The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

Overview

Chlorination has been the preferred disinfection method used for treating WWTP effluent, but concerns about worker and public safety and the potential for chlorinated effluent to be toxic to aquatic life have called its use into question. Although chlorine, sometimes followed by dechlorination, continues to be used at most municipal WWTPs, use of other means, such as UV disinfection, is increasing. UV is a technology capable of providing effective WWTP effluent disinfection while reducing safety and environmental toxicity issues. A host of issues must be carefully considered to verify that UV facilities are safe, reliable and economical. These issues include the cost of power and lamp replacement, lamp fouling, ability of the water to allow transmission of UV radiation, tailing, photoreactivation and regrowth of disinfected microorganisms, and dose selection.

This course is suited for wastewater treatment engineers and professionals seeking to gain an understanding of UV disinfection technologies. A complete description of UV science is described along with its application to the disinfection of wastewater. The three major UV technology options are fully presented and compared. Results of a pilot demonstration are looked at to give the student a real world example for evaluating UV technologies as an option for disinfecting wastewater at an existing plant.

This course is also an excellent overview for those professionals working in the field of wastewater treatment.

The student is expected to read and review the material contained in the report titled; Evaluation of Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation Disinfection Technologies for Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent, NYSERDA Report No. 04-07, 2004.

The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of forty (40) questions at the end of this course to earn PDH credits.

Specific Knowledge or Skill Attained

This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:

  · General Requirements of the USEPA Clean Water Act
  · UV Science
  · Current UV Disinfection Technologies Used in Wastewater Treatment
  · Variations of Alternative Lamps and UV Equipment
  · Design and Dose Requirements of UV Systems
  · O&M Requirements and Costs of UV Systems
  · Support Information for Determining UV Disinfection Options

State Board Acceptance

This course can be used by professional engineers to fulfill PDH requirements mandated by state and provincial licensing boards. Decatur Professional Development is an approved provider of continuing education in all states that pre-approve course providers. In all other states that mandate continuing education for engineers, it is the individual engineer's responsibility to determine the suitability of activities for PDH credit. The state boards typically accept online* courses that cover technical, managerial** or ethical content and which are relevant to the practice of engineering. The course must have a clear purpose or objective with a content that will maintain, improve or expand the skills and knowledge of the licensee's field of practice. For questions about your mandatory PDH requirements, visit the website of your state licensing board.

*Online courses are accepted by all state licensing boards that mandate continuing education. Other than New York (which limits online courses to 18 PDH) and Iowa (which limits online courses to 6 PDH), there are no limits placed by other states on the number of hours that can be earned through online continuing education. Consult with your state licensing board if you have any questions about the acceptability of online courses.

**The New York State Board of Engineers does not accept general office management courses, but will accept project management courses that are offered by an approved provider and that are technical in nature and contribute to the engineer's professional practice.