Drinking Water Treatment Processes eLearning Series
A six-course eLearning program, exploring water from source to distribution.
Drinking Water Treatment Process eLearning Series (EL40)
This series of self-paced eLearning courses provides current and prospective operators with a practical walkthrough of the key processes involved in treating water for delivery to a community. Learners can expect to compare and explain the operational processes and procedures, regulatory requirements, and other key aspects of each process on its own.
Beyond learning about how each of these processes works, you can expect to learn why each treatment process is included as part of a larger treatment strategy for the goal of providing safe drinking water to your community. Each course includes typical troubleshooting scenarios, allowing learners to play through each situation and apply it to their own utility or situation. All courses are interactive and include videos and handouts with key terms and acronyms to help you on your journey.
Six courses, Six hours, $199 member | $299 non-member
Course Descriptions & Registration
Registration includes all six courses described here.
Together, the courses provide an introductory overview of conventional and advanced water treatment processes used in drinking water utilities.
Pretreatment Essentials
EL41 — Pretreatment Essentials
Course Length: 1 Hour
Pretreatment Essentials provides water treatment operators and maintenance personnel with a foundational understanding of pretreatment processes in drinking water systems. Participants will learn how screening, straining, sedimentation, aeration, preoxidation, and chemical addition protect downstream equipment, improve water quality, and support regulatory compliance. The course emphasizes operational considerations, chemical safety, and strategies for adapting pretreatment to changing source water conditions.
Course Modules:
Module 1: Why Pretreatment?
Module 2: Key Pretreatment Techniques
Module 3: Chemical Addition
Module 4: Pretreatment Strategies
EL41 Learning Objectives:
- Describe the purpose and benefits of pretreatment in drinking water systems.
- Identify key pretreatment techniques used in drinking water systems and the conditions under which they are required.
- Explain how chemical addition — including pH adjustment, oxidation, coagulation, and disinfection — improves water quality at key application points.
- Recognize variations in source water and adjust pretreatment strategies to maintain compliance and performance.
- Explain how chemical addition — including pH adjustment, oxidation, coagulation, and disinfection — improves water quality at key application points.
Coagulation and Flocculation for Water Operators
EL42 — Coagulation and Flocculation for Water Operators
Course Length: 2 Hours
This course provides knowledge and practical skills needed to understand and operate coagulation and flocculation processes in conventional surface water treatment. It covers basic water quality concepts, coagulant chemistry, jar testing, process monitoring, common operational issues, and safety.
Course Modules:
Module 1: Coagulation Comes First
Module 2: Your Dose Never Lies
Module 3: Coagulants & Their Aids
Module 4: Read The Jar. Run The Plant.
Module 5: Control the Feed. Control the Process.
EL42 Learning Objectives:
- Explain how coagulation and flocculation remove turbidity, color, and natural organic matter from surface water.
- Explain the key coagulation mechanisms — charge neutralization and sweep floc — using operator-friendly terminology.
- Identify common coagulants and coagulant aids, and explain how pH and alkalinity influence their performance.
- Apply proper chemical handling and PPE requirements when working with coagulants.
- Interpret jar test results to evaluate coagulation effectiveness and support chemical dose adjustments.
- Recognize signs of poor coagulation — including rising turbidity, floc carryover, and settled water issues — and communicate findings appropriately.
- Perform basic dose, feed rate, and solution strength to support chemical feed system operation.
Sedimentation and Clarifiers
EL43 — Sedimentation and Clarifiers
Course Length: 1 Hour
Sedimentation and Clarifiers introduces the principles and practices of sedimentation and clarifier operation in drinking water treatment. Participants will learn how sedimentation improves water quality, the science behind particle settling, and the role of clarifiers in the treatment process. The course covers clarifier types, operational best practices, process control, and troubleshooting common issues.
Course Modules:
Module 1: Coagulation, Flocculation, and the Sedimentation Process
Module 2: Clarifiers and Monitoring the Settling Process
EL43 Learning Objectives:
- Describe coagulation and flocculation.
- Explain the process of sedimentation in water treatment.
- Identify different clarifier types and their components.
- Locate and describe effluent weirs.
- List the three components controlled during the sedimentation process.
- Apply operational best practices for sludge removal and flow control.
- Name common operational issues.
Conventional Filtration Essentials
EL44 — Conventional Filtration Essentials
Course Length: 2 Hours
This course introduces the principles and operation of conventional filtration in surface water treatment. Participants learn how filtration fits into the treatment process, types of filters and media, and key performance indicators such as turbidity, head loss, and filtration rate. The course covers backwashing, filter ripening, troubleshooting, and compliance with EPA turbidity standards. Practical examples and calculations help operators apply best practices and meet regulatory requirements.
EL44 Learning Objectives:
- Explain how coagulation and flocculation remove turbidity, color, and natural organic matter from surface water.
- Explain the key coagulation mechanisms — charge neutralization and sweep floc — using operator-friendly terminology.
- Identify common coagulants and coagulant aids, and explain how pH and alkalinity influence their performance.
- Apply proper chemical handling and PPE requirements when working with coagulants.
- Interpret jar test results to evaluate coagulation effectiveness and support chemical dose adjustments.
- Recognize signs of poor coagulation — including rising turbidity, floc carryover, and settled water issues — and communicate findings appropriately.
- Perform basic dose, feed rate, and solution strength to support chemical feed system operation.
Disinfection Basics
EL45 — Disinfection Basics
Course Length: 1 Hour
Disinfection is an essential part of a water treatment strategy.
This course covers the process of drinking water disinfection at a utility, starting with an overview of waterborne pathogens commonly found in source waters. Using this knowledge, learners will then cover the complexities of water chemistry as related to the disinfection process. Using these data, learners will also learn about disinfection byproducts (DBPs), which can result from different disinfection processes. This course covers both chlorination and chloramination from both a process overview and a chemistry perspective. Finally, learners will learn about associated metrics of success and apply what they learn in a series of realistic disinfection scenarios.
Course Modules:
Module 1: Why Disinfect?
Module 2: Disinfection Options
Module 3: Chlorination
Module 4: Chloramination
Module 5: Disinfection Scenarios
EL45 Learning Objectives:
- Explain why disinfection is important.
- Determine the best disinfection option for a treatment goal.
- Understand the factors of chlorination and when chloramination is the next option.
- Identify the benefits and drawbacks of chloramination.
- Articulate disinfection process strategies for your utility.
Advanced Water Treatment
EL46 — Advanced Water Treatment
Course Length: 1 Hour
This course introduces advanced treatment processes used in drinking water systems beyond conventional filtration and disinfection. Technologies such as membrane filtration, activated carbon adsorption, ion exchange, and advanced oxidation are covered. Operators will learn the purpose, basic operation, monitoring requirements, and troubleshooting strategies for these processes, focusing on practical skills and regulatory compliance.
Course Modules:
Module 1: Membranes & Treatment Operations in Advanced Water Treatment
Module 2: Activated Carbon
Module 3: Ion Exchange
Module 4: Advanced Oxidation Processes and Integration With Existing Treatment Trains
EL46 Learning Objectives:
- Explain why advanced treatment is used.
- Identify technologies used in advanced treatment processes.
- Identify different membranes and when they are used.
- List responsibilities for membrane monitoring and maintenance.
- Describe when activated carbon is used and how to monitor the process.
- Apply key features of activated carbon adsorption.
- List responsibilities and perimeters monitored during ion exchange.
- Describe the purpose of advanced oxidation processes.
- List common AOP combinations.
- List the common integration points in treatment trains.
- Explain the rationale for using advanced treatment.
- Identify different membranes and their applications.
- Identify the two types of activated carbon.
- Explain the difference between adsorption vs. absorption.
- List the two types of activated carbon treatment.
- Describe basic operational principles and how ion exchange works.
- Perform basic checks and troubleshooting of UV, ozone, chemical feed, and water systems.
Looking for an individual course? Purchase courses separately by visiting Build Operator Knowledge for pricing and registration options.
Each learner must register using their own AWWA account to enroll in eLearning courses. Enrollment in courses through another person’s account will void completion, and a retake will be required. eLearning courses are a study aid, but do not guarantee passing the initial licensing exam.
Operator Continuing Education
Whether you are an engineer collecting PDHs, an operator needing CEUs, or simply require proof of attendance, AWWA eLearning provides Certificates of Completion.
Special note for operators: AWWA’s Drinking Water Treatment Process eLearning Series (EL40) and its individual courses are approved for operator CEUs in Illinois and are being reviewed in Colorado, with additional states pending. Visit awwa.org/CEU-by-State or reach out to educationservices@awwa.org about your licensing location.
Your state or province not listed? Email us at EducationServices@awwa.org to learn more about CEUs for this eLearning program in your location.
Learn more at awwa.org/credits
Operator CEUs by State
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