May 2021
1. Disease causing microorganisms are called:
a. Thermophilic
b. Osmophilic
c. Pathogenic
d. Coliform
2. An increase in bacteria levels in plant effluent could be caused by:
a. Increasing solids in the effluent
b. Low chlorine dosage
c. Mixing problems in the contact tank
d. All of the above
3. Residual chlorine can be measure using which of the reagents:
a. NaCl
b. DPD
c. GPA
d. THM
4. BOD in lagoons/ ponds covered by snow and snow will generally_______:
a. Stay the same
b. Decrease rapidly
c. Increase Slowly
d. Decrease slowly
5. What the detention time of a settling tank that is 40 feet long by 25 feet and is 15 feet deep and is used to treat 1.7 MGD?
a. 1.6 hours
b. 16 hours
c. 1.6 days
d. 0.16 hours
6. At what temperature are BOD samples incubated?
a. 35 degrees C
b. 20 degrees F
c. 20 degrees C
d. 100 degrees C
7. In the enzyme substrate test (i.e. Colilert), which of the following reactions is considered positive for E.coli?
a. Well is colorless and fluorescent under 365nm UV light
b. Well is yellow and not fluorescent under 365nm UV light
c. Well is yellow and fluorescent under 365nm UV light
d. Well is cloudy
8. TSS samples for compliance purposes must be collected as________.
a. A grab sample
b. A 12-hour composite sample
c. Either a grab or composite sample
d. A 24-hour composite sample
The Maine Operations Challenge team is in search of future recruits for the 2022 Ops Challenge events. If you are not familiar with Operations Challenge, it is the Olympics of Wastewater, where operators from all across New England compete in five events related to the field of wastewater collections and treatment. The top three teams from New England will be invited to compete at the national even held during WEFTEC.
Operations Challenge is a fun and exciting way to improve your wastewater knowledge and skills, gain experience in different types of jobs, and make new friends and professional acquaintances. If you or someone you know is interested in participating, or just wants to learn more, contact Alex Buechner at, alex.buechner@biddefordmaine.org.
Also, here is a link to a promo video that WEF made a few years ago. Makes it look very exciting. https://vimeo.com/237839026
PROMOTING EXCELLENCE AND PROFESSIONALISM IN WASTEWATER OPERATIONS
MRWA is developing Water/ Wastewater Apprenticeships through the National Rural Water Association in partnership with the Maine Apprenticeship Program (MAP).
Interested in sponsoring a Maine Water/ Wastewater apprenticeship? Or know someone entering the field who may want to become an apprentice themselves? Contact Humza Khan at humza.khan@mainerwa.org for more information.
What is MAP?
MAP is a formal, industry-led, nationally-recognized, workforce training program for employees that provides in-house skill development through structured on-the-job learning supplemented with technical and theoretical course work. Each program has a sponsor who provides a safe, on-the-job learning environment. The program allows the apprentice to learn and practice all of the skills prescribed in the standards, and provide incremental wage increases as the apprentice gains proficiency and completes course requirements.
There are many benefits of being an apprenticeship sponsor. These include providing the employer with a formal, industry recognized, in-house training program specific to your needs, engaging employees in self-directed learning and incentives to advance their skills, attracting employees who are interested in, and have aptitudes to learn the skills required by your industry, reducing employee turnover, increasing productivity, quality, safety, and worker versatility, providing your industry with a voice in workforce education and training matters, linking your company to other workforce development resources and information, helping pay the cost of certain training programs, and keeping your facility apprised of best practices, new approaches and resources for workforce skill development.
In 2020 the Department surveyed all municipal wastewater treatment facilities and satellite collection systems in Maine. The Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) was to let the Department know of any unfunded wastewater projects, as of January 1, 2020, that were planned in the next 10 years. Of the 205 utilities surveyed we had a response rate of 42%. Those utilities reported documented ‘needs’ that were brought forward to current dollars and showed staggering ‘needs’ of $1,019,906,919 over the next 10 years.
CWNS ‘needs’ are reported in a number of categories. The Department combined the reported categories into five general categories. Here are the results of the survey by general category.
• Wastewater Treatment $488,255,078
• Sewer Replacement or Rehabilitation $287,168,994
• New Collector or Interceptor Sewers $55,254,883
• Combined Sewer Overflow Correction $163,783,537
• Stormwater $25,444,427
For more detailed information on the ‘needs’ reported by utilities see https://www.maine.gov/dep/water/grants/SRF/cwsrf/CWNS_Summary_Only_4-16-2021.pdf
For more information, please contact Brandy.M.Piers@maine.gov
A previous newsletter article indicated that the DMR-QA announcement email would be sent in mid to late March. After that article was published EPA started receiving requests to adjust the study dates, similar to last year, to account for possible disruptions caused by the pandemic. At this time, we expect the 2021 announcement letter to be sent in late April or early May.
All DMR-QA participants should receive the announcement email directly from EPA. Maine DEP will forward a copy of the announcement email to all DRM-QA participants once the final version is received from EPA.
As a reminder, DMR-QA analyses should be performed using normal, routine operating protocol at the facility. By signing the certification statement when submitting DMR-QA results on the data report form, the certifying official attests that the proficiency testing was performed in accordance with EPA guidelines.
Here are some additional guidelines to keep in mind when performing DMR-QA:
o The individual(s) performing the analyses must be the analyst who routinely performs testing for compliance reporting purposes. If analytical work is routinely shared by more than one employee, the lab manager may randomly assign different analyses to different technicians. Over time, the guiding principle is that every responsible analyst gets their “turn in the barrel” for every analysis they’re responsible for.
o Sample splitting, running two or more aliquots of the same sample solution, averaging, or having two or more individuals or organizations run the same analyte are not allowed.
o The individual(s) performing the Study analyses must do so on their own, without the advice, support or influence of anyone else present (or remote) acting in the role of coach or mentor.
o The Department discourages the presence of a “silent knowledgeable observer” as being potentially problematic and outside the intent of the Study protocol.
o It is inappropriate for anyone performing or responsible for the Study to contact or be contacted by other facilities or individuals to discuss results prior to submitting their results.
o Failure to adequately perform the DMR-QA analyses or pass the PT tests with “Acceptable” results could jeopardize your facility’s ability to perform in-house testing for permit compliance.
If you have any questions or need to update your contact information, please contact Brett Goodrich at Brett.A.Goodrich@maine.gov or call 207-287-9034.
Historically, Maine DEP listed upcoming training sessions in the monthly newsletter. This past year, with all training becoming virtual, DEP has been emailing a list of upcoming Webinars and virtual classes to certified operators every 2-3 weeks. This list can also be found on the DEP website: www.maine.gov/dep/water/wwoperator. The list includes webinars, conferences and on-demand classes that are approved for continuing education hours to help operators achieve required TCHs. Please contact the provider directly to register for the training session.
To help operators keep track of their training, NEIWPCC provides a summary of completed TCHs for each operator, listed by certificate number, on their website http://jetcc.org/wastewater-operator-renewal.php. Please note that this list is updated monthly, so there may be a delay in seeing a class on the list that you recently attended.
If you have completed training that is not listed on the website, please submit certificates of completion to NEIWPCC. For training that is not preapproved, include the TCH Request form, also found at the DEP website.
Questions? Contact NEIWPCC at certification@neiwpcc-jetcc.org or Judy Bruenjes at judy.k.bruenjes@maine.gov.
Maine Rural Water Association (MRWA) Announces Administrative Summit
Maine Rural Water Association (MRWA) is excited to announce its annual Administrative & Management Summit and Trade Show on September 23, 2021. Join MRWA for a full day of learning and networking with your colleagues around the state and selectively chosen exhibitors. The sessions have been designed with trustees, management, and administrative professionals in mind. From financial needs to HR, MRWA has you covered.
The summit consists of four, 1.5 hour sessions presented online from 8 AM to 3:15 PM. Sessions include Strategic Leadership, Accountability for Governing Board, Employee Engagement, and Employee Harassment. Participants can receive full BLWSO TCHs and partial DEP wastewater Management TCHs.
For more information, go to the MRWA website, www.mainerwa.org.
Maine Water Utilities Association (MWUA) In-Person Demo Day
Maine Water Utilities Association (MWUA) will hold an in-person HDPE Demo Day in conjunction with EJ Prescott (EJP) at EJP’s facility in Gardiner on August 24, 2021 from 12-4 PM. The event includes equipment demonstrations, installations, case studies, a free lunch, and post event meet & greet. Demo Day is part of the HDPE Pipe Series presented in conjunction with the PE Alliance and sponsored by EJP. You can attend this event or the entire series. Don’t miss the training event everyone is talking about!
MWUA also has a robust training selection that includes topics ranging from Ductile 101 to HR & Ethics to Work Zone Traffic Control. According to Thomas Bahun, III, “we’ve always got something for everyone.” He continued, “When COVID-19 threw us all for a loop last year, we never expected to be where we are today, having marked our 95th Annual Conference & Tradeshow successfully in the books. Not only was it the 95th event, but it was also our first ever fully virtual one at that. And, we couldn’t have done it without all of our members!”
For more info, go to www.mwua.org.
Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) to Offer Water/ Wastewater Classes this Fall
The Maine Community College System is pleased to announce the expansion of the Northern Maine Community College (NMCC) Water Treatment Technology (WTT) program to the SMCC campus in South Portland.
A comprehensive line-up of classes are being offered Fall 2021 to launch the Water Technology program at the SMCC campus, including Water Treatment, Distribution Systems, Wastewater Treatment, and Collection’s Systems.
Classes will utilize state-of-the art virtual technology, combined with in-person labs, field trips, and hands-on projects. The schedule is designed to allow students to work full-time while pursuing an Associate’s degree, Certificate program, or those wishing to gain further knowledge for professional development.
According to instructor Patrick Wiley, this program is unique because it provides hands-on experience with water and wastewater processes, equipment, and lab analyses that supplement classroom instruction and discussion. Wiley noted, “our objective is to prepare students to become the next generation of certified water and wastewater industry professionals”.
For more information about the Water Treatment Technology Program, please contact Wendy Bradstreet, NMCC Director of Admissions at (207) 768-2771 or via email at nwbradst@nmcc.edu.
1-C
2-D
3-B
4-C
5-A
6-B
7-C
8-D
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