exam. Therefore, if you take the exam on Thursday, October 27, you must register with DEQ by Tuesday, September 27.

DEQ handles all exam registration and payment directly; the Water School Team does not handle any exam registration or payment.

To register for the exam, please contact Jen VandenBos at jvandenbos@mt.gov or (406) 444-4584 or email operatorcertification@mt.gov. You can also visit the DEQ website to access the registration form.

 

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8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 
Ballroom D
Cybersecurity
John Donahue
0.4 Dual CECs  

This workshop will assist utilities with the identification of some of the possible improvements they can make to their current cybersecurity practices. In addition, we will work through the AWWA cybersecurity tool and help water personnel learn how to secure their online presence.

 

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8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 
Procrastinator Theater
Workplace Safety
Ted Meckes
0.4 Dual CECs 

This workshop will provide an overview of workplace safety. It will also assist water treatment personnel in taking responsibility for workplace assessment regardingf hazards that may lead to an injury.

 

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8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Room 233
Groundwater Well Operation and Maintenance
Dave Weihrauch
0.4 Water CECs 

This workshop will provide an overview of best practices for the operation and maintenance of municipal drinking water wells.

 

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1:00-3:00 p.m.
Livingston Wastewater Treatment Facility Tour
Livingston, MT
0.2 Wastewater CECs  

Tour of Livingston’s Sequencing Batch Reactor Wastewater Treatment Facility.