Water and Wastewater Treatment

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Water and Wastewater Treatment program is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills to meet the challenges of working in a wastewater plant. Students will understand the effective operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment, wastewater collection systems, and wastewater labs. The program assists students in their preparation for Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) examinations.

This program is designed to meet education requirements for licensure or certification in the State of Arizona. Granting licensure and certification is the sole responsibility of the state board or approval agency. This program is only offered and available to students located in the State of Arizona. The Maricopa County Community College District and colleges define student location within Administrative Regulation 2.2.3(7).

Details

Offered At
GateWay
Field of Interest
Applied Technology
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Water and Wastewater Treatment (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5136
Total credits required
27-32
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2020
Admissions criteria

A high school diploma OR GED equivalency is required. Placement into MAT120, MAT121, MAT122, MAT150, MAT151, MAT152, or higher level mathematics course for which College Algebra is a prerequisite.

Notes

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Analyze water and wastewater treatment calculations and measurements.
  2. Utilize effective written or oral communication skills in accordance with the professional conventions within the field of water and wastewater treatment.
  3. Practice industry accepted professional and ethical behavior.
  4. Apply relevant safety standards to the operation of a water and wastewater treatment plant.
  5. Collaborate with peers to problem solve within the water industry.
  6. Evaluate water and wastewater treatment processes using appropriate municipal, state, and federal governmental standards.
  7. Demonstrate the mechanical, technical, and scientific knowledge necessary to operate and maintain a water and wastewater treatment plant.

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based wages* for this certificate. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information. You can click on any occupation to view the detail regarding education level, wages, and employment information.

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

$50,370

* Career and wage information provided by Pipeline AZ using data, reports, and forecasts which are generated using government data sources. Sources

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
WRT100 Introduction to Water Resources Gateway course 3
WRT140 Water Quality for Treatment Industry Critical course 5
WRT115 Water Technology Calculations Critical course 3
WRT110 Principles of Water Treatment Plant Operations 3
MAT120 or
MAT121 or
MAT122 or
MAT15+
Intermediate Algebra or Intermediate Algebra or Intermediate Algebra or College Algebra/Functions OR Higher-level course with an [MA] general designation for which College Algebra is a prerequisite OR
Waiver of the math requirement by the Program Director.
None or MA 6

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
WRT121 Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants 3
WRT131 Wastewater Collection Systems Operation and Maintenance 3
WRT190AA Water Resources Technologies Seminar 1
WRT204 Water/Wastewater Mechanical Systems, Power, and Instrumentation 3
WRT134 Water Distribution System Operation and Maintenance 3

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
WRT100 Introduction to Water Resources Gateway course 3
WRT115 Water Technology Calculations Critical course 3
MAT120 or
MAT121 or
MAT122 or
MAT15+
Intermediate Algebra or Intermediate Algebra or Intermediate Algebra or College Algebra/Functions OR Higher-level course with an [MA] general designation for which College Algebra is a prerequisite OR
Waiver of the math requirement by the Program Director.
None or MA 6

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
WRT140 Water Quality for Treatment Industry Critical course 5
WRT110 Principles of Water Treatment Plant Operations 3

Term 3

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 3
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
WRT121 Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants 3
WRT131 Wastewater Collection Systems Operation and Maintenance 3

Term 4

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 4
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
WRT190AA Water Resources Technologies Seminar 1
WRT204 Water/Wastewater Mechanical Systems, Power, and Instrumentation 3
WRT134 Water Distribution System Operation and Maintenance 3
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=143271).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.