Water and Wastewater Treatment

Student working in wastewater treatment lab

Water and Wastewater Treatment - Certificate

If you’d like a high-paying career upon graduating from BTC, then you should consider Water and Wastewater treatment certificate in the Process Technology program. This program will prepare you for a position as a technician or operator for local employers in the water and waste water treatment industry. Primary employers are any municipality that has a water treatment system and private contractors that operate and maintain private water treatment systems.

You’ll learn how to monitor and control processing equipment, troubleshoot and solve equipment problems, test water quality, and implement safety standards and procedures. The Process Technology program provides the technical and academic knowledge you need, along with valuable communication and interpersonal skills that employers want.

To learn more about Bellingham Technical College programs you’re interested in, join us for a Virtual Program Info Session. Prior sign up is required. If you do not see an Info Session for the program you’re interested in, email outreach@btc.edu for more information.

Employment Information

Entry Information

What are the Minimum Entry Requirements?

Admissions application and assessment testing in Reading, Math and Writing is required. Your score on the test and/or your previous transcripts will determine where you begin your course sequence. Contact Admissions at 360.752.8345 or at admissions@btc.edu for assistance with academic planning.

What are My Next Steps?

1. Apply to BTC and Financial Aid
2. Assess Your Starting Point
3. Advising & Registration
4. Prepare to Attend

 

Classes

Total Program Credits: 49

  • Current Students: Learn how to use this page to register for classes

  • Quarter 1

  • PTEC 101Introduction to Process Technology5 CR
  • PTEC 102Process Technology Equipment5 CR
  • AMATH 111Applied Technical Math5 CR

  • Quarter 2

  • PTEC 103Safety, Health & Environment I5 CR
  • PTEC 104Process Drawings2 CR
  • PTEC 109Intro to WWT5 CR
  • AENGL 100Applied English5 CR

  • Quarter 3

  • PTEC 110Process Instrumentation5 CR
  • PTEC 224WWT Test Preparation3 CR
  • BIOL& 160General Biology with Lab5 CR
  • CMST& 210Interpersonal Communications5 CR

Program Outcomes

After successfully completing the Water and Waste Water Treatment certificate, students will be able to:

  • Appraise the typical hazards found in water and wastewater treatment plants, basic PPE, and know the requirements of regulating bodies regarding safety, health, and environmental issues (OSHA, DOT, EPA).
  •  Apprise fundamentals of water and wastewater treatment processes; know core functions and principles of operation of typical process equipment such as pumps, compressors, filters and dryers, lubrication systems, valves, piping systems, and draw from memory Process Flow Diagrams.
  • Integrate the principles of process automatic control and Data Control Systems (DCS) to manage simulated DCS scenarios.
  • Graduates will have the ability to compare actual water and wastewater plant experience versus preconceived notions.

Employment Outlook

Future retirement data indicates that over the next 10 years there will be a great need for trained water and wastewater treatment operators in the industry, both locally and nationally. The average annual wage in this field is $62,046, with an earning potential of $73,986 per year.

Criminal convictions may restrict or prevent student participation with internships and employment in this industry.

Faculty & Support

Photo of Scott Cory
Scott Cory

  • Degrees and Credentials

    Certificate, Professional Technical Education, Washington State

    BS, Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis