Mar 29, 2024  
2018-2019 Course Catalog 
    
2018-2019 Course Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Water Environmental Technology, AAS


DMACC’s innovative Water Environmental Technology degree program provides preemployment training as well as advanced courses in water and wastewater technology for those wishing career advancement including state certification upgrade studies. Courses are designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in water and wastewater treatment operations as well as for certification examinations administered by the State of Iowa and those administered by professional associations within the water and wastewater industry. This degree program emphasizes hands-on experiences and instruction.

Current instructors are experienced and certified water and wastewater professionals and are up-to-date in industry practices. Classes are built around practical examples of real-world scenarios, demonstrations and field trips to maximize understanding of subject matter. Internships are required.

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be qualified to seek employment or advancement in a wide variety of settings including water and wastewater treatment companies and facilities, municipalities and state and federal agencies.

Internships are required. Upon completion of the program, graduates will be qualified to seek employment or advancement in a wide variety of settings including water and wastewater treatment companies and facilities, municipalities and state and federal agencies.

This program provides training and educational experiences that will prepare you for certification examinations. Work experience requirements must be met before you are eligible to take an examination for certification. Be sure to refer to the certifying body in your area to determine eligibility. In Iowa, visit the DNR website located at http://www.iowadnr.gov/InsideDNR/RegulatoryWater/Certification/WaterWastewaterOperators.aspx.

For more information about the Water Environmental Technology program, please visit our website at www.dmacc.edu/programs/water.

Program Details


Location: Ankeny


Students may start any semester


Program Entry Requirements


  1. Complete an application for admission.
  2. Satisfy the assessment requirement.
  3. Attend any required information/registration session.
  4. Complete a high school chemistry course and biology course or equivalent with a “C” or higher.

Graduation Requirements


To earn a Water Environmental Technology AAS degree, a student must complete all coursework as prescribed and maintain a 2.0 grade point average. A grade of 2.0 (C) or better is required in all courses required for this degree.

All students take the same courses in Semesters 1-3. In Semesters 4, 5 and 6 students must choose either the Wastewater Treatment Concentration or the Water Environmental Technology Concentration.

Option 1 - Select 1 Course


Semester 3


Total Credits Required to Complete this AAS Degree - 67


Fixed Costs


Tuition……………………………………………………………………………………..$156.00 per credit

The costs for each program are estimates and subject to change.

Varied Costs


Costs Semester 1 Semester 2 Semester 3 Semester 4 Semester 5 Semester 6
Books (approx) 600 500 210 400 300 100
Tours 150 150   100 150   50

Approximate total for program: $13,162**

**Program entry requirements are not included in the total approximate cost.

What Kind of Work Will You Do?


Students graduating from our two-year program will be immediately qualified for some related employment opportunities, including entry-level positions with municipal water and wastewater treatment plants, industrial water and wastewater treatment plants, and water and wastewater compliance laboratories. You will be well-advanced along the path for state operator certification, which opens many employment doors for you.

You will:

  • Produce and deliver safe drinking water to consumers, thereby protecting public health from waterborne diseases and other health concerns.
  • Operate facilities and equipment designed to clean up wastewater and maintain or improve our environment.
  • Operate and maintain treatment processes and collection or distribution systems.
  • Operate and monitor controls, computerized systems, and laboratory equipment.
  • Collect and analyze water samples, interpret results, and adjust processes to achieve maximum performance.
  • Be eligible to take your Iowa DNR Grade 1 Water Treatment Certification Exam, have the knowledge to pass the exam, and become certified.
  • Be eligible to take your Iowa DNR Grade 1 Water Distribution Certification Exam, have the knowledge to pass the exam, and become certified.
  • Be eligible to take your Iowa DNR Grade 1 Wastewater Treatment Certification Exam, have the knowledge to pass the exam, and become certified.
  • Be eligible to take your Iowa Water Environment Association Class I Wastewater Collection System Certification Exam, have the knowledge to pass the exam, and become certified.
  • Be eligible to take Iowa DNR Grade 2 and Iowa Water Environment Association Class II Certification Exams with 18 months of operating experience, have the knowledge to pass the exam, and become certified.
  • Be eligible to take Iowa DNR Grade 3 and 4 and Iowa Water Environment Association Class III and IV Certification Exams with the required operating experience, have the knowledge to pass the exam, and become certified.
  • Make a difference every day.

What Skills and Abilities Will You Need?


  • A basic knowledge of the traditional sciences, including biology and chemistry.
  • A good knowledge of math and algebra.
  • A willingness to work indoors and outdoors.
  • A desire to protect public health and the environment.
  • Technical abilities and technological skills.
  • Good public relations skills.
  • A willingness to do a variety of tasks that contribute to water treatment and distribution and wastewater collection and treatment.

What Else Should I Consider about this AAS degree?


  • Water and wastewater environmental technology is a high-growth industry that is very stable and challenging. There are a wide of career opportunities and specialties.
  • Field work and other hands-on experience is very important in this field. You will want to make sure you have time in your schedule to complete an internship.
  • If you are a person who is passionate about the environment, able to work with minimal supervision and reliable and accurate in your work ethic, water and wastewater environmental technology may be the field for you.
  • Average starting salary $28,000-$60,000 (depending on area of interest and level of education), with opportunities to make a much higher income as you advance to higher levels of state certification.

Program Competencies


This Program will..

Expand the students knowledge of utility management principles, troubleshooting techniques, advanced wastewater treatment process control methods, and math skills necessary to be more prepared to enter the workforce by:

  1. Demonstrate effective and safe use of industry standard practices, chemicals and applications, laboratory equipment, and regulatory sampling. They will also perform laboratory tests and procedures to determine water quality and identify contaminants.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of treatment plant operations and procedures.
  3. Explain regulatory monitoring concerns.
  4. Disinfect, filter and remove contaminants from water.
  5. Explain the operation and maintenance of water distribution systems.
  6. Demonstrate the operations, maintenance and administrative procedures required to effectively operate a water treatment plant.
  7. Demonstrate effective application of administrative and technical skills in a fully functional water/wastewater treatment work facility as an intern.
  8. Identify sources of industrial wastewaters and explain their impacts on the environment.
  9. Demonstrate sampling, monitoring of treatment processes, working safely, and maintenance of industrial wastewater treatment plants.
  10. Demonstrate duties for operation and maintenance of wastewater collection systems, including inspection, cleaning, testing, repair and safety procedures of collections systems, lift stations, equipment maintenance, sewer renewal, administrative duties, and systems organization.
  11. Explain the duties of a treatment plant operator, and the operations of wastewater treatment facilities.
  12. Demonstrate preliminary wastewater treatment, sedimentation and flotation, trickling filters, rotating biological contractors, activated sludge, waste treatment ponds, disinfection and chlorination.
  13. Demonstrate operation and maintain conventional activated sludge plants. Demonstrate sludge digestion, handling of solids and the reclamation and reuse of effluent discharge.
  14. Utilize computer applications, correct laboratory procedures and chemistry for effective industry standard operations. Analyze and present data, keep records and write reports and perform administrative duties in treatment plants.

Nondiscrimination Statement


DMACC offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:

Agriculture, National & Environmental Services /Architecture, Engineering, and Construction/Arts, Design, and Visual communications/Business, Management, and Marketing/Education, Public, and Human Services/Health Science/Hospitality and Culinary/Information Technology/Manufacturing/Transportation & Logistics

Des Moines Area Community College shall not engage in nor allow discrimination covered by law against any person, group or organization. This includes in its programs, activities, employment practices, hiring practices or the provision of services, and harassment or discrimination based on race, color, national origin, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age (in employment), disability, genetic information (in employment) and actual or potential parental, family or marital status of a person. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices, or admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law.

Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint through the College Discrimination Complaint Procedure. Complaint forms may be obtained from the Campus Provost’s office, the Academic Deans’ office, the Judicial Officer, or the EEO/AA Officer, Human Resources. ADA questions and concerns may be directed to the Section 504/ADA Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 6, Ankeny, IA  50023, phone 515/964-6857, sgbittner@dmacc.edu.  Title IX questions and concerns may be directed to the Title IX Coordinator at 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd, Bldg 1, Ankeny, IA  50023, phone 515/964-6216, title9@dmacc.edu.  Question or complaints about this policy may be directed to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661, phone 312/730-1560, tax 312/730-1576..

Legal references: Iowa Code §§ 216.6 and 216.9, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S. C. §§ 2000d and 2000e), the Equal Pay Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. § 206, et seq.), Title IX (Educational Amendments, 20 U.S. C. §§ 1681-1688), Section 504 (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S. C. § 794), and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101, et seq.).(2018)