Online Course
Odor Control and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) in Wastewater Systems
Find odor problems at their source and keep people safe around hydrogen sulfide: how sulfide forms and escapes, why smell is not a warning, where gas collects, how it corrodes concrete and metal, how to test the air, and how chemical feeds, covers, biofilters and scrubbers control it.
Course Details
- Certificate
- 1.0 hour
- Time
- About 65 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
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What You'll Learn
- Explain where wastewater odors come from: fresh and septic wastewater, sulfate-reducing bacteria, the sulfide cycle, pH, other odor compounds and a source inventory.
- Describe hydrogen sulfide: its properties, exposure limits, why smell fails, health hazards, flammability and where the gas can collect.
- Recognize odor and H2S risk in collection systems: travel time, force mains, wet wells, air-release valves, drops and turbulence, deposits and detention time.
- Explain how H2S becomes sulfuric acid, recognize concrete, metal and electrical corrosion, inspect without unsafe entry and prioritize asset risk.
- Use gas detection and worker safety practices: 4-gas monitors, bump tests, calibration, sampling, atmospheric testing, confined spaces and alarm response.
- Compare collection-system controls: oxygen or air addition, nitrate, iron salts, pH adjustment, oxidants, shorter detention time and chemical feed math.
- Control odors at the plant: odor sources, covers, ventilation, biofilters, chemical scrubbers, adsorption, solids handling and housekeeping.
- Build a monitoring plan, sample dissolved sulfide, survey the air, compare trends, handle odor complaints and keep operating and safety records.
What's Inside 8 parts, 72 pages
Where Wastewater Odors Come From 9 pages
- Odor Is an Operating Signal
- Fresh and Septic Wastewater
- Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria
- The Sulfide Cycle
- pH and Sulfide Release
- Other Wastewater Odor Compounds
- Conditions That Increase Odor Risk
- Build a Source Inventory
- Module 1 Checkpoint
Hydrogen Sulfide Basics 9 pages
- What Hydrogen Sulfide Is
- Heavier Than Air
- OSHA Exposure Limits
- NIOSH Recommendations
- Why Smell Fails
- Acute Health Hazard
- Flammability and Ignition
- Where Gas Can Collect
- Module 2 Checkpoint
Odor and H2S in Collection Systems 9 pages
- Collection-System Travel
- Force Mains
- Lift-Station Wet Wells
- Air-Release Valves
- Drops and Turbulence
- Deposits and Maintenance
- Calculating Detention Time
- Flow Changes and Seasonal Risk
- Module 3 Checkpoint
Corrosion and Asset Life 9 pages
- From Gas to Sulfuric Acid
- Concrete Corrosion
- Metal and Electrical Damage
- Recognizing Corrosion Patterns
- Inspection Without Unsafe Entry
- Coatings, Linings, and Materials
- Tracking Material Loss
- Prioritizing Asset Risk
- Module 4 Checkpoint
Gas Detection and Worker Safety 9 pages
- The 4-Gas Monitor
- Bump Tests
- Calibration
- Pumped and Diffusion Sampling
- Atmospheric Testing
- Confined-Space Program
- Alarm Response
- Fixed Gas Detection
- Module 5 Checkpoint
Control in the Collection System 9 pages
- Control the Source or the Air
- Oxygen or Air Addition
- Nitrate Addition
- Iron Salts
- pH Adjustment
- Oxidants
- Reducing Detention Time
- Chemical Feed Calculation
- Module 6 Checkpoint
Control at the Treatment Plant 9 pages
- Plant Odor Sources
- Covers and Containment
- Ventilation and Airflow
- Biofilters
- Chemical Scrubbers
- Adsorption Systems
- Solids Handling Odors
- Housekeeping and Preventive Maintenance
- Module 7 Checkpoint
Monitoring, Complaints, and Records 9 pages
- Build a Monitoring Plan
- Dissolved Sulfide Sampling
- Air Monitoring and Surveys
- Trends and Event Comparison
- Receiving an Odor Complaint
- Investigating Complaints
- Operating and Safety Records
- Compliance and Communication
- Module 8 Checkpoint
More Details
Who It's For
Wastewater and collection-system operators at any level and people studying to become operators. No experience needed.
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.