November 2014
At the request of Commissioner Aho, based on comments she has received from licensed operators, the Department is
working with JETCC/NEIWPCC to develop Computer Based Testing (CBT) for the
operator certification program. Department staff, JETCC/NEIWPCC staff,
DHHS-Drinking Water Program staff, and a representative from the regulated
community (certified wastewater and drinking water operator) recently met to
discuss how to implement the program. Various aspects of computer based
testing are being evaluated including costs and logistics. The Department
staff and JETCC also met with the Association of Boards of Certification
(ABC-Maine’s testing contractor) to work out scheduling, testing centers, and
other details. Additional updates to follow.
Nov. 12 – Soil Erosion Control Field Day: Overwintering – 5
credit hours – Richmond, ME – MRWA.
Nov. 13 – Asset Management Academy (Day 6 of the 6 day
course) – 4 credit hours - Richmond, ME – MRWA
Nov. 13 – Salmon Falls Watershed Chemical Spill Workshop
& Tabletop Exercise – 5 credit hours – South Berwick, ME MRWA
Nov. 20 – Managing Spill Response with Incident Command
Systems (ICS) – 6 credit hours – Brunswick Sewer District. JETCC
Dec. 2 – Dewatering Solids: Options and Optimization – 6
credit hours. – Ellsworth, ME. JETCC.
Dec. 3 – Climate Change Adaptation – 6 credit hours – Saco,
ME JETCC
Dec. 4 – Overview of Pumps and Pump Stations – 6 credit
hours – Madawaska, ME. JETCC.
Dec. 9th – 11th – 34th
Annual Technical Conference & Tradeshow - credit hours vary by session - Bangor, ME - MRWA
Dec. 16 – Location and Road Opening Permits with Safe work
Practices – 6 credit hours – Jay, ME. JETCC.
Dec. 16 - Effective Utility Management for Rural & Small
Wastewater Systems – 6 credit hours - Bangor, ME MRWA.
Dec. 17-19 – O&M of Wastewater Collection Systems
(w/Optional NEWEA Exam) – 15 credit hours - Waterville, ME. JETCC.
Jan. 7 – Effective Utility Management for Rural & Small
Wastewater Systems – 6 credit hours – North Waterboro, ME MRWA
Jan. 25-28 – NEWEA Annual Conference & Exhibit - credit hours vary by session– Boston,
MA
Feb. 12 - Mobile & Remote Communication – 6 credit hours
- Houlton, ME JETCC
For more information on these programs, please contact the
training provider directly:
JETCC: jetcc.org
NEIWPCC: neiwpcc.org
MEWEA (formerly Maine Wastewater): mewea.org
MRWA: mainerwa.org
NEWEA: newea.org
1.
What is happening in the sludge digestion process when
volatile acids are increasing and alkalinity is decreasing?
a.
Methane gas production is increasing.
b. Microorganisms need more food.
c.
Process is becoming upset and the digester loading
should be decreased.
d. Process is stabilizing and the digester loading should
be increased.
2.
To control an Activated Sludge Process using MLVSS, the
operator must maintain
a.
A constant concentration of suspended solids in the
aeration tank.
b. A constant concentration of volatile suspended solids
in the return sludge.
c.
A constant concentration of volatile suspended solids
in the waste sludge.
d. A constant concentration of volatile suspended solids
in the aeration tank.
3.
The common parameter mg/L (milligrams per liter) is the
same as
a.
Grans/Gallon
b. Parts per million (ppm)
c.
Ounces per pound
d. Grans per cubic foot
4.
An operator doses the effluent from his plant with 6
mg/l of chlorine. If the flow through
the plant averages 2.5 MGD, how much chlorine will be used in 30 days?
a.
146 pounds
b. 525 pounds
c.
3,753 pounds
d. 4,378 pounds
5.
What is the sludge concentration at which pumping
becomes difficult?
a.
10%
b. 5%
c.
2%
d.
1%
NEIWPCC is pleased to
offer this training in conjunction with Maine DEP, Maine JETCC, and EPA Region
One. This training is designed to educate POTWs on tools available to
predict potential cumulative damages to wastewater infrastructure from sea
level rise and storm surge, and to help evaluate the relative costs and
benefits of adaptation strategies. Presenters include Dr. Samuel Merrill
from Catalysis Adaptation Partners. Dr. Merrill has been the principal
force behind development of the COAST approach to benefit-cost analysis for sea
level rise and storm surge and also its implementation in numerous coastal
adaptation planning efforts. Additional presenters include consulting
engineers and municipal, State, EPA and NEIWPCC officials. The training will
also provide an opportunity for discussion among municipal officials,
consultants, DEP staff and representatives from MEWEA and MRWA on the best way
to advance this type of evaluation.
Considering that Storm
Surge from a hurricane can go up to 30 miles inland, this is an issue affecting
not only coastal communities, but also low-lying areas far inland. The
National Weather Service (NWS) Hurricane Center recently published an
interactive map of near worst case storm surge flooding scenarios using the NWS
SLOSH model. The new map can track hurricane flooding from Florida to
Maine To view this map, right click on the link:
map
Approved for 6 Water and
Wastewater Operator Training Contact Hours
Cost: $70 for Municipal,
State Government, or Not-For-Profit Employees
$95 for Private Sector
Employees
Location: Saco City
Hall, 300 Main Street
Date: Wednesday,
December 3, 2014
Pre-registration is
required: Please call 253-8020 or visit:
http://jetcc.org/schedule.php
1.
c. When volatile
acids are increasing and alkalinity is decreasing in the sludge digestion
process, the process is becoming upset and the digester loadings should be
decreased.
2.
b. MLVSS stands
for Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids. The
MLVSS is a gross measure of the portion of the sludge in the aeration basin,
which is alive and actually taking up waste from the influent. By maintaining a constant concentration of
MLVSS in the aeration basin, the operator ensures that there is a population of
live, hungry bugs ready to eat the pollutants in the influent.
3.
b. 1
mg(milligram) is 1/1000 of a gram. 1
liter of water has, by definition, a mass of 1000 grams. 1000 grams equals 1, 000,000 milligrams. Thus, 1 milligram is 1/1,000,000 of a liter
so 1mg/L = 1 part per million.
4. c. Pounds = dosage (in mg/L)x Flow (in MGD) x
8.34 lbs/gal x days.
Pounds = 6mg/l x 2.5 MGD x 8.34
lbs/gal x 30 days = 3,753 pounds
5.
a. It becomes
very difficult to pump sludge, even using positive displacement pumps, when the
concentration reaches 10%
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