Wastewater Treatment Operations Training

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the principles and objectives of wastewater treatment processes.
• Apply routine operational procedures for screening, sedimentation, biological treatment, and disinfection.
• Monitor and control key process parameters such as flow rate, pH, dissolved oxygen, and sludge volume.
• Demonstrate compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations in wastewater operations.
• Identify and respond to common operational problems and process upsets.
• Maintain accurate operational records and reports.

Target Audience

This course is designed for entry-level operators, process controllers, and technicians working in municipal or industrial wastewater treatment plants. It is also suitable for individuals seeking to enter the water and wastewater sector.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment. However, learners should have basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Course Outline

Practicals

Overview

These practical sessions provide hands-on experience with wastewater treatment equipment and processes. Learners will operate pilot-scale units, collect and analyze samples, and practice troubleshooting under supervision, bridging theory to real-world operations.

Practical Activities

• Sampling and Lab Analysis — Collect wastewater samples from different treatment stages and perform key tests (pH, DO, TSS, BOD, COD) using standard methods. (4h)
• Preliminary and Primary Treatment Operations — Operate a pilot-scale bar screen and grit chamber; measure flow and adjust weir settings on a primary clarifier model. (4h)
• Activated Sludge Process Control — Monitor a lab-scale activated sludge unit: measure DO, MLSS, SV30; calculate SVI and adjust return sludge rate. (4h)
• Sludge Thickening and Dewatering — Operate a gravity thickener and a small centrifuge or belt press; evaluate cake solids content. (4h)
• Troubleshooting and Plant Walkthrough — Conduct a simulated plant walkthrough, identify faulty equipment, and propose corrective actions using a checklist. (4h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total

Component	Out of	Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored)	100%	30%
Daily Average (multiple choice)	100%	20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice)	100%	50%
Final Total	—	100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

How it works

• Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
• Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
• You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
• If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.

Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates	Discount
5	3% off
10	6% off
15	9% off
20	12% off
25	15% off
30	18% off
50	30% off
75	35% off
100	40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.