Operator Training and Assistance Program
— What's New —
Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater is the water supply of a community after it has been soiled by use. It may contain human wastes, household waste, industrial wastes as well as groundwater and, in many cases, stormwater runoff. Before it can be safely returned to the environment, the wastewater must be treated. The treatment process can range from relatively simple to very complex. The specific process used for treatment will vary with the source and volume of wastewater to be treated. For most communities, a system similar to the diagram below provides treatment to remove solids, materials that will consume oxygen and organisms that could potentially cause disease if released to the environment.
1. Preliminary Treatment — Removes debris which could damage plant equipment.
2. Primary Treatment — Removes 90 - 95% of the settleable solids.
3. Secondary Treatment — Removes organic matter through biological oxidation and settling.
4. Advanced Treatment — Removes solids, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other pollutants such as color and metals. (not used in all treatment systems)
5. Disinfection — Removes organisms which might cause disease.
6. Solids Handling — Treats the solids removed from the wastewater to allow safe and economical disposal.
Operator Training and Assistance Program
Virginia recognizes that a competent, well trained staff to operate water pollution control facilities is a critical component in its efforts to protect Virginia´s waters and environment. It also recognizes that without a continuing supply of well trained professionals the maximum benefit from the public and private investments in treatment facilities will not be achieved. In recognition of this need the Department has included an operator training and assistance program, since 1973.
Mission:
The Operator Training and Assistance program located in the Department´s Water Quality Division provides assistance to Virginia´s localities, industries, businesses, schools and others to ensure wastewater treatment facilities are operated efficiently by competent personnel to achieve compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
Functions:
The Operator Training and Assistance program strives to achieve its mission by:
- Developing and conducting specialized training for treatment professionals.
- Partnering with educational institutions to provide low cost training opportunities for operator license candidates.
- Preparing low cost training/reference materials on wastewater treatment and associated topics.
- Conducting comprehensive treatment system performance evaluations to identify factors causing non-compliance.
- Providing short and long term assistance and on-site training to aid the treatment system in correcting identified problems.
- Assisting managers in identification of system vulnerabilities and development of emergency response plans to deal with natural and man-made disasters.