Online Course
Nutrient Removal: Nitrogen and Phosphorus for Wastewater Operators
Follow nitrogen and phosphorus through the plant: the forms they take, the conditions nitrification, denitrification and phosphorus removal need, how to monitor and control them, and how return loads and permit terms shape the job.
Course Details
- Certificate
- 1.0 hour
- Time
- About 70 minutes
- To pass
- 80% or better on the final
- Price
- Free in most places. $20, or $150 for a yearly pass in Alabama, Arizona, Idaho and South Carolina. See prices
For You
Pick your state or province to see if this course counts.
Your progress
Checking your course record…
What You'll Learn
- Explain why nutrients matter, the forms of nitrogen and phosphorus, concentration and load, and how permit language controls.
- Support nitrification: the two steps, oxygen demand, alkalinity and pH, solids retention time, temperature, contact time and inhibition.
- Run denitrification: anoxic conditions, carbon, internal recycle, process layouts, oxygen carryover, alkalinity recovery and nitrate profiles.
- Run biological phosphorus removal: the anaerobic zone, volatile fatty acids, release and uptake, keeping nitrate out and wasting.
- Run chemical phosphorus removal: metal salts, feed points, jar tests, dose control, alkalinity effects, added sludge and chemical safety.
- Monitor and control: sampling plans, lab tests, online analyzers, ammonia-based aeration control, trends, mass balance and percent removal.
- Manage sidestreams and solids: return loads from digestion and dewatering, timing and equalizing returns, struvite and nutrient recovery.
- Read the complete permit limit and averaging periods, diagnose by nitrogen and phosphorus form, respond to upsets and keep records.
What's Inside 8 parts, 72 pages
Why Nutrients Matter 9 pages
- Nutrients in Wastewater
- Too Much of a Good Thing
- Forms of Nitrogen
- The Nitrogen Path
- Forms of Phosphorus
- Concentration and Load
- Permit Language Controls
- See the Whole Process
- Module 1 Checkpoint
Nitrification 9 pages
- The Two Nitrification Steps
- Oxygen Demand
- Alkalinity and pH
- Solids Retention Time
- Temperature and Seasonal Change
- Loading and Contact Time
- Inhibition and Toxic Shocks
- First Nitrification Checks
- Module 2 Checkpoint
Denitrification 9 pages
- What Anoxic Means
- Carbon Is the Fuel
- Internal Recycle
- Process Layouts in Words
- Oxygen Carryover
- Alkalinity Recovery
- Reading a Nitrate Profile
- Denitrification Upsets
- Module 3 Checkpoint
Biological Phosphorus Removal 9 pages
- Enhanced Biological Removal
- The Anaerobic Zone
- Volatile Fatty Acids
- Release and Uptake
- Keep Nitrate Out
- Wasting Removes Phosphorus
- Phosphorus Release in Solids
- EBPR Troubleshooting
- Module 4 Checkpoint
Chemical Phosphorus Removal 9 pages
- How Metal Salts Work
- Choose the Feed Point
- Jar Testing
- Dose Control
- Alkalinity and pH Effects
- Added Sludge
- Solids Capture Sets the Finish
- Chemical Safety and Response
- Module 5 Checkpoint
Monitoring and Process Control 9 pages
- Build a Sampling Plan
- Laboratory Tests Work Together
- Online Analyzers
- Ammonia-Based Aeration Control
- Trend the Right Signals
- Mass Balance Thinking
- Calculate Percent Removal
- Verify Before You Act
- Module 6 Checkpoint
Sidestreams and Solids 9 pages
- Return Loads Matter
- Digestion Releases Nutrients
- Dewatering Makes Peaks
- Time and Equalize Returns
- Struvite Formation
- Controlled Nutrient Recovery
- Mainstream or Sidestream Treatment
- Close the Solids Loop
- Module 7 Checkpoint
Permits and Troubleshooting 9 pages
- Read the Complete Limit
- Averaging Periods
- Diagnose by Nitrogen Form
- Diagnose by Phosphorus Form
- First Response to an Upset
- One Change at a Time
- Records and Reporting
- Build a Resilient Program
- Module 8 Checkpoint
More Details
Who It's For
Wastewater operators at any level and people studying to become operators. Some activated sludge experience helps.
Format
72 narrated pages with short checks and a final. Built by a working wastewater operator (Washington Group III).
Where Does This Course Count?
A course counts toward your continuing education credit only once your state or province accepts it. Today our courses count in Alabama, Arizona, Idaho, South Carolina, where courses need no pre-approval, and we are asking more states. Ask us to add your state or province.
Do I Need an Account?
Yes, to take the course. Signing in lets us record your time and issue your certificate. This page, the topic pages and the practice questions need no account.
Can I Skip Ahead?
No. Each page has a minimum time before the next one opens, and your time is recorded.
What Do I Get When I Finish?
A certificate of completion from Operator Master for 1.0 hour, once you pass the final with 80% or better. Your operator certificate or license always comes from your state, not from Operator Master.