In this module, students will learn the essential components and best practices of water services within a distribution system. Topics include:

• Service line materials (e.g., copper, PVC, polyethylene)

• Installation and maintenance of corporation stops, curb stops, and curb boxes

• Variations in service line responsibilities between utilities and property owners

• Water tapping methods: dry tap and wet tap

• Best practices for locating and tapping water mains

• Techniques and tools for detecting and locating leaks

• Leak survey and water auditing procedures

This California Water Distribution training module focuses on the principles, design, operation, and maintenance of water storage systems. Topics include:

• Purpose of Water Storage: Equalizing supply and demand, operating convenience, pump management, energy cost reduction, emergency supply, fire flow provision, surge relief, chlorine detention, and blending sources.

• Types of Storage Structures: Elevated tanks, standpipes, ground-level reservoirs, buried reservoirs, hydropneumatic tanks, and surge tanks.

• Tank Components and Equipment: Inlet/outlet pipes, overflow systems, monitoring devices, valves, air vents, access hatches, ladders, coatings, cathodic protection, and lighting requirements.

• Sizing Storage Needs: Calculations for operational, equalizing, standby, and fire flow storage requirements.

• Material and Construction: Design considerations for steel, concrete, and earth embankment reservoirs.

• Location Considerations: Hydraulic and aesthetic factors influencing placement of storage within distribution systems.

• Inspection and Maintenance: Guidelines for routine interior and exterior inspections, cleaning, record-keeping, and tank disinfection in compliance with AWWA standards.

This course introduces the essential components of information management in California water distribution systems, with a strong emphasis on system mapping and computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS). Topics include:

• Comprehensive and Sectional Maps: Understanding map features including water mains, hydrants, valves, pressure zones, and service connections.

• Valve and Hydrant Mapping: How to locate, document, and use maps during maintenance and emergency operations.

• Plan and Profile Drawings: Reading engineering diagrams showing main locations and avoiding obstructions.

• Supplemental Records: How to record leak repairs, valve types, hydrant maintenance, and meter data.

• Computerized Records and GIS: Transitioning from paper maps to digital systems, tracking water quality, and integrating LIMS and GIS.

• CMMS Functionality: Managing work orders, scheduling maintenance, tracking labor/materials, and prioritizing critical tasks.

By the end of this course, students will be able to effectively manage and interpret the technical and geographic data necessary to operate, maintain, and respond to challenges within a water distribution system.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand why routine water quality sampling is required and how it protects public health.

• Distinguish between grab, composite, and continuous sampling methods.

• Identify proper sample sites and conditions for collecting representative water samples.

• Apply correct procedures for collecting, preserving, and transporting samples.

• Perform field tests for chlorine residual and recognize common testing issues.

• Understand bacteriological sampling protocols and the importance of holding times.

• Complete legal documentation including sample labels, log books, and chain of custody records.

Master the math skills essential for success in California's water distribution industry. This self-paced, on-demand course prepares participants for certification exams and real-world operational tasks by focusing on applied water operator math.

Topics include:

• Solving for Unknown Values (basic algebra with water operations examples)

• Unit Conversions (length, area, volume, and flow rate conversions)

• Ratios and Proportions (direct and inverse applications in operations)

• Percent Calculations (concentrations, chemical mixtures, operational efficiencies)

• Parts Per Million (PPM) and Percent Conversions

• Area and Volume Measurements (circular, rectangular, trapezoidal structures)

• Surface Area Calculations (tank painting and coating estimates)

• Pressure and Force (understanding psi in water systems)

• Flow Rate Determination (pipe and channel flow calculations)

• Detention Time (tank fill and retention analysis)

• Chlorine Demand and Residual Calculations

• Chemical Dosage and Feed Rate Calculations

• Drawdown Measurements (well operation analysis)

This self-paced, online review course is tailored for individuals seeking California State certification in water distribution operations. The curriculum is aligned with the key knowledge areas expected on the D1–D3 level exams and includes:

• Regulatory Frameworks: State Drinking Water Regulations, USEPA standards, and SDWA primacy.

• System Design & Hydraulics: Water sources, system demand, pipe installation, and hydraulic calculations.

• Infrastructure Components: Valves, hydrants, pumps, motors, meters, and water storage systems.

• Operations & Maintenance: Routine flushing, leak detection, system testing, and backflow prevention.

• Water Quality & Disinfection: Chlorination practices, contaminant regulations, and lab sampling.

• Safety & Emergency Response: OSHA confined space, public notification protocols, and system security.

• Math for Operators: Unit conversions, volume and pressure calculations, and chemical dosing problems.