Water Quality Management : Emily Griffith Technical College

Water Quality Management

Water Quality Management is an industry built around maintaining public and environmental health by treating drinking water and wastewater. Take classes two nights a week and complete career-relevant projects at home with our part-time, hybrid option. We also have a full-time afternoon program.

At Emily Griffith, our program provides hands-on experience in technical areas across the industry, including chemistry and microbiological treatment processes, operation and maintenance of hydraulic equipment, maintaining conveyance systems, and much more. You will also learn about industry issues specific to Colorado.

What Can I Do with an Emily Griffith Water Quality Management Certificate?

Graduates use their certificate to work in jobs such as the following:

  • Water Treatment Plant Operator
  • Water Distribution System Operator
  • Industrial Wastewater Treatment Operator
  • Water Quality Lab Analyst 
  • Laboratory Technician
  • Water Utilities Technician

Other potential career paths include jobs in environmental science/agriculture, natural disaster/emergency response, utilities and engineering.

Thinking about applying? Get the program checklist or flyer.

Skilled Trades
$5,599
Approximate cost. Additional material and book fees may apply
Part Time Program
10 Months
Program length
8/29/2022
Next Start Date
2/14/23
Available Start Dates
Apply to Emily Griffith Technical College

Course Information

Required Courses

Course Code Course Title Credits
WQM 1000 Introduction to Water Quality 3
WQM 1001 Introduction to Water Distribution 3
WQM 1002 Introduction to WastewaterCollection 3
WQM 1003 Introduction to Water Treatment 3
WQM 1004 Introduction to WastewaterTreatment 3
WQM 1005 Specific Calculations for WaterQuality Management 4
WQM 1019 Basic Water Quality Analyses 4
WQM 2012 Drinking Water Regulations 4
WQM 2016 Biological and BacteriologicalWater Quality Analyses 4
WQM 2089 Capstone: 3
WQM 1000 Introduction to Water Quality

Introduces environmental concepts utilized in the water industry. The course covers how the subjects of geology, chemistry, biology, and physics influence the water industry, the hydrologic cycle on a global scale, and how to monitor and maintain water quality.

Start Date: 02/14/2023
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 1000 Introduction to Water Quality

Introduces environmental concepts utilized in the water industry. The course covers how the subjects of geology, chemistry, biology, and physics influence the water industry, the hydrologic cycle on a global scale, and how to monitor and maintain water quality.

Start Date: 08/29/2022
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 1001 Introduction to Water Distribution

Learn a basic overview of water distribution systems and operations. It is a hands-on interactive experience and will prepare the students for entry level work for a water utility. Students will enjoy hands-on training and be exposed to industry experts both in the classroom and in the field. Key topics include Regulations and Water; Distribution System Components; Basic Hydraulics, Operations and Maintenance; Maps, Quarter Section Books, SCADA Systems, Web Resources; Water Quality Regulations, Disinfection, Monitoring and Records; Distribution System Water Maintenance, Flushing Programs, Safety; Public Health, Cross-Connection Control & Backflow Prevention; Operation & Maintenance of Meters &Pumps; and Electrical Applications.

Start Date: 03/09/2023
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 1001 Introduction to Water Distribution

Learn a basic overview of water distribution systems and operations. It is a hands-on interactive experience and will prepare the students for entry level work for a water utility. Students will enjoy hands-on training and be exposed to industry experts both in the classroom and in the field. Key topics include Regulations and Water; Distribution System Components; Basic Hydraulics, Operations and Maintenance; Maps, Quarter Section Books, SCADA Systems, Web Resources; Water Quality Regulations, Disinfection, Monitoring and Records; Distribution System Water Maintenance, Flushing Programs, Safety; Public Health, Cross-Connection Control & Backflow Prevention; Operation & Maintenance of Meters &Pumps; and Electrical Applications.

Start Date: 09/21/2022
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 1002 Introduction to WastewaterCollection

Learn the purpose, components and design of collection systems. Topics include safety procedures, inspection and testing, pieline cleaning and maintenance, underground repair, lift stations and sewer rehabilitation. Learn entry level skills necessary for wastewater collection systems and operations. This course is designed to train operators in the practical aspects of operating and maintaining wastewater collection systems with emphasis on safety practices and procedures. Students will learn the major components of collection systems and the different wastewater collection methods, regulations and policies. Science topics such as water sampling equipment and procedures will be discussed. Methods for operating and maintaining equipment necessary to perform surface and subsurface inspection of interceptor sewers and pipelines will be reviewed. Students will identify the proper safety procedures for underground repair and maintenance, construction, inspection and testing of sewers, inspection of manholes, and underground construction and repair.

Start Date: 04/10/2023
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 1002 Introduction to WastewaterCollection

Learn the purpose, components and design of collection systems. Topics include safety procedures, inspection and testing, pieline cleaning and maintenance, underground repair, lift stations and sewer rehabilitation. Learn entry level skills necessary for wastewater collection systems and operations. This course is designed to train operators in the practical aspects of operating and maintaining wastewater collection systems with emphasis on safety practices and procedures. Students will learn the major components of collection systems and the different wastewater collection methods, regulations and policies. Science topics such as water sampling equipment and procedures will be discussed. Methods for operating and maintaining equipment necessary to perform surface and subsurface inspection of interceptor sewers and pipelines will be reviewed. Students will identify the proper safety procedures for underground repair and maintenance, construction, inspection and testing of sewers, inspection of manholes, and underground construction and repair.

Start Date: 10/13/2022
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 1003 Introduction to Water Treatment

Learn entry level skills of basic water treatment plant operations used to prepare surface waters for potable use. This course stresses the knowledge and skills need by conventional operators treating surface waters. Topics include startup and shut down procedures, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtering, corrosion control and taste and odor, associated calculations, laboratory tests and plant maintenance.

Start Date: 05/03/2023
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 1003 Introduction to Water Treatment

Learn entry level skills of basic water treatment plant operations used to prepare surface waters for potable use. This course stresses the knowledge and skills need by conventional operators treating surface waters. Topics include startup and shut down procedures, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtering, corrosion control and taste and odor, associated calculations, laboratory tests and plant maintenance.

Start Date: 11/08/2022
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 1004 Introduction to WastewaterTreatment

Learn entry level skills of basic wastewater treatment plant operations used to treat wastewaters for discharge into natural waters. This course stresses the knowledge and skills needed by conventional operators treating wastewaters. Topics include startup and shut down procedures, NPDES permits, natural cycles, pretreatment, primary treatment, secondary treatment, collection systems, flow measuring, and disposing of solids, associated calculations, laboratory tests and plant maintenance.

Start Date: 06/01/2023
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 1004 Introduction to WastewaterTreatment

Learn entry level skills of basic wastewater treatment plant operations used to treat wastewaters for discharge into natural waters. This course stresses the knowledge and skills needed by conventional operators treating wastewaters. Topics include startup and shut down procedures, NPDES permits, natural cycles, pretreatment, primary treatment, secondary treatment, collection systems, flow measuring, and disposing of solids, associated calculations, laboratory tests and plant maintenance.

Start Date: 12/12/2022
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 1005 Specific Calculations for WaterQuality Management

Rrovides an in-depth study of the calculations associated with water and wastewater treatment. Topics include dimentional analysis, manipulation of conversion factors, geometric figures, velocities, detention time, surface loading, filtration and backwash rates, porosity, weir overflow rates, efficiencies, weight of dry solids, sludge pumping, settleable solids, volatile solids, mean cell residence times, settleability, disinfection and chemical dosage as relating to trickling filters, ponds, RBC, and activated sludge.

Start Date: 01/24/2023
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 1019 Basic Water Quality Analyses

Introduces laboratory analyses done in the water industry. The course covers the functionality and use of analytical instruments for safely analyzing water samples for common parameters relevant to the water industry. Water chemistry topics are explored to explain the use and function of the instrumentation.

Start Date: 02/23/2023
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 2012 Drinking Water Regulations

Provides the knowledge and skills to implement a compliance-monitoring program for a water treatment facility using groundwater or source water. The topics covered include all regulatory requirements found in the Safe Drinking Water Act regarding microbial and chemical contamination for monitoring and reporting operations.

Start Date: 05/17/2023
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 2016 Biological and BacteriologicalWater Quality Analyses

Provides an in-depth study of microorganisms in the water industry. The course covers analysis of various water samples to identify different microorganisms and explore how these impact the water industry. Interpretation of mathematical formulas, instrumentation application, and proper lab protocols are covered.

Start Date: 04/10/2023
Instructor: Matt McFadden
WQM 2089 Capstone:

Provides a demonstrated culmination of learning within a given program of study.

Start Date: 06/15/2023
Instructor: Matt McFadden
EMILY’S STORIES


Her advice for other students is to "never stop thinking big! You are never too young or too old to follow your dreams!"

Irma is from Juarez, Mexico. She came to the U.S. when she was 5 years old and has lived in the U.S. for 60 years and in Denver for 30 years. 

She works as a Street Supervisor for RTD, where she writes memos about accidents and incidents reports.  She chose to study at Emily Griffith because she wanted to improve her written English. She would like to move into a lead supervisor position but she needs to be able to communicate at a higher level so that others can easily understand what she writes. 

To help her achieve her goal of becoming a lead street supervisor for RTD, Irma has taken classes that RTD offers, as well as English classes, and is learning computer skills. Her dream is to get a bachelor’s degree in management. 

Her advice for other students is to “never stop thinking big! You are never too young or too old to follow your dreams!”

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