Course Overview
Clean and safe drinking water is one of the most important assets in any city or community. This course will provide you with a good working knowledge of treatment processes, technology developments, regulations, and case studies to help you improve your water treatment facilities, operations, and future projects. Topics include:
- Conventional and advanced water treatment
- Coagulation, flocculation, clarification, filtration
- Disinfection strategies: chlorine, chloramines, ozone, UV
- Groundwater and surface water characteristics
- Membrane filtration processes and reverse osmosis
- Current issues, pipe corrosion, emerging contaminants
- Water quality in distribution systems and building plumbing
- PFAS Overview and treatment options
- Facility planning, Decision-making, Sustainability, and Energy considerations
Who Should Attend?
- Drinking water system engineers, managers, and operators
- Consulting engineers
- Water equipment manufacturers
- Executives and directors of water-related organizations
- Public health professionals
Additional Information
Attendees can earn a digital badge as evidence of the knowledge they obtained during the course. Digital badges are micro-credentials that can be earned by successfully completing application exercises woven throughout the course. Click here for information on digital badges.
Course Outline
Overview of Drinking Water Treatment and Current Issues
- Regulatory drivers
- Emerging contaminants and technologies
Coagulation and Flocculation
- Chemistry of coagulation
- Mixing
- Sedimentation
- Dissolved air flotation
- Granular media filters
Disinfection Processes and Technologies
- Chlorine, chloramines
- Ozone, ultraviolet, chlorine dioxide
- Microbial growth in distribution systems
Comparing Surface Water and Groundwater Treatment Plants
- Types of treatment plants
- Groundwater vs. surface water raw sources
- Major processes, typical flow rates
Owner Insights: Design and Operation of Water Treatment Facilities
- Designing for operations and maintenance
- Flexibility, simplicity, costs, procurement, efficiency
Membrane Filtration Processes
- Micro, ultra, and nano-filtration
- Reverse osmosis, electrodialysis reversal
- Membrane life, fouling, cleaning frequency
- Concentrate disposal
Distribution System Water Quality
- Pipe corrosion
- Disinfection by-products
- Premise plumbing issues
PFAS Overview and Treatment Options
- PFAS background
- Regulations
- Treatment options
Facility Planning, Decision-making, Susainability, and Energy Considerations
- What is facility planning and its importance
- Decision-making factors (Life Cycle Costing, Life Cycle Assessment, etc)
- On-site energy options for faciltiies
Case Studies in Drinking Water Treatment
- Examples of small and large water treatment plants
- Meeting new regulations and improving water quality
- Problems that can impact cost, schedule, and operation
Testimonials
"Excellent knowledge, delivered in an enjoyable way."
"The best course I have had at UW-Madison."
"Top-notch interesting teachers. Thank you!"
"One of the very best I've attended in a long history of attending engineering presentations."
Instructors
Adib Amini
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.
Chris Catlin
Chris Catlin, PE, is an operations consultant with Jacobs. He previously served as superintendent of plant operations for the Minneapolis Water Works, managing a 180-MGD lime-softening/membrane plant. His experience includes groundwater, surface water, conventional treatment, membrane treatment, radium removal, and ammonia/nitrification. He is a certified water plant operator in several states.
Greg Harrington
Greg Harrington, PhD, is a professor and department chair of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research interests include waterborne pathogens, natural organic matter, and physical/chemical processes such as ozonation, chloramination, coagulation, and ultraviolet irradiation. In addition to his teaching and research, he is the Pieper Family Foundation Chair for Servant Leadership and has served as president of the Water Utility Board for the Madison Water Utility.
Michael Oneby
Michael Oneby, PE, is the City Engineer for the City of Seward, Nebraska For twenty years, Mike worked for several consulting engineering firms, specializing in water treatment process design. His work has included the analysis, design, and upgrade of municipal and industrial treatment facilities across the United States, including membranes, ozone, conventional and advanced treatment. He is a past-president of the International Ozone Association and is currently the Sub-Committee Chair for a new AWWA Manual of Practice Ozone Systems for Drinking Water, Wastewater and Water Reuse Applications.
Upcoming dates (2)
Essentials of Drinking Water Treatment
Location: Madison, WI or Live Online
Course #: RA01015-D545
Fee: $1,595
interpro.wisc.edu/RA01015
Fee
- $1,595
-
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 of 2: $100 off per person for 2 employees from the same organization
TEAM of 3+: $150 off per person for groups of 3+ employees from the same organization
10% Discount for Madison City and Dane County Water Utilities employees. Your department affiliation will be verified.
Credits
- CEU: 1.7
- PDH: 17
Schedule
Registration Date/Time:
6/24/2025 8:30am Central Time
Event Dates/Times:
- 6/24/2025 9:00am - 5:00pm Central Time
- 6/25/2025 9:00am - 5:00pm Central Time
- 6/26/2025 9:00am - 3:00pm Central Time
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
Greg Harrington, Chris Catlin, Michael Oneby, Adib Amini
Location
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.
Essentials of Drinking Water Treatment
Location: Madison, WI or Live Online
Course #: RA01015-D644
Fee: $1,595
interpro.wisc.edu/RA01015
Fee
- $1,595
-
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 of 2: $100 off per person for 2 employees from the same organization
TEAM of 3+: $150 off per person for groups of 3+ employees from the same organization
10% Discount for Madison City and Dane County Water Utilities employees. Your department affiliation will be verified.
Credits
- CEU: 1.7
- PDH: 17
Schedule
Registration Date/Time:
6/23/2026 8:30am Central Time
Event Dates/Times:
- 6/23/2026 9:00am - 5:00pm Central Time
- 6/24/2026 9:00am - 5:00pm Central Time
- 6/25/2026 9:00am - 3:00pm Central Time
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
Greg Harrington, Chris Catlin, Michael Oneby, Adib Amini
Location
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.