Potable Water Science Principles And Application Training

Objectives:
• Define potable water and its importance for public health
• Identify key South African water regulations (SANS 241, Water Services Act)
• Explain the role of SAQA and unit standard 115946
• Describe the water cycle and sources of raw water

Topics:
• What is potable water?
• Overview of the Water Services Act (Act 108 of 1997)
• SANS 241: Drinking water quality standards
• Unit standard 115946 outcomes and assessment criteria
• The hydrological cycle and water sources (surface, groundwater)

Objectives:
• Explain pH, alkalinity, and hardness in water
• Describe common chemical contaminants (nitrates, chlorides, metals)
• Understand the concept of total dissolved solids (TDS)
• Perform basic water chemistry calculations

Topics:
• pH scale and buffer systems
• Alkalinity and its role in coagulation
• Water hardness (temporary vs. permanent)
• Common chemical parameters: TDS, conductivity, turbidity
• Introduction to chemical dosing calculations

Objectives:
• Identify pathogenic microorganisms in water (bacteria, viruses, protozoa)
• Understand indicator organisms (E. coli, total coliforms)
• Explain microbial growth factors and biofilm formation
• Describe health risks from waterborne diseases

Topics:
• Types of waterborne pathogens
• Indicator organisms and their significance
• Factors affecting microbial survival in water
• Biofilms in distribution systems
• Disease outbreaks: cholera, typhoid, cryptosporidiosis

Objectives:
• Apply proper sampling techniques for chemical and microbiological analysis
• Operate field testing equipment (pH meter, turbidity meter, chlorine tester)
• Interpret laboratory test results against SANS 241 limits
• Maintain chain of custody and sample integrity

Topics:
• Sampling protocols: grab vs. composite samples
• Sample preservation and transport
• Field testing: pH, chlorine residual, turbidity, conductivity
• Laboratory analyses: microbiological, chemical, physical
• Quality control: blanks, duplicates, spikes

Objectives:
• Explain the chemistry of coagulation and flocculation
• Identify common coagulants (alum, ferric chloride) and their dosages
• Optimize pH for effective coagulation
• Describe floc formation and settling characteristics

Topics:
• Coagulation mechanisms: charge neutralisation, sweep floc
• Coagulant types and properties
• Jar testing for dose optimization
• Flocculation: slow mixing and floc formation
• Factors affecting coagulation: pH, turbidity, temperature

Objectives:
• Describe principles of sedimentation in water treatment
• Differentiate types of sedimentation basins (rectangular, circular, tube settlers)
• Calculate overflow rate and detention time
• Troubleshoot common sedimentation problems

Topics:
• Theory of sedimentation: Stokes' law, settling velocities
• Types of clarifiers: conventional, high-rate, lamella
• Design parameters: overflow rate, detention time, weir loading
• Sludge removal mechanisms
• Operational issues: short-circuiting, sludge blanket rising

Objectives:
• Explain filtration mechanisms (straining, adsorption, biological)
• Compare rapid gravity, slow sand, and membrane filtration
• Operate and backwash a rapid gravity filter
• Monitor filter performance: turbidity, head loss

Topics:
• Filtration theory: media types, porosity, depth filtration
• Rapid gravity filtration: operation and backwashing
• Slow sand filtration: schmutzdecke layer
• Membrane filtration: microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis
• Filter performance monitoring and troubleshooting

Objectives:
• Explain disinfection kinetics (Ct concept, Chick-Watson law)
• Calculate chlorine demand and residual
• Operate chlorination equipment safely
• Describe by-product formation (trihalomethanes) and control

Topics:
• Disinfection mechanisms: cell wall damage, enzyme inactivation
• Chlorine chemistry: free vs. combined chlorine, breakpoint chlorination
• Chlorine dosing calculations and residual monitoring
• Safety: handling chlorine gas and hypochlorite
• Disinfection by-products (DBPs): THMs, HAAs and regulation

Objectives:
• Describe UV disinfection principles and dose requirements
• Explain ozonation: generation, contact, and by-products
• Compare chloramines as secondary disinfectant
• Select appropriate disinfection method based on water quality

Topics:
• UV disinfection: wavelength, intensity, dose, and reactivation
• Ozone generation and contactor design
• Chloramination: formation of monochloramine, dichloramine
• Advantages and disadvantages of each method
• Case studies: disinfection selection for different sources

Objectives:
• Calculate Langelier Saturation Index and adjust water stability
• Explain corrosion mechanisms in distribution systems
• Apply corrosion inhibitors (orthophosphate, silicate)
• Describe lead and copper control strategies

Topics:
• Water chemistry: calcium carbonate saturation, LSI, RSI
• Corrosion types: galvanic, pitting, microbiologically influenced
• Corrosion inhibitors: orthophosphate, polyphosphate, silicate
• Lead and copper rule compliance
• Scaling control: pH adjustment, anti-scalants

Objectives:
• Explain ion exchange process for hardness and nitrate removal
• Describe activated carbon adsorption for organic contaminants
• Operate ion exchange columns and carbon contactors
• Regenerate exhausted media

Topics:
• Ion exchange resins: cation, anion, mixed bed
• Ion exchange applications: softening, nitrate removal, demineralisation
• Activated carbon types: GAC, PAC, and adsorption isotherms
• Carbon contactor design and operation
• Resin and carbon regeneration methods

Objectives:
• Explain reverse osmosis and nanofiltration principles
• Calculate recovery, rejection, and flux
• Operate RO system: pretreatment, membranes, post-treatment
• Identify membrane fouling and cleaning methods

Topics:
• Membrane separation: osmotic pressure, flux, rejection
• RO vs. NF: pore size, operating pressure, applications
• System components: membranes, pressure vessels, pumps
• Pretreatment requirements: SDI, scaling prevention
• Membrane fouling: types (scaling, biofouling, colloidal) and cleaning

Objectives:
• Describe water quality changes in distribution networks
• Implement chlorine residual maintenance and booster chlorination
• Manage water age and dead-end flushing
• Develop a water quality monitoring plan for distribution

Topics:
• Water quality deterioration: disinfectant decay, nitrification, taste/odour
• Chlorine residual management: booster stations, rechlorination
• Hydraulic modelling for water age and residence time
• Flushing programs: conventional, unidirectional
• Sampling plan design for distribution system

Objectives:
• Apply WHO Water Safety Plan framework
• Conduct hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) for water
• Identify control measures and operational limits
• Develop corrective actions and verification procedures

Topics:
• Water Safety Plan: system assessment, monitoring, management
• Hazard identification: microbial, chemical, physical, radiological
• Critical control points (CCPs) in treatment and distribution
• Operational monitoring: parameters, frequencies, limits
• Incident response and corrective actions

Objectives:
• Implement quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) in water testing
• Interpret statistical data: mean, standard deviation, trend analysis
• Validate laboratory results using control charts
• Prepare water quality reports for regulatory compliance

Topics:
• QA/QC: calibration, control samples, proficiency testing
• Statistical tools: mean, median, standard deviation, percentiles
• Control charts: Shewhart, cumulative sum
• Data validation: outliers, holding times, method detection limits
• Report writing: compliance reports, annual summaries

Objectives:
• Diagnose common treatment process problems (turbidity spikes, filter breakthrough)
• Optimise chemical dosing using jar testing and process data
• Implement energy efficiency measures in pumping and aeration
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for critical processes

Topics:
• Troubleshooting: coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration
• Optimisation: coagulant dose, filter run time, backwash frequency
• Energy management: pump efficiency, variable speed drives
• SOP development: disinfection, chemical handling, equipment operation
• Case studies: real-world process challenges

Objectives:
• Apply all principles in a comprehensive case study
• Complete a practical assessment: sampling, testing, process design
• Develop a personal action plan for continuous improvement
• Summarise key learning and prepare for unit standard assessment

Topics:
• Integrated case study: source to tap water quality management
• Practical assessment: sampling, on-site testing, process adjustments
• Review of unit standard 115946 outcomes
• Final exam preparation: theory and calculations
• Certification requirements and next steps