Custom Courses Water & Environmental Management

Water Process Control Training

SAQA US AATICD-0209 | NQF 5 | Credits 10 | Duration 5 Days
From $1,242 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the knowledge and skills to monitor and control water treatment and distribution processes in compliance with South African water quality standards. It covers the principles of water process control, including chemical dosing, filtration, and disinfection, as well as the operation and maintenance of equipment. Learners will be able to apply process control techniques to ensure safe and efficient water supply.

Learning Outcomes

  • Demonstrate understanding of water process control principles and the water treatment cycle.
  • Apply methods for monitoring and adjusting chemical dosing, filtration, and disinfection processes.
  • Analyze water quality test results and implement corrective actions to maintain compliance.
  • Operate and maintain process control equipment safely and efficiently.
  • Evaluate process performance and identify opportunities for optimization.
  • Implement emergency procedures in response to process deviations or equipment failures.

Target Audience

This course is designed for process controllers, water treatment plant operators, and technicians working in municipal or industrial water treatment facilities who are responsible for the day-to-day operation and monitoring of water processes.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment

Course Outline

Day 1: Introduction to Water and Wastewater Systems

Objectives:
• Understand the water cycle and sources of water.
• Identify key components of water supply and wastewater systems.
• Describe basic water quality parameters.
• Explain the importance of process control in water treatment.

Topics:
• Overview of water cycle and water sources
• Components of water supply systems
• Introduction to wastewater collection and treatment
• Key water quality parameters (pH, turbidity, chlorine residual, etc.)
• Role of process control in ensuring water quality
• Regulatory framework and standards (SANS 241, etc.)

Day 2: Water Treatment Processes

Objectives:
• Describe coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration.
• Explain disinfection methods and chlorine chemistry.
• Understand the operation of clarifiers and filters.
• Identify common process control measurements.

Topics:
• Coagulation and flocculation principles
• Sedimentation and clarification
• Filtration (rapid gravity, pressure filters)
• Disinfection (chlorination, UV, ozonation)
• Chemical dosing and control
• Process control parameters (flow, pressure, turbidity, pH)

Day 3: Wastewater Treatment Processes

Objectives:
• Distinguish primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment.
• Explain biological treatment processes (activated sludge, trickling filters).
• Understand sludge handling and disposal.
• Apply process control to maintain effluent quality.

Topics:
• Primary treatment (screening, grit removal, sedimentation)
• Secondary treatment (activated sludge, fixed film)
• Nutrient removal (nitrogen, phosphorus)
• Tertiary treatment and polishing
• Sludge treatment (thickening, digestion, dewatering)
• Process control for biological systems (DO, F/M ratio, SVI)

Day 4: Process Control Instrumentation and Automation

Objectives:
• Identify common sensors and instruments used in water treatment.
• Understand SCADA systems and data logging.
• Interpret control charts and trend data.
• Troubleshoot basic instrumentation faults.

Topics:
• Flow measurement (weirs, flumes, magnetic flow meters)
• Level, pressure, and temperature sensors
• Online analyzers (pH, chlorine, turbidity, DO)
• Introduction to SCADA and PLC systems
• Data logging and trend analysis
• Calibration and maintenance of instruments

Day 5: Operational Management and Practical Integration

Objectives:
• Develop a process control plan for a typical plant.
• Respond to common process upsets.
• Apply safety procedures and emergency protocols.
• Perform a plant walkthrough and identify control points.

Topics:
• Developing standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Troubleshooting common problems (sludge bulking, filter breakthrough)
• Emergency response and safety
• Energy efficiency and cost optimization
• Plant walkthrough: identifying control points
• Review and assessment

Practicals

16 hours of practicals To be conducted online or on-campus or in-house
Overview

Hands-on practical sessions are essential for learners to apply theoretical knowledge to real water and wastewater treatment scenarios. These sessions involve operating equipment, taking measurements, and analyzing samples to develop process control skills.

Practical Activities
  • Water Quality Testing — Learners use portable meters and test kits to measure pH, turbidity, chlorine residual, and conductivity on water samples. (4h)
  • Jar Test for Coagulation Optimization — Learners conduct jar tests to determine optimal coagulant dose and pH for turbidity removal. (4h)
  • Activated Sludge Process Control — Learners monitor and adjust aeration and sludge return rates in a pilot activated sludge unit to maintain DO and settleability. (4h)
  • SCADA Simulation and Troubleshooting — Learners use a SCADA simulator to monitor plant parameters, identify alarms, and respond to process upsets. (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

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Practicals 30% + Daily Average 20% + Final Test 50%).

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.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Fri 11 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 21 Sep 2026 Fri 25 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Fri 09 Oct 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Dec 2026 Fri 11 Dec 2026 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 04 Jan 2027 Fri 08 Jan 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 01 Feb 2027 Fri 05 Feb 2027 Virtual Summer 2026 $1,242 Register
Mon 01 Mar 2027 Fri 05 Mar 2027 Virtual Autumn 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 07 Jun 2027 Fri 11 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 21 Jun 2027 Fri 25 Jun 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Fri 09 Jul 2027 Virtual Winter 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Sep 2027 Fri 10 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 20 Sep 2027 Fri 24 Sep 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Fri 08 Oct 2027 Virtual Spring 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 06 Dec 2027 Fri 10 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 20 Dec 2027 Fri 24 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Fri 07 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 424 sessions across 26 venues
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Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Durban, South Africa Winter 2026 $2,916 Register
Mon 10 Aug 2026 Fri 14 Aug 2026 Abu Dhabi, UAE Winter 2026 $5,238 Register
Mon 17 Aug 2026 Fri 21 Aug 2026 Harare, Zimbabwe Winter 2026 $3,078 Register
Mon 17 Aug 2026 Fri 21 Aug 2026 Shenzhen, China Winter 2026 $7,398 Register
Mon 24 Aug 2026 Fri 28 Aug 2026 Bangkok, Thailand Winter 2026 $6,318 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 14 Sep 2026 Fri 18 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 28 Sep 2026 Fri 02 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 12 Oct 2026 Fri 16 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Dec 2026 Fri 18 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 11 Jan 2027 Fri 15 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Feb 2027 Fri 12 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 28 Jun 2027 Fri 02 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 12 Jul 2027 Fri 16 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Fri 17 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 27 Sep 2027 Fri 01 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 11 Oct 2027 Fri 15 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Dec 2027 Fri 17 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 27 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 10 Jan 2028 Fri 14 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Training Discounts
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% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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