Topic outline

  • Domestic Wastewater Treatment Overview

    Credits: 3 PDH

    PDH Course Description:

    The 1972 legislation known as the Clean Water Act set secondary treatment as the required level of treatment to be provided by domestic wastewater treatment plants in the United States. In this course you can learn about the basic processes used in primary and secondary wastewater treatment, processes used and contaminants removed by advanced treatment, treatment & disposal or beneficial reuse of biosolids (wastewater sludge), and the fundamentals of onsite wastewater treatment systems.

    Topics:

    At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
    • Be familiar with the wastewater treatment requirements set by the Clean Water Act and subsequent related legislation.
    • Know the types of pollutants typically present in domestic wastewater.
    • Know the processes used in preliminary and primary wastewater treatment.
    • Know the process alternatives for secondary wastewater treatment.
    • Know the alternative methods for land treatment of wastewater.
    • Be familiar with the disinfection processes used for wastewater.
    • Know the pollutants typically removed by advanced treatment and the processes used for their removal.
    • Know the general treatment processes and disposal & beneficial reuse methods for wastewater biosolids.
    • Know the alternative processes for onsite wastewater treatment.

    To take this course:

    1.) Enroll in Course: Click below to enroll:
    (must be logged into your user account)


    2.) Study: Once enrolled, click below to begin the course:

    Download the Study Guide

    3.) Test: Once you've thoroughly read the course materials, please click below to take the final examination.

    Take the final exam

    4.) Certificate: A passing grade of 70% or higher on the exam, is required to receive the certificate of completion for this PDH course.
         NOTE: After the exam is completed, you will need to return to this page, in order to print (download) the certificate of completion.

    Print the Certificate of Completion

    Intended Audience: for civil, municipal, and environmental engineers, as well as anyone interested in or involved with wastewater treatment. An attendee of this course will gain knowledge about the processes used in domestic wastewater treatment.
    Publication Source: US Environmental Protection Agency

    Harlan Bengtson PhD, PE

    • Topic 1