Municipal Engineering Fundamentals for Non-Engineers

This course introduces non-engineers to the core principles and practices of municipal engineering, with a focus on real-world applications in street design, water supply, sanitary sewer, and stormwater systems. Participants will learn how public works engineers approach planning, design, and maintenance, and how to ask the right questions to ensure successful infrastructure outcomes. Whether you're in planning, finance, management, or public service, this course will help you better understand the systems that keep communities running.

Learning Outcomes:

Understand the basic engineering concepts behind municipal infrastructure systems including streets, water, sewer, and storm drainage.
Learn how to interpret design considerations, regulatory requirements, and maintenance strategies used by public works professionals.
Gain the confidence to collaborate effectively with engineers and contractors on infrastructure projects.

Who Should Attend:

Planners, city managers, and elected officials involved in infrastructure decision-making.
Finance officers, maintenance supervisors, and public works staff preparing for expanded responsibilities.
Individuals enrolled in the Public Works Management Institute (PWMI) or anyone seeking a foundational understanding of municipal systems.

Course Details: RA00356-E161

Course Outline

Online Course Modules

Pre-course Activity

Overview of the Course
Overview of the Municipal Engineering Function
What is unique about municipal engineering?
What are the challenges of designing municipal infrastructure systems?
What tools and standards are used by municipal engineers?

Session 1 - Street Design, Maintenance and Rehabilitation

Soils, water, and pavement thickness design
Pavement management
Preventive maintenance and rehabilitation
Estimating and Bidding

Session 2 - Street Planning and Traffic Engineering

Planning and functional classification systems
Urban vs. rural roadway geometric standards
Intersections and sidewalks
Traffic engineering and operation
Traffic engineering studies

Session 3 - Storm Drainage

Catch Basins & Inlets
Regulatory considerations
Combined Sewers
Stormwater Quality
BMP’s & BMP Application

Session 4 - Water Systems

Water Supply
Water Treatment
Water Demand and Water System Sizing
Water Distribution System

Session 5 - Sanitary Sewers and Waste Treatment

Projecting System Capacity
Collection System
Treatment Techniques
Treatment Plant Design

In-person outline:

Day 1

Overview of the Municipal Engineering Function

What is unique about municipal engineering?
What are the challenges of designing municipal infrastructure systems?
What tools and standards are used by municipal engineers?

Street Planning, Design, and Maintenance

Planning and functional classification systems
Urban vs. rural roadway geometric standards
Intersections and sidewalks
Soils, water, and pavement thickness design
Pavement management systems
Preventive maintenance and rehabilitation
Traffic engineering and operation
Traffic engineering studies
Understanding a civil engineering plan set

Water Supply Systems

Projecting water system demand
Calculating average demand
Estimating peak demand
Accommodating fire flows

Water Distribution

Water mains
Water storage requirements
Metering and water loss
Valves and hydrants
Testing

Water Treatment - Groundwater and Surface Water

Physical and chemical processes
Hardness and softening
Filtration and disinfection

Day 2

Sanitary Sewerage Systems

Projecting system capacity
Sewer collection systems
- Design parameters
- Materials
- Maintenance
Treatment Plant Considerations
- Hydraulic and waste loadings
- Phosphorous and nitrogen
- Special loadings
Treatment processes:
- Primary
- Secondary
- Tertiary

Stormwater Drainage and Control Systems

Why we manage stormwater
Understanding rainfall and runoff, and the “Rational Formula”
Drainage system design
Catch basins and inlets
Flood control: detention, flow control, and regional approaches,
Water quality: EPA, NPDES, and MS4s
Combined sewers
Stormwater best management practices (BMPs) and sustainability

Course Schedule

Course Notes

This is a live online course that uses the Zoom and Canvas platforms. The registration confirmation will guide students through accessing the Canvas course site.

Students will create and log in to the Canvas course site with a NetID. Course assets such as instructional materials, participation certificates, and course evaluations will be available to all students through the Canvas course site.

The course materials are all digital and only available on the Canvas course website.

Online attendees will access sessions via the Zoom web conferencing platform. The Zoom link will be provided a few days before the course.

Please watch your registration email (including spam/junk folders) for updates from a “wisc.edu” address.

Instructors and Program Director

Instructors
Benjamin Jordan
Program Director
Benjamin J. Jordan, P.E. is a Program Director at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, College of Engineering, Interdisciplinary Professional Programs, where he develops continuing education courses for civil engineers and public works professionals. He has over forty years of experience in civil engineering and public works. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana – Champaign and a Master of Public Affairs degree with a Graduate Certificate in Public Management from the University of Missouri – Columbia. Mr. Jordan is a Licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois, Washington, And Wisconsin.
Andy Sikich
Andy Sikich, PE is Vice President - Civil Engineering at WBK Engineering, LLC. He has over 20 years of experience in municipal engineering, program management, civil engineering design, land development, project management, and construction management. Andy previously served as Director of Public Works for the Village of Downers Grove, IL and Village Engineer/Assistant Director of Public Works for the Village of Hanover Park. IL. . He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Certificate of Graduate Study in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University.
Jim Fisher
Senior Technologist
Jim Fisher, P.E., is a senior technologist with 35 years’ experience at Jacobs (formerly CH2M Hill), specializing in treatment processes for municipal wastewater and combined sewer overflow (CSO). He has led numerous phosphorus compliance projects, including those at Madison, Appleton, Waukesha, and others. He has significant experience with process selection; capacity evaluation and design using steady state and dynamic modeling, stress testing, and bench scale testing; detail process and mechanical design; construction inspection; and facility startup and operation.
Program Director
Benjamin Jordan

Total Credits:

CEU 1.5,

PDH 15,

Course Administration

Fee Information

Fee covers course materials and live online instruction.

Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
Provide the registrations representative with:
- the course name, dates, and/or course number.
- the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Request Purchase Order information from registration@cerc.wisc.edu
- If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email registration@cerc.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

Cancellation Policy

If you cannot attend, please notify us no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Cancellations received after this date and no-shows are subject to a $150 administrative fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.

Create a custom learning experience

We can deliver this course as an on-site learning experience tailored to your organization’s specific training needs.

Municipal Engineering Fundamentals for Non-Engineers

Learning Outcomes:

Who Should Attend:

Stay Connected

Course Details: RA00356-E161

Course Outline

In-person outline:

Day 1

Day 2

Course Schedule

Course Notes

Instructors and Program Director

Course Administration

Fee Information

Payment Options

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

Pay by Purchase Order

Military

Event Cancellation

Cancellation Policy

Create a custom learning experience

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Municipal Engineering Fundamentals for Non

Municipal Engineering Fundamentals for Non-Engineers