Wastewater Treatment Processes and Technologies

This course provides in-depth knowledge of wastewater treatment processes, from headworks and biological systems to effluent disinfection and solids treatment. Participants will explore advanced technologies like membrane bioreactors (MBRs), discuss the challenges of small-scale plants, and address emerging issues such as nutrient removal and PFAS contamination. Practical workshops and real-world scenarios enhance learning, enabling attendees to tackle complex treatment challenges with confidence and expertise.

Learning Outcomes:

Understand conventional and advanced wastewater treatment processes, including activated sludge systems, disinfection technologies, and bio-solids treatment.
Apply modern technologies and regulatory frameworks to optimize plant operations and achieve compliance.
Evaluate treatment costs and develop solutions tailored to both municipal and industrial wastewater challenges.

Who Should Attend:

Wastewater engineers, operators, and managers responsible for treatment facility design and operations.
Consulting engineers and wastewater equipment manufacturers supporting treatment projects and innovations.
Federal agencies, military base personnel, and public health professionals overseeing water quality and compliance.

Course Details: RA01043-D646

Course Outline

Overview of Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater characteristics
Discharge permits, regulations
Treatment processes and definitions

Headworks and Preliminary/Primary Treatment

Wastewater flow rates and metering
Screening, compaction, grit removal
Primary clarification

Activated Sludge Systems

Biological treatment principles
BOD and nutrient removal
Process configurations
Final clarification
Design and operation
Wet weather management

Other Biological Treatment Processes

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs)
Fixed film & hybrid processes
Recycle treatment
Wastewater treatment plants of the future

Effluent Disinfection

Chlorine
Ultraviolet light
Ozone
Typical permit requirements

Solids Treatment, Aerobic Digestion, Anaerobic Digestion

Typical process trains
Thickening and dewatering
Aerobic and Anaerobic Digestion – principles and technologies
Single-stage mesophilic, TPAD, and other approaches
Pros and cons of different processes

Industrial Treatment Considerations

Industrial wastewater characteristics
Treatment options

Wastewater Treatment Costs

Estimating project capital costs, O&M costs
Customer charges and rates
Benchmarks, examples, factors that affect cost

Smaller-scale Plants: Processes and Considerations

Technology options for smaller plants
Operating and maintenance considerations
Economic challenges for local governments

Plant Operations

Meeting discharge permits
Standard operating procedures
Instrumentation and control
Operations management and troubleshooting

Design Workshop and Exercises

Participants will examine treatment plant scenarios, perform calculations, identify alternatives, and discuss solutions

Course Schedule

Location and Lodging

Course Location

Fluno Center

601 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706

Map

608-441-7117

877-773-5866

Lodging

DoubleTree by Hilton Madison Downtown

525 West Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53703

Map

Room: rates start at $195

Reserve by: August 24, 2026

Accommodations include: Your stay includes hot breakfast buffet, fitness center, business center, convenient on-site parking. Guest rooms are complete with Keurig coffee maker, refrigerator, complimentary high-speed Internet, and 40-inch, flat screen, high-def TVs.

Online Reservations

800-222-8733

608-251-5511

Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor's Club

One West Dayton Street
Madison, WI 53703

Map

Room: rates start at $160

Accommodations include: Complimentary WiFi, Local/Airport Shuttle, Pool, and Fitness Center.

Fluno Center

601 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706

More Madison Lodging Options

Course Notes

This is a HyFlex (in-person and online) taught course. Your registration is for one teaching platform only: in-person or online. Please be prepared to attend all days either in-person or online. Contact us before registering if you have any questions.

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 participation certificates and course evaluations will be available to all students through the Canvas course site.

Online attendees will access course sessions via the Zoom web conferencing platform.

Instructors and Program Director

Instructors
Alan Grooms
Operations Manager MMSD
Alan Grooms, PE, is the Operations Manager at Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District. He has more than 26 years of experience in wastewater treatment plant operations and design. He is a licensed Wisconsin professional engineer and a licensed wastewater operator and has participated in and overseen planning, design, construction, and operation of numerous wastewater treatment plants and other municipal projects.
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.
John Siczka
Senior Technologist & Wet Weather Treatment
John Siczka, PE, is a global principal and wet weather treatment leader with Jacobs. He has more than 20 years’ experience in project design, planning, treatment technology evaluation, pilot testing, odor control, regulatory review, permit negotiations, and managing environmental operations.
Adib Amini
Program Director
Adib Amini, Ph.D., PE, ENV SP, BCEE serves as Program Director in the College of Engineering’s Office of Interdisciplinary Professional Programs, with a focus on Water, Wastewater, Stormwater, and Sustainability. Dr. Amini also works with cities and industries as an engineering consultant, with experience in both drinking water and wastewater treatment. Dr. Amini has expertise in sustainability, engineering design, technology innovation, and renewable energy. Dr. Amini’s work has included the design of novel technologies, including on-site energy systems at facilities. He spearheaded the designs for the first wastewater treatment facilities in Iowa that are 100% powered by on-site renewable energy systems. Dr. Amini invented a novel system for ventilation of rated spaces, such as wastewater headworks buildings, for which he holds a provisional patent. Dr. Amini also has performed award-winning research in technology innovation and sustainability. Dr. Amini has spoken widely at conferences on topics related to water/wastewater treatment, sustainability, PFAS, on-site energy systems, and resilient infrastructure.
Glen Daigger
Senior Vice President
Dr. Daigger is currently Professor of Engineering Practice at the University of Michigan and President and Founder of One Water Solutions, LLC, a water engineering and innovation firm. He previously served as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for CH2M HILL (now Jacobs) where he was employed for 35 years, as well as Professor and Chair of Environmental Systems Engineering at Clemson University. He has authored more than 200 technical papers, five books, and several technical manuals and has advised many of the major cites of the world, including New York, Los Angles, San Francisco, Detroit, Singapore, Hong Kong, Istanbul, and Beijing. A Past President of the International Water Association (IWA), he is also a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineers and the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
Matthew Castillo
Project Engineer
Matt Castillo is a wastewater process engineer and project manager at MSA Professional Services. He has 18 years of experience planning and designing municipal wastewater facilities, managing small community projects, troubleshooting process and operational issues, and conducting phosphorus and water reuse filter studies. In 2017, he received the Gascoigne Wastewater Treatment Plant Operational Improvement Medal from WEF.
Matt Seib
Program Director
Adib Amini

Total Credits:

CEU 1.8,

PDH 18,

Applies to this Certificate:

Wastewater Systems,

Course Administration

Fee Information

This course has two attendance options, face-to-face or online.

Face-to-face attendance fee includes morning and afternoon breaks, scheduled lunches, and course materials.

Online attendance fee includes online instruction and course materials. Online attendees will access course sessions via the Zoom web conferencing platform.

Discounts

Team 2 Discount. Receive $100 off the registration fee, per person when 2 or more people from the same organization enroll. Team affiliation will be confirmed as part of the registration process.

Team 3 Discount. Receive $150 off the registration fee, per person when 3 or more people from the same organization enroll. Team affiliation will be confirmed as part of the registration process.

10% discount per person for participants registered in the Wastewater Systems certificate series. Promo code needed during registration.

A 10% discount per person is available to City of Madison Water Utility and Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District employees. Employment status will be verified.

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.

Wastewater Treatment Processes and Technologies

Learning Outcomes:

Who Should Attend:

Stay Connected

Course Details: RA01043-D646

Course Outline

Course Schedule

Location and Lodging

Course Notes

Instructors and Program Director

Course Administration

Fee Information

Discounts

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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Wastewater Treatment Processes and Technologies

Wastewater Treatment Processes and Technologies