SEPTEMBER 2026
With a rash of cyber threats around the country, it is a good time to verify that your system is protected.
Fortunately, there are several FREE options available for POTWs. The EPA and Maine National Guard (MENG) offer no-cost vulnerability assessments to POTWs.
- Click Here for more information on EPA’s vulnerability assessment program.
- Please contact kevin.l.moncrieffe.mil@army.mil if you would like to know more about MENG cyber assessments.
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers Vulnerability and Web Application Scanning. Organizations typically reduce their risk and exposure by 40% within the first 12 months of these services. Click Here for more information on CISA Cyber Hygiene Services.
In addition, Maine Rural Water Association (MRWA) has partnered with DEF CON Franklin to offer FREE cybersecurity technical assistance to small communities. Franklin's cyber volunteers are highly qualified to help you scope your cyber needs, identify existing vulnerabilities, and patch up any weaknesses. Over the past year, the program has assisted small and rural water systems in Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Utah, Oregon, and Vermont, and is now expanding its services to the state of Maine. The initiative is named the Project Franklin, in honor of US founding father Benjamin Franklin. Please contact Aaron Gaylord with MRWA, aaron.gaylord@mainerwa.org for more information.
All services are completely voluntary and confidential with no information shared with regulatory authorities.
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On September 3, 2026, the Board of Environmental Protection will hold a Public Hearing on a proposed amendment to Chapter 579: Classification Attainment Evaluation Using Biological Criteria for Rivers and Streams. Written comments may be submitted until September 14, 2026. The amendment will add new methods and criteria to assess the health of aquatic life in fresh water bodies. This will help to better understand and protect our rivers, streams, ponds and wetlands. To see a copy of the proposed rule, visit the Department’s rulemaking web page for Chapter 579:Classification Attainment Evaluation Using Biological Criteria for Fresh Surface Water.
If you want to learn more about DEP rulemaking, you can reach out to Matt Hight by email at matt.hight@maine.gov or by calling 207-719-0703. To keep informed about the rulemaking process you, may sign up for email notices at the DEP Rulemaking Subscriber web page or visit the Department’s rulemaking page at https://www.maine.gov/dep/rules/.
The opening of DMR-QA Study 46 has been delayed. EPA is currently waiting for approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). We have heard from the EPA that they expect the approval to be forthcoming. Once it is official, the deadlines will be adjusted accordingly.
Maine DEP will send the Study 46 announcement packet to DMR-QA participants in Maine once the official DMR-QA study is open. You can also go to the EPA website, https://www.epa.gov/compliance/discharge-monitoring-report-quality-assurance-study-program to download the letter when available. Once you receive the study packet, please confirm receipt with Brett Goodrich, the DMR-QA Coordinator, by emailing Brett.A.Goodrich@maine.gov.
Please review the EPA letter carefully as it contains important forms that must be filled out along with due dates for results. Be sure to check your email spam folder periodically as the announcement email may end up there.
You do not need to wait until the DMR-QA program is open to begin testing. As an alternative, PT providers also offer Water Pollution (WP) studies that are similar to the DMR-QA and are an acceptable way to satisfy DMR-QA testing requirements. Just make sure to provide your MEPDES number when ordering test samples so that DEP will get a copy of the results.
This year, facilities that have Enterococci Bacteria (Entero) in their MEPDES permit will be required to perform Proficiency Testing for Enterococci bacteria during the DMR-QA Study 46 testing period. Currently, Enterococci bacteria testing is not available under the DMR-QA program, so facilities must use a blind, WP Study to fulfill this requirement. Enterococci testing must be performed in accordance with 40 CFR 136.
If you have any questions or need to update your contact information, please contact Brett Goodrich at Brett.A.Goodrich@maine.gov or call 207-450-5590.
Are you an experienced wastewater operator with long-time experience to pass along to the “newbies” just entering the field? Consider teaching a wastewater class to help pass along your expertise to those just entering the field. Training can be in-house to your operational staff, or through one of Maine’s many training and/or professional associations. It can be very satisfying to help others and “give back” to the profession you have long served.
Reasons to teach a class include:
- When you teach a class, you really need to know your topic, so it is a good way to brush up on the basics and explore concepts or technologies that may be new to you.
- Everyone has a different way of learning. Teaching a class will help you understand these different styles and develop creative ways to help students learn.
- If you are a supervisor or manager teaching an in-house class, you know your employees are attending the session because they are right there in the class in front of you. If an issue comes up at the plant during the class, you or your employees can take a break from training to “put out the fire”, then return to training when things have settled down.
- If you work for a large facility, you can invite nearby, smaller utilities to attend to help share the costs. Smaller facilities with limited budgets can also benefit by pooling resources.
- A classroom setting is often a good way to promote discussion and disseminate information amongst people who may work different shifts/locations/duties and not have much face time.
Remember, if you would like to receive certification TCHs for in-house training, please apply for DEP approval before the class is held using the TCH Request Form. Information should include course title, description, agenda or outline (including time for each topic), instructor name, and locations/dates. Upon completion of the class, submit a copy of the Sign-In/Out Sheet to mecertification@neiwpcc.org to make sure attendees get credit for their participation.
For more information, please email judy.k.bruenjes@maine.gov.
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Wastewater treatment plant operators utilize many resources to keep their facility performing within permit requirements. Microscopic analysis is an important component of any ongoing monitoring and control programs. It is a tool that can help not only show what the health of the system is at a given time, but can also help serve as an early warning to predict which direction the plant is headed. It should be performed using a phase contrast microscope with 100x Total Magnification (10x objective).
Wastewater “Higher Life Forms”, also called “Indicator Organisms” are complex single-celled protozoa and multi-celled metazoa that feed on bacteria. While comprising only a small fraction (5%) of activated sludge, understanding the roles of these microorganisms can help operators maintain system health. Examples of higher life forms include:
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Amoebae and Flagellates: Single-celled protozoa that dominate during plant start-ups, high organic loads, or recovery from toxic shocks; they signal a "young" sludge. Flagellate blooms point to low dissolved oxygen (DO) or high soluble biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).
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Free-Swimming and Crawling Ciliates: Active grazers like Aspidisca that feed on dispersed bacteria, indicating a well-oxygenated environment and good clarification.
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Stalked Ciliates: Organisms like Vorticella attached to microbial flocs; large numbers point to a stable, mature system with low turbidity.
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Rotifers and Nematodes: Multi-celled animals (metazoa) with distinct mouths or worm-like bodies; their abundance can indicate overly aged sludge requiring increased wasting.
Microscopic examination can also identify filament(s) to help with troubleshooting the cause and developing a remedy.
It is good practice to develop a customized microscopic evaluation report to record the daily observations of life forms you observe. The worksheet could include:
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Date and Time: Timestamp of the sample collection and microscopic read.
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Sample Location: Aeration basin number, selector, or clarifier feed.
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Operational Parameters: Current water temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO).
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Floc Characteristics: General size, structure, shape, and density. particle size, shape, strength, and whether the-bulk water is clear or full of dispersed, single-celled bacteria.
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Higher Life Forms (Indicator Organisms): What specific organisms do you see under your microscope? Catalog the presence and population balance of microscopic fauna. If you observe a sudden absence of life, it suggests severe toxicity, extreme pH shifts, or a heavy shock load.
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Sludge Maturity / Age Index: Uses the distribution of life forms to estimate mean cell residence time (MCRT) and system stability.
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Filamentous Bacteria: Identify dominant filament types and ranks their abundance (none, few, excessive) to predict or diagnose bulking and foaming problems.
Daily observations of MLSS help operators track the biological health of the activated sludge process and trend performance. The information gleaned can be used to mitigate current problems the plant is facing, such as foaming, high BOD effluent, or poor settling, or predict future issues.
Six-Part “Reimagining Residuals” Webinar Series – Two Sessions Left!
Join NEIWPCC and NEBRA in an engaging webinar series spotlighting the technologies shaping the future of sludge and biosolids management. Topics include:
- Part 5: Hydrothermal Liquefaction & Super Critical Water Oxidation, 9/16/26
- Part 6: Embryonic Stage Technologies, 10/7/26
Classes are approved for 1.5 TCHs each. Go to Events to register.
MeWEA's Fall Convention September 17-18, 2025 at Sunday River Join MeWEA for the 34th Fall Convention at Sunday River Resort in Newry, Maine! This two-day conference is packed full of informative technical sessions, exhibit hall with all the latest water/wastewater technologies, and networking opportunities for anyone interested in the clean water and the environment.
The Convention features technical sessions approved for TCHs, an exhibition hall with designated time slots to facilitate vendor interaction, and a film screening of Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong featuring operating staff at the Portland Water District (PWD). And you don’t miss the 10th Annual Collection Systems Committee Cornhole Tournament. Food and beverages will be provided—come for the competition and stay for the fun!
For more information and to register, go to Events.
Building Resiliency in Maine: Manual Operations Exercises & Workshops – FREE!
Water & wastewater systems have been in the news lately due to outside threats that can jeopardize water quality and public health. In the case of an emergency, is your facility prepared to run the plant manually? What steps, resources, staffing, etc. do you need to be ready?
Join MWUA, Tom’s Water Solutions and the Maine Drinking Water Program (DWP) for a three-part workshop focused on strengthening system resiliency and emergency preparedness for both water and wastewater plants. The class is live, virtual training with in-person participation at your utility. Each sessions offers 3.0 TCHs. Dates are September 30, November 10, and the last date TBD.
A big part of this course is planning and preparing to operate your plant in the case that Operational Technology (OT) such as PLCs, SCADA, or automation is not available Participants will gain practical experience through hands-on exercises, testing procedures, and collaborative discussions to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
To register, go to: Building Resiliency in Maine: Manual Operations Exercises & Workshops - MWUA.
Kennebec Valley Community College (KVCC) Offers Wastewater for Beginners!
Build your career in wastewater treatment with this in-person training course – guaranteed to help you prepare for the Grades 1 & 2 Wastewater Exams! Taught by Tom Bahun, co-founder of Tom’s Water Solutions. Tom is a Grade 5 wastewater operator with 40+ years’ experience.
Classes can be taken separately or as part of the entire series. Tuition is eligible for 50% reimbursement. Topics include:
- Basic Math, Intro to Wastewater Systems & Characteristics
- Treatment Techniques & Sludge Treatment/Disposal
- Disinfection, Dechlorination and Laboratory Basics
- Hydraulics, Pumping Systems, & Hands-On Pumps
- Electrical Basics, Safety, Management, & More!
Register today and continue advancing your career!
1. Plans and budgets are closely linked. A plan is written to establish goals and objectives. A budget:
a. Can only be developed by financial experts.
b. Requires borrowing money or creating a bond.
c. Shows the expenses and income necessary to achieve a plan’s goals and objectives.
d. Is not necessary if the plan is good.
2. You notice a sour, septic odor coming from your secondary clarifiers and when you examine the return sludge, it is black. What would you do to fix this problem?
a. Increase the number of times the clarifiers are cleaned.
b. Reduce the return rate to prevent septic sludge from harming the aeration basins.
c. Increase the return rate to reduce the sludge detention time in the clarifiers.
d. Do nothing, this is a normal operating condition.
3. Your unseeded dilution water samples in a BOD test show an oxygen depletion of more than 0.4 mg/L in five days. What is the most likely cause of the problem?
a. The initial D.O. was less than 9.0 mg/L
b. The buffers are contaminated.
c. Not enough seed is being used.
d. Toxic substances are present.
4. A rectangular flume is 12 inches wide and 18 inches deep. If the flume is full of water flowing at 2 feet per second, how much water in MGD is flowing through the flume?
a. 0.78 MGD
b. 1.94 MGD
c. 3.27 MGD
d. 5.93 MGD
5. The unit of electrical power is
a. The coulomb
b. The volt
c. The amp
d. The watt
6. The basic unit of electrical potential is:
a. the watt
b. the ohm
c. the volt
d. the ampere
7. The term I/I is best described as:
a. Wastewater entering a wastewater collection system from nonpermitted flows.
b. Relatively clean water entering a collection system directly from storm runoff, surface waters or groundwater.
c. Excess wastewater reaching a collection system from Industrial Infiltration.
d. The escape of wastewater from a collection system to the groundwater.
8. The sensitivity of an instrument used to perform a laboratory test is a measure of
a. The accuracy of the average measurement.
b. The precision of the median measurement.
c. The accuracy of the smallest or largest measurement made.
d. The values of all measurements repeatedly.
9. A circular clarifiers treats a flow of 1,200,000 gpd with an influent suspended solids of 2,500 mg/L. The diameter is 55 feet and the depth is 12 feet. What is the solids loading in lb/day/sq. ft.?
a. 5.2 lb/day/sq. ft.
b. 8.7 lb/day/sq. ft.
c. 10.5 lb/day/sq. ft.
d. 12.6 lb/day/sq. ft.
Answers
1. c. Budgets show the expenses and income necessary to achieve a plan’s goals and objectives.
2. c. If the sludge in a secondary clarifier is black the sludge is anaerobic, which means it is in the clarifier too long. The return rate should be increased to get the sludge back into the aerating tanks.
3. b. A depletion of greater than 0.4 mg/l in the blanks usually means that the buffers are contaminated with some organic material or the glassware is dirty.
4. b. First, find the flow in cubic feet per second (cfs). Use the formula Flow (Q) = Velocity (V) X Area (A):
2 ft/sec X 1 ft X 1.5 ft X = 3 cubic ft/sec (cfs).
Next, convert to gallons per second: 3 cfs X 7.48 gal/cf = 22.44 gal/sec (gps).
Convert gps to MGD: 22.44 gps X 60 sec/min X 1440 min/day = 1,938,816 gal/day = 1.94 MGD.
5. d. Electrical power is measured by the watt.
6. c. Electrical potential is measured in volts.
7. b. I/I refers to Infiltration and Inflow. Infiltration occurs when groundwater enters the sanitary sewer through cracks or other breaks in the sewer pipes or structures. Inflow occurs when stormwater is introduced into the sanitary sewer from storm drains, roof drains, sump pumps, etc.
8. c. The sensitivity of an instrument relates to the smallest or largest measurement that can be accurately made with the instrument.
9. c. Find the loading in pounds per day: 1.2 mgd X 2500 mg/l X 8.34 = 25,020 lbs/day
Next, find the surface area in square feet: 0.785 X 55 ft X 55 ft = 2374.5 sq ft
Divide the loading by surface area: 25,020 lbs/day / 2374.5 sq ft = 10.5 lb/day/sq ft
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