This course is a study of drinking water and wastewater utility systems. Water quality is examined from the perspective of chemical and microbiological measurements and standards, impact on public health, and federal regulation. Sources of water supply including surface water, groundwater, and imported water are compared based on their availability and quality. System design, pipe materials, water storage, and water quality impacts are studied for both water distribution and wastewater collection systems. Finally, the basic technologies used at conventional drinking water treatment and wastewater treatment facility are presented. Field trips may be required.

This course is a study of the supervisor's administrative responsibilities managing public utilities. Subjects covered include utility operations and maintenance planning; asset management; water resource management and planning; wastewater system capacity; utility security and emergency response planning (includes federal requirements and guidelines for communicating with the public); financial management (utility capital financing; establishing rates, fees & charges; budgeting); customer service and public relations; supervision of operations and managing employees, industrial safety, and other workplace responsibilities.

This course is based upon the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Permits for construction sites (Construction General Permit), industrial activities (Industrial General Permit), and municipalities (Phase I and Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permits). Topics include development of a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) including how to identify potential sources of pollution, discharge, or contamination, and methods to prevent and control stormwater pollution, Best Management Practices (BMPs), sampling and monitoring strategies, understanding permit conditions, and overview of California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) qualification process for Qualified SWPPP Developer (QSD), Qualified SWPPP Practitioner (QSP), Qualified Industrial Stormwater Practitioner (QISP), and other stormwater certifications.

This course presents the basic operating principles and techniques of the conventional wastewater treatment processes. This includes screening, sedimentation, activated sludge, media filtration, and chlorination. Alternative treatments such as trickling filters, biological rotating contactors, and lagoon systems are also covered. Assists in preparation for Grade 1 Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator’s certificate examination given by the State of California Water Resources Control Board. Field trips may be required.

Work Experience Education provides supervised employment extending classroom occupational learning at an on-the-job learning station relating to the students’ educational or occupational goals. Each unit of credit requires 54 hours of employment during the semester. Work Experience Education is available to all students.  Students are accepted as a result of consultation with a designated faculty member in the discipline. Field trips may be required. Recommended Prep: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in one course in the discipline; Students should contact the instructor and review the requirements for units of credit. Transfer credit: CSU. Notes: Students may enroll in up to 14 units of work experience education per semester or term; There is no limit to the number of terms for which a student may enroll in work experience education.

This course introduces basic concepts and processes of drinking water distribution systems, including a general background of drinking water sources, regulations, water system design, and various distribution system appurtenances (pump stations, valves, meters, fire hydrants, water storage, etc.). It also introduces water main construction topics with trenching, laying, testing, backfilling, bringing a new main into service, and new line tapping on an existing main. Assists in preparation for Grade D1 and D2 Water Distribution Operator's Certificate examination given by the State of California Water Resources Control Board. Field trips may be required.

This course presents the basic operating principles and techniques of the conventional surface water treatment processes of coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration, plus those of disinfection processes. The more advanced technologies of water softening and fluoridation are also covered. Assists in preparation for Grade T1 and T2 Water Treatment Plant Operator's Certificate examination given by the State of California Water Resources Control Board. Field trips may be required. Transfer credit: CSU.

This course presents an introduction to instrumentation and control devices and process automation approaches used in water and wastewater systems. Electrical power delivery and distribution around treatment plants are examined as a foundation for the course. Basic control theory of linear and dynamic systems is studied alongside control loop designs and PID tuning. Communication network media types and networked architectures are discussed. The final control action of variable frequency drives and motors, actuators, and chemical dosing equipment will be shown and connected with pumps, valves, and chlorinators. Finally, the appropriate instrumentation for different water quality needs will be studied. Field trips may be required.