Wastewater Treatment and Collection System Technology

Program Details

Semester 1

• WAT 101 - Water and Wastewater Basic Science Credits: 3
• WAT 307 - Wastewater Treatment I Credits: 4
• SDV 108 - The College Experience Credits: 1

Semester 2

• WAT 102 - Water and Wastewater Maintenance Credits: 4
• WAT 310 - Wastewater Collection Systems I Credits: 4

Semester 3

• WAT 100 - Water and Wastewater Operator Math Credits: 2
• WAT 932 - Internship Credits: 3

Total Credits Required to Complete this Certificate - 21

Fixed Costs

Tuition……………………………………………………………………………………..$151.00 per credit

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

Varied Costs

Approximate total for program: $3,971**

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

What Kind of Work Will You Do?

Students completing this certificate will be well-poised to enter the workforce with other entry-level personnel, but they will be able to more quickly advance up the pay and duty scale because they will have training that others will not have. They will immediately be qualified for some related employment opportunities, including entry-level positions with municipal wastewater treatment plants, municipal wastewater collection systems, industrial wastewater treatment plants 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:

• Operate facilities and equipment designed to clean up wastewater and maintain or improve our environment.
• Operate and maintain wastewater treatment processes and wastewater collection systems.
• Operate and monitor controls, computerized systems and laboratory equipment.
• Collect and analyze wastewater samples, interpret results and adjust processes to achieve maximum performance.
• 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 Certification Exam, 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 wastewater collection and treatment.

What Else Should I Consider about this Specialist Certificate?

• Water and wastewater environmental technology is a high-growth industry that is very stable and challenging. There are a wide variety 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 public health and 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 Iowa DNR and Iowa Water Environment Association certification.

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 6, Ankeny, IA  50023, phone 515/964-6574, dkmckittrick@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.).₍₂₀₁₇₎