Water Storage Tanks Operation, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation

• Tank type overview
• Advantages and disadvantages
• Design efficiency
• Operations and maintenance considerations
• Aesthetics

• Important safety issues
• Overview of safety equipment and procedures for tank climbing and rigging
• Tank details for safety and rescue retrieval

• Typical antenna attachment details
• Protecting structural integrity of tank
• Avoiding paint damage and corrosion
• Operational and aesthetic concerns
• Accommodating future antenna installations

• Storage tank water quality problems and causes
• Water storage tank mixing – mixing basics – methods of mixing – potential mixing problems
• Modeling mixing and water aging in storage tanks
• Retrofits to improve mixing and tank water quality

• Essential elements of tank inspections
• Inspector qualifications
• Inspection types – drained tank – underwater inspections
• Photo and video documentation
• Inspection report

• Coating types
• Expected coating life
• Coating selection
• Surface preparation
• Quality control

• Cathodic protection methods/systems
• Operation of cathodic protection systems

Registration Date/Time:
4/27/2026 9:30am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 4/27/2026  10:00am - 12:15pm Central Time
• 5/1/2026  10:00am - 12:15pm Central Time
• 5/4/2026  10:00am - 12:15pm Central Time
• 5/8/2026  10:00am - 12:15pm Central Time
• 5/11/2026  10:00am - 12:15pm Central Time
• 5/15/2026  10:00am - 12:15pm Central Time
• 5/18/2026  10:00am - 12:15pm Central Time
• 5/22/2026  10:00am - 12:15pm Central Time

This is an online only course.  Please be prepared to attend all days. Contact us before registering if you have any questions. 

Registration confirmation will guide students through accessing the Canvas course site. Please watch for emails from the "wisc.edu" address.

Students will create and log in to the Canvas course site with a NetID. Course assets such as course materials, 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

  Joseph Hoban

  Vice President

  Mr. Joseph Hoban is the Vice President of Dixon Engineering, Inc. and brings over 25 years of expertise in potable drinking water storage. He holds a degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, where he graduated in 1998. Although his degree focused on geology, Joe's career took a different path, leading him into the field of inspecting potable drinking water tanks. His experience spans a wide range of tank types, including ground tanks, elevated tanks, steel tanks, and concrete tanks.

  Joe is a Licensed Professional Engineer in 10 states, a Certified Coatings Inspector through the Association of Material Protection and Performance (AMPP), and a Certified Weld Inspector through the American Welding Society. His diverse certifications and years of experience make him a leader in the water storage industry.

  Ben Huffman

  Superintendent

  Ben is the superintendent for the South Milwaukee Water and Wastewater treatment facilities. He has been with the City of South Milwaukee for the past 19 years.

  Seth McClure

  Asset Manager

  Seth McClure, PE has been actively involved with Asset Management for eight years, first as the Asset Manager at the Madison Water Utility, and most recently as supervisor for asset management programs at the Madison Metro Sewerage District. More recently, Seth has shifted his focus from engineering and asset management to issues surrounding the governance of utilities, strategic planning, and leadership development. Seth is currently the Strategic Planning and Policy Advisor for MMSD. A former high school teacher, freelance writer, and carpenter, Seth is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

  Kyle Miller

  Kyle Miller has a rich background in education and sales, coupled with a lifelong connection to agriculture.  After earning his bachelor’s degree in education, Kyle spent the next several years in the classroom teaching elementary and middle school.  He then transitioned to Education Sales for then next seven years.  Now Kyle is applying his skills and experience in the water storage industry, a legacy that his grandfather began nearly 60 years ago installing the Harvestore tanks throughout Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin. 

  Steven Roetter, PE

  Market Segment Manager

  Steve Roetter has 40 years’ experience in the coatings and corrosion industry.  He spent 35 years as a consultant doing condition assessments, specifications and coating inspection on various steel and concrete structures.  Steve also conducted numerous coating failure investigations and served as an expert witness.

   

  For the past 5 years, Steve has been water/wastewater Market Segment Manager for Sherwin-Williams where he oversees the coating of steel and concrete wastewater structures.  Steve has a BS Civil Engineering, is a registered professional engineer in Indiana and New York, an AMPP Protective Coating Specialist and Past President of SSPC – The Society for Protective Coatings (now AMPP).

  Miles Steele

  Waterworks Manager

  Miles Steele has worked in the corrosion control industry for over 43 years, starting his career with Harco in 1984 as a Waterworks Technician. His experience has involved all aspects pertaining to the cathodic protection (CP) of water storage tanks including CP system design, inspection, evaluation, repair, installation, and commissioning. Miles is a member the Association for Materials Protection & Performance (AMPP) and is a NACE certified Cathodic Protection Level II Technician. Miles is a member of the American Waterworks Association (AWWA) and for the past 5 years has served as the Committee Chair for the AWWA D104/D106 Standard on Cathodic Protection.

  Tim Wilson

  MPA

  Mr. Wilson is a Project Manager with DIXON Engineering, Inc., a firm specializing in engineering and inspection services for the coating industry.  Tim has 30 years of project management, consulting, and operational experience with both surface water and groundwater treatment and their associated distribution systems. 

   

  Tim is a certified drinking water treatment and distribution operator in Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota, as well as an AMPP Basic Coating Inspector and Concrete Coating Inspector.

  Kevin Zei

  Business Development - Water Infrastructure

  Kevin Zei has 25 years of experience in the coating industry.  His focus is on water infrastructure projects working with owners and engineers in Wisconsin and Illinois to develop coating specifications for their projects.  He is a proud UW-Madison alum studying Forest Science but was drawn back to the family business of paint.  He holds AMPP Coating Inspector Level 2 and Concrete Coating Inspector Level 2 certifications and is an active member of AWWA and Rural Water in Wisconsin and Illinois.

• Program Director

  Adib Amini

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

When two people from the same employer sign up, each student receives a $100 discount. Your company affiliation will be verified.

When three or more people from the same employer sign up, each student receives a $150 discount. Your company affiliation will be verified. 

City of Madison Water Utility and Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District employees receive a 10% discount ($150). Employment status will be verified.

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 interpro@union.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 interpro@union.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.

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.