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Water Quality Technology

The Program

This diploma provides training in the design, use and maintenance of water systems, wastewater and waste disposal facilities, and environmental monitoring. Students will learn the analysis, distribution and treatment of water and wastewater as would be required by municipalities, water-use industries and environmental monitoring agencies.

Major areas of instruction include hydrology, hydraulics, instrumentation and control, water and wastewater management, biology and chemistry, as they relate to environmental monitoring, collection, analysis, treatment and distribution of water and wastewater. Support courses include surveying, computer science, mathematics, English, physics and environmental law. All aspects of water quality technology place emphasis on practical experience in analytical techniques, equipment maintenance and trouble-shooting, and data management. Professional

The program is nationally accredited at the level of Engineering Technologist by the Canadian Technology Accreditation Board (CTAB). While attending college, students may register with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of the Province of British Columbia (ASTTBC). After two years of acceptable experience, graduates may become fully certified members.

Water Quality Technology Option Information

Employment Focus

Water and Wastewater Option: training in the areas of engineering technology, sewage treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, domestic waterworks and irrigation systems. Topics include plant design, water maintenance, collection and distribution systems, and water analysis and treatment for human consumption.

Environmental Monitoring Option: training for technologists responsible for monitoring water in domestic, industrial or environment settings as public or private employees. Topics include an understanding of water distribution, techniques to assess chemical, biological and physical aspects of water quality.

Co-operative Education Work Experience

Students who satisfy the eligibility criteria will have an opportunity to gain valuable work experience by participating in paid co-op work terms. Such experience increases students’ employment opportunities and their value to their employers upon graduation.

Suggested Work Terms

  • May - August (One 4 month work term)
  • May – August, September – December (Two 4 month back to back work terms)

For more specific co-op student availability information, please contact the Co-operative Education & Student Employment Centre.

STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SELECT TWO OF THE FOLLOWING ELECTIVE COURSES:

  • Directed Study
  • Advanced Wastewater and Solid Waste Technology
  • Advanced Water Treatment and Distribution
  • Elementary Statistics
  • Water Distribution & Wastewater Collection
  • Principles of Micro-Economics

WATER QUALITY TECHNOLOGY CO-OP STUDENT SKILLS AND ABILITIES
y = the student has the indicated skill WT = Work Term

Electric Circuits

WT 1

WT 2 & 3

Grad

DC circuits – AC circuits-transformers

y

y

y

Motors-switches-batteries

y

y

y

Instrumentation

Fitting & hand valves

y

y

y

Control valves & actuators

y

y

y

Flow measurement; magnetic rotameters, orifice, weir, flume vortex, pitot tube, turbine

y

y

y

Temperature measurement T/C, RTD, Bimetal, filled systems

y

y

y

Pressure measurement: Bourdon, Diaphragm, Draft gauge, Manometer Delta P transmitters

y

y

y

Level measurement: float, displacer, bubbler, magnet ultrasonic

y

y

y

Solenoids – On-Off control

y

y

y

PH, D.O., conductivity, dissolved solids measurements & calibration

y

y

y

Computer Control

Computer Monitoring – Analog/digital converters

-

y

y

Graphic display – screen selection; alarms, trending control set points

-

y

y

Digital/analog control – Distributed control

-

-

y

PLC systems

-

-

y

Environmental Hydrology

Map interpretation

y

y

y

Drainage basin morphometry

-

y

y

Estimate basin precipitation – calculation of snow water storage

-

y

y

Glacier mass balance – hydrograph analysis

-

y

y

Calculation of flood frequency curves – stream flow measurement

-

y

y

Stream flow measurement

-

y

y

Environmental Law

-

-

y

Software Familiarity

DOS, Windows (on-line)

y

y

y

spreadsheet, Microsoft Excel

y

y

y

database, Microsoft Excel

y

y

y

Word-processing, Microsoft Word, Power Point, Internet

y

y

y

computer aided drafting

-

y

y

GIS (Geographical Information Systems)

desktop mapping, pointfiles, attributes, geocodes, editing maps

-

y

y

expert systems

-

-

y

Surveying

Introductory surveying equipment, transit loops, loop adjustments, computations, records

y

y

y

Safety Knowledge

Chlorine Gas – First Aid

y

y

y

Water Distribution & Sewage Collection System

Hydraulics – calculate pipe capacities, fitting losses, flow measurement

y

y

y

Computer flow & pressure analysis, piping networks

-

y

y

Hydraulic principles, calculate sewer size measure

y

y

y

stream flow

y

y

y

Operation (monitoring, concerns, repairs)

y

y

y

Mechanical Systems

Install fittings, repair pipes

y

y

y

Pumps maintenance, seals, packing

-

y

y

Chemical handling & safety C12, NaF, S02, NaCLO, Alum

y

y

y

Chemical Equipment Maintenance

-

y

y

Basic maintenance skills & general familiarity with treatment equipment e.g., screen, comminutors, valves, belt presses, DAF, centrifuge, skimmers

y

y

y

Engine O & M (gasoline, diesel, natural gas)

y

y

y

Electrical motors removal & installation

y

y

y

Air compressors & blower operation & maintenance

-

y

y

Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Operation

Maintenance routines, e.g. lubrication, sensors cleaning, skimming

y

y

y

Filtration operation and theory

y

y

y

Polymer & alum use (flocculation, coagulation principles)

-

y

y

Pump selection, operating characteristics, troubleshooting

y

y

y

Grit removal

y

y

y

Activated sludge: theory and operation

-

y

y

Air transfer

-

y

y

Sample & testing influent & effluent water

-

y

y

Water & Wastewater Biology

Plant & animal identification & enumeration techniques

y

y

y

Measurement of community structure

y

y

y

Coliform testing

y

y

y

Microbiology sterile technique, culture & identification

-

y

y

Limnology field & laboratory methods

-

-

y

Water & Wastewater Chemistry

Chemistry composition of various waters

-

y

y

Identify classes of organic compounds

y

y

y

Equilibrium concepts (acid/base, solubility & redox)

y

y

y

Use of pH meters & colorimeters, potentiometric titration

y

y

y

Use of flame ionization, AA, GLC & HPLC

-

-

y

Standard water sampling techniques

-

y

y

Water sampling laboratory set-up & maintenance

-

-

y

Technical Writing and Communication

Research using Internet and on-line databases

y

y

y

Summarizing scientific articles

y

y

y

Writing letters and memos

y

y

y

Writing lab reports – informal and short technical reports

y

y

y

Writing formal research proposals and reports

-

-

y

Applying case analysis methodology for problem-solving and decision-making

-

-

y

Delivering oral presentations

y

y

y

Delivering public presentations

-

-

y

Using word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software for writing and oral communication

y

y

y

Applying ethical criteria to written and oral communication

y

y

y

Adapting written and oral presentations for technical and non-technical audiences

y

y

y

Managing team projects and presentations

y

y

y

Negotiating

-

-

y