In this module, learners will explore the essential factors influencing the selection and use of pipes within drinking water distribution systems. Key topics include:

• Pipe Selection Criteria: Understanding strength, pressure ratings (MAWP), service conditions, corrosion resistance, economics, and smoothness.

• Water Quality Considerations: Ensuring materials maintain safe potable water standards without introducing contaminants.

• Pipe Types: Detailed examination of current and legacy materials, including ductile iron, steel, PVC, polyethylene, and concrete pipes.

• Joint Types and Installation Methods: Insight into various joining techniques such as mechanical, flanged, push-on, and ball-and-socket joints.

• Service Line Components: Differences between transmission lines, in-plant systems, distribution mains, and service lines.

• Corrosion Prevention Techniques: Methods for mitigating external and internal corrosion risks.

• Historical Materials: Understanding the issues associated with older piping materials like asbestos-cement and cast iron.

• Field Applications: Practical knowledge for selecting appropriate pipes and fittings based on real-world service demands.

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 course provides an in-depth study of fire hydrants as essential components of public water systems. Topics include:

• Primary Purpose and Uses: Fire protection, construction support, flushing of mains, and unauthorized use concerns.

• Hydrant Specifications: Water main requirements, hydrant placement, outlet orientation, and color coding per NFPA 291 standards.

• Types of Hydrants: Dry-barrel, wet-barrel, flush hydrants, warm-climate hydrants, and breakaway hydrants, including their design differences and operational mechanisms.

• Operation and Maintenance: Proper operation procedures, common operational issues such as water hammer and sediment disturbance, inspection routines, and flow testing requirements.

• Installation Best Practices: Requirements for main sizing, auxiliary valves, placement relative to streets and curbs, and painting standards.

• Hydrant Safety Protocols: Precautions during flushing operations, preventing cross-connections, managing pedestrian and vehicle safety.

• Recordkeeping Requirements: Documentation standards for hydrant installation, maintenance, and repairs.

In this self-paced, on-demand course, participants explore the core concepts of instrumentation, control systems, and communication protocols utilized in water distribution operations. Topics include:

• Basic Electrical Principles: Understanding voltage, current, resistance, and Ohm's Law.

• AC/DC Power Fundamentals: Single-phase and three-phase systems, transformers, and circuit breakers.

• Electronic Instrumentation: 4-20 mA signal loops, transmitters, and sensor technologies for measuring water pressure, flow, and level.

• Flow Measurement Devices: Venturi meters, magnetic meters, propeller and turbine flow meters, and ultrasonic sensors.

• Automated Systems: Introduction to Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and their role in modern water system automation.

• SCADA Systems: How SCADA enhances real-time monitoring, reporting, and alarm processing in distribution systems.

Topics include customer service meters, compound meters, detector-check meters, and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The course also covers mainline and production meters used at key points in the system such as well discharges, treatment facilities, and pressure zones.

Learners will explore:

• Differences between positive displacement, velocity, magnetic, ultrasonic, and insertion meters.

• How to size and select meters for different applications.

• Standards for meter accuracy and maintenance schedules.

• Techniques for system-wide metering and district metered areas (DMA).

• AWWA standards and testing intervals based on meter size and type.

This self-paced, on-demand course covers the essential principles and practices of chlorination used in California public drinking water systems. Students will explore the critical role of chlorine in disinfection, the chemical reactions involved, proper dosage calculations, regulatory standards, and troubleshooting common operational challenges.

Topics include:

• The history and necessity of chlorination in public health

• Chlorine demand, dosage, and residual management

• Forms of chlorine (gas, liquid, solid) and their properties

• Breakpoint chlorination theory and calculations

• CT (Concentration x Time) treatment technique fundamentals

• Advantages and disadvantages of chlorination methods

• Chlorine safety procedures, including cylinder handling and emergency protocols

• Chloramines as alternative disinfectants: benefits and limitations

• Compliance with disinfection byproduct (DBP) standards (e.g., THMs, HAA5s)

Learners will engage with real-world examples, CT calculation exercises, and review quizzes based directly on California certification standards.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how chlorine disinfects drinking water and the factors affecting its performance

• Apply proper calculation methods for chlorine dose, demand, residual, and CT values

• Safely manage chlorine storage, transportation, and emergency response

• Meet California State regulatory requirements for water disinfection and residual monitoring

• Identify potential issues such as nitrification and DBP formation and implement best practices to mitigate them

In this self-paced LMS course, participants will explore the fundamental and advanced concepts of water distribution system operations with a specific focus on water quality management, aligned with California regulatory standards. Key learning modules include:

• Routine and Non-Routine Water Quality Monitoring: Development of State-approved sampling plans, handling disinfection residuals, turbidity, and microbiological parameters.

• System Maintenance and Main Cleaning Techniques: Techniques including unidirectional flushing (UDF), ice pigging, swabbing, and mechanical cleaning to maintain system cleanliness and prevent water quality deterioration.

• Operational Testing and Response: Performing pressure and flow tests, leak detection methods, and emergency monitoring during main breaks or contamination events.

• Water Chemistry Fundamentals: Understanding pH, alkalinity, hardness, total dissolved solids (TDS), and their impact on system performance, corrosion control, and treatment efficiency.

• Distribution System Design and Modifications: Improving water quality through system design, hydraulic modeling, pipe material selection, and turnover practices in storage facilities.

• Corrosion Prevention and Cathodic Protection: Application of sacrificial anodes, nobility charts, and Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) interpretation for system longevity.

• Regulatory Compliance: Meeting California State water quality reporting requirements, customer communication expectations, and water audit practices.

This on-demand training module provides critical education on safeguarding potable water systems through effective backflow prevention and cross-connection control. Topics include:

• Definition and examples of cross-connections and backflow

• Legal responsibilities under Title 17 for public water suppliers

• Cross-connection control program requirements, including device installation, testing, and maintenance

• Identification of high-risk facilities requiring specialized backflow protection

• Causes of backflow: backpressure and backsiphonage

• Overview of prevention methods: complete isolation, air gaps, RPZ devices, double check valves, and vacuum breakers

• Device selection based on hazard levels

• Public health impacts of cross-connection incidents

• Regulatory compliance, inspection protocols, and reporting requirements

In the water utility industry, public confidence and goodwill are essential. This course equips water distribution personnel with the skills necessary to professionally represent their utility in public settings. Key topics include:

• Importance of consumer confidence and public image

• The role of operators as the public face of the utility

• Effective communication techniques, including listening, answering questions clearly, and keeping commitments

• Maintaining a professional appearance and courteous conduct

• Proper procedures for addressing customer concerns, complaints, and abusive situations

• Best practices for operating utility vehicles in public areas

• Guidelines for engaging with media representatives

• Strategies for creating positive public perceptions through outreach and community involvement

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)