Water & Environmental Technology
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About Water & Environmental Technology
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection requires that operators of drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities are certified. Certification is obtained through a combination of exams and operating systems. The completion of an approved associate degree program significantly reduces the number of years of operating experience required for certification. Students in the Water and Environmental Technology program gain the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for successful completion of Department of Environmental Protection examinations.
Courses in the Water and Environmental Technology program are designed to meet the knowledge, skills, and ability requirements tested on the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection certification exams. This will include courses covering topics such as water and wastewater treatment; stormwater and green infrastructure; industrial waste treatment; water distribution and wastewater conveyance systems; geographical information systems (GIS); equipment maintenance; solids handling; basic electricity and plumbing; plant administration; and rules and regulations.
What you’ll learn
- Describe the major processes, equipment, instrumentation, laws, and regulations associated with the collection and treatment of wastewater.
- Describe the major processes, equipment, instrumentation, laws, and regulations associated with the conveyance and treatment of potable water.
- Perform water and wastewater calculations involving flow, volume, surface area, disinfection, solids removal, retention time, and chemical feed rates.
- Analyze and improve operational
- Procedures at water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities.
- Prepare, analyze, interpret, and report results of water and wastewater sample testing.
- Maintain a safe working environment as outlined by federal and state regulations.
- Describe the Safe Water Drinking Act and its implementation.
- Identify and describe the common diseases associated with water supply and sewage.
- Demonstrate the monitoring duties of water treatment operators.
- Describe the areas of safety to be considered in water treatment, storage, and laboratory testing.
- Describe the operation, components, and troubleshooting procedures for motors and electrical circuits.
- Determine and employ optimization strategies for water treatment and wastewater treatment processes and treatment facilities.
Sample Job Titles
Water Treatment Plant Operator, Environmental Specialist, Lab Supervisor, Engineering Designer, Plant Manager, Wastewater Operator, Operator-in-Training, Process Operator, SCADA Operator (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Operator), Environmental Technician, Utility/Water Operator, Maintenance & Relief Operator, Collection System Operator, and Filter Plant Technician
Essential Skills Needed
This program requires a variety of foundational skills for students to thrive. Click the button below to view the full list of essential skills you’ll need before enrolling.
Quick facts
Location
Griscom Education Center, Fourth Floor
Type of program
Associate Degree
Job/Salary Outlook
See industry data
Length of program
2 years, 73 credits
Cost of program
$4,500/semester tuition
$3,105 – $3,623/semester housing
$1,915 – $2,417/semester meal plan
Tool List (PDF)
Program details
Courses
MODEL SCHEDULE FOR WATER AND ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY
Semester 1
- WET 102 Laboratory Skills (1 credit)
- WET 111 Drinking Water Distribution (3 credits)
- WET 116 Water Resources (4 credits)
- WET 156 Drinking Water I (4 credits)
- MATH 137 Intermediate Algebra (3 credits)
- ENG 106 English Composition (3 credits)
Semester 2
- WET 106 Wastewater Collection (3 credits)
- WET 121 Safety, Health, and Security (2 credits)
- WET 161 Waste Water I (4 credits)
- WET 168 Utility Management and Administration (3 credits)
- MATH ELECTIVE MATH 132 or MATH 150 (3 credits)
- CHEM 100 Conceptual Chemistry (or higher) (3 credits)
Semester 3
- WET 203 Stormwater Management (1 credit)
- WET 206 Wastewater II (5 credits)
- WET 211 Print Reading/GIS (3 credits)
- WET 216 Industrial Waste (3 credits)
- SCI 107 Environmental Science (3 Credits) (or BIO 210 General Biology I or PHYS 106 Physics for Everyday Life)
- CIS 111 Intro to Computer Applications (3)
Semester 4
- WET 256 Drinking Water II (4 credits)
- WET 261 Advanced Waste Water and Solids Handling (4 credits)
- WET 268 Equipment and Systems Operations and Management (4 credits)
- ENG 216 Technical Writing (3 credits) OR ENG 221 Public Speaking (3 credits)
- Humanities Elective (3 credits)
Any Semester
- Health/PE Elective (1 credit)
Total Credits 73
Faculty
Heath Edelman
Assistant Professor, Water and Environmental Technology, Second-Year Students edelman@stevenscollege.edu
Shannon Butler
Instructor, Water & Environmental Technology First-Year Students butler@stevenscollege.eduOccupational Advisory Committee
The Occupational Advisory Committee (OAC) serves as a vital link between the Program of study and industry, ensuring that the program remains aligned with current workforce needs, technological advancements, and best practices in the field. Composed of employers, educators, and other community members, the committee provides guidance, feedback, and recommendations to enhance the curriculum, instructional methods, and student learning experiences.
Purpose and Responsibilities:
- Curriculum & Industry Alignment
- Workforce Readiness
- Student & Faculty Support
- Internship & Employment Connections
- Accreditation & Program Evaluation
- Facilities & Equipment Recommendations
By fostering a strong relationship between academia and industry, the OAC helps ensure that Thaddeus Stevens College programs maintain the highest standards in CTE (career and technical education).
The outcomes speak for themselves
Graduates of this program work in the water and wastewater treatment industries, as well as environmental and greenspace fields. The numbers below are three-year averages across program cohorts.
97%
in-field placement:
jobs in field or
pursuing con’t education
$57.5K
median first-year salary
You can also view Institutional Performance Data here.
People of TSCT
Success stories
Our graduates work with the industry’s best
