ABC Wastewater Treatment Class IV study plan
ABC Wastewater Treatment Class IV · Give each week a clear focus.
8 weeks · About 7 hours per week
Process Control and Operational Troubleshooting
Map the top 10 process-control symptoms in secondary treatment to at least two probable causes and one corrective action each
Calculate SRT, MCRT, F/M ratio, and sludge volume index from three sets of operating data without a reference sheet
Interpret daily DO, ORP, ammonia, and nitrate profiles to identify nitrification upset or inadequate aeration
Draft a troubleshooting sequence for filamentous bulking and foaming that orders actions by risk and cost
Your checkpoint
A one-page secondary-treatment troubleshooting decision tree covering eight symptoms, self-scored against a written answer key with at least 90% of causes and actions correct
Process Control and Operational Troubleshooting & Physical, Chemical, and Biological Treatment Units
Solve 20 process-control calculation problems covering wasting rate, recycle ratio, detention time, and solids loading under a 45-minute timer
Compare activated sludge, trickling filter, and membrane bioreactor configurations by loading limits, oxygen demand, and operational failure modes
Diagnose three written plant scenarios by selecting the most likely cause and defending the choice with operating data
Explain how return activated sludge rate and waste rate interact to control mixed liquor concentration and sludge age
Your checkpoint
A timed 20-question process-control quiz scored at 80% or higher, with every missed item rewritten as a corrected rule in a personal error log
Physical, Chemical, and Biological Treatment Units
Draw a complete treatment flowsheet from influent to disinfection and label the function of at least 12 unit processes
Calculate hydraulic loading, detention time, and solids loading for primary clarifiers and biological reactors
Describe chemical dosing strategies for phosphorus removal, alkalinity adjustment, and disinfection, including dose-control parameters
Identify the operating limits and failure indicators for at least five physical, chemical, and biological treatment units
Your checkpoint
An annotated plant schematic with 12 unit functions, three worked loading calculations, and a one-page table of failure indicators and responses
Solids Handling and Residuals Management & Collection Systems, Pumping, and Flow Measurement
Calculate sludge production, thickened solids concentration, solids capture, and dewatered cake solids from given mass-balance data
Compare gravity thickening, dissolved air flotation, belt pressing, centrifugation, and drying beds by performance, cost, and operational constraints
Compute pump total dynamic head and wet-well cycling time for two pumping scenarios
Interpret flow measurement readings from a flume, weir, and magnetic meter and identify the likely source of a discrepancy
Your checkpoint
A solids mass balance worksheet that tracks solids through thickening, digestion, and dewatering with all calculated values within 5% of the provided answer key
Collection Systems, Pumping, and Flow Measurement
Troubleshoot cavitation, air binding, clogging, and seal failure in a lift station using a written symptom-to-action checklist
Solve 10 collection-system problems involving sewer capacity, slope, velocity, inflow and infiltration, and pump run time
Explain calibration checks and installation requirements for at least three flow measurement devices
Rank five collection-system failure risks by consequence and likelihood and propose one control for each
Your checkpoint
A pump-station troubleshooting checklist with 10 symptom entries plus 10 solved flow and capacity problems scored at 80% or higher
Laboratory Analysis and Process Monitoring & Safety, Regulations, and Records Management
Calculate BOD, COD, TSS, VSS, ammonia, phosphorus, and coliform results from raw bench data, including dilution and percent recovery
Design a quality-control set using duplicates, spikes, blanks, and standards, and state the acceptance criterion for each
Identify confined-space, chlorine, hydrogen sulfide, and electrical safety requirements and the documentation each requires
Determine permit reporting obligations and calculate the percent exceedance for three effluent limit scenarios
Your checkpoint
A laboratory quality-control plan and a permit compliance checklist, each with at least eight items, plus three worked exceedance calculations
Safety, Regulations, and Records Management & Supervision, Maintenance, and Asset Management
Build a preventive maintenance schedule for pumps, blowers, clarifiers, and disinfection equipment with frequencies and acceptance checks
Rank plant assets by criticality using failure consequence and likelihood, and justify the top three rankings
Write a 10-minute safety briefing for a confined-space entry and list the records that must be retained
Describe the supervision steps for investigating an incident, assigning corrective action, and verifying closure
Your checkpoint
A preventive maintenance plan covering four asset classes with task frequencies, assigned roles, and a criticality ranking table for at least 10 assets
Process Control and Operational Troubleshooting & Physical, Chemical, and Biological Treatment Units & Solids Handling and Residuals Management & Collection Systems, Pumping, and Flow Measurement & Laboratory Analysis and Process Monitoring & Safety, Regulations, and Records Management & Supervision, Maintenance, and Asset Management
Complete a 100-question mixed practice exam under timed conditions and score every domain separately
Re-teach the three lowest-scoring domains using corrected notes and worked examples
Recite the key formulas for process control, loading, solids, and pumping from memory and apply each once
Assemble a one-page formula and regulatory-deadline sheet for final review
Your checkpoint
A completed 100-question practice exam with a domain score report, a corrected error log, and a final one-page formula sheet
Milestones
Week 2: Score at least 80% on the timed process-control quiz and show a complete error log with every missed item corrected
Week 4: Complete the solids mass balance worksheet with all calculated values within 5% of the answer key and finish the first pass through Domains 1 through 3
Week 6: Score at least 75% on a 30-question mixed quiz covering Domains 1 through 5 and submit the lab quality-control plan and permit checklist
Week 8: Score at least 80% overall on the 100-question practice exam with no domain below 70%, and present the final formula sheet