Water and Wastewater Chemistry: Back to the Basics

Take this course to obtain a basic understanding of the chemical principles involved in water and wastewater treatment.

Main Content

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Course Status Notice – Not Scheduled

We do not have an offering of this course scheduled at this time. Please join our email list to be notified when the next offering is scheduled!

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Course Details

Course Name: Water and Wastewater Chemistry: Back to the Basics
Course Code: EO0107WA25
Date of Most Recent Offering: April 17, 2025

Date: April 17, 2025 UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING
Time: 8:30 am – 3:30 pm EDT UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING

Location: Online UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING
Format: Live, instructor-led UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING

Registration Fee: $280.00 per person UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING
Multi Person Discount Fee: $250.00 per person (Save when you sign up with a colleague!) UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING
NJLWO Discount Fee: $140.00 per person (available for T, W, and VSWS license holders only) UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING

Registration Closes: April 14, 2025 at 3:00 pm UPDATE THIS FOR NEXT OFFERING

Paying with a check, money order, or purchase order?
Payments should be made out to: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Checks and money orders should be mailed to: Office of Continuing Professional Education, Attn: Registration Dept., 102 Ryders Ln, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8519
Purchase Orders can be mailed to the address above or electronically sent to registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

Course Overview

This course presents the basic chemistry and treatment methodologies used in drinking water and wastewater operations. Even if you aren’t taking a licensing exam in the near future, let this class help you to review and reinforce the basics!

  • Back to the Basics – balancing equations, chemical symbols, detection limits, scientific notation, etc.
  • Chemical Contaminants of Drinking Water and NJDEP/USEPA MCLs/Wastewater Discharge Limits
  • Wastewater Treatment Chemistry
  • Secondary “Nuisance” Chemicals Related to Water Treatment
  • Chemical Disinfection – Including Alternative Disinfectants
  • The Chemistry of Corrosion Control/Impact to Wastewater
  • The Chemical Principles of Coagulation, Flocculation, and Filtration
  • Basic Chemical Dosage Calculations and Problem Solving

Who Should Attend?

This class is a great source of information for anyone who wants to strengthen their understanding of chemistry applications for the water and wastewater fields. Past participants have included:

  • Environmental Consultants
  • Environmental Engineers
  • Environmental Health and Safety Managers
  • Field Service Representatives
  • Health & Safety Engineers
  • Industrial Technicians
  • Laboratory Managers
  • Plant Engineers
  • Project Scientists
  • Public Works Directors
  • Sanitarians
  • Sewer/Drainage Workers
  • Utility Technicians
  • Water and Wastewater Treatment Operators

Meet Your Instructor

Mike Furrey, Agra Environmental and Laboratory Services

Headshot of instructor Mike Furrey

Michael J. Furrey is currently working as Owner/President and private consultant for his own company (Agra Environmental and Laboratory Services) after working for 12 years for a major public water utility, the North Jersey District Water Commission. He is a 1987 graduate of Cook College, Rutgers University with a BS in Environmental Chemistry. He served as the Chair of the Information Technology Committee for the NJ Section AWWA. He also served on the Advisory Board for Licensing of Water and Wastewater Operators. He was also the past chair for the NJAWWA Education Committee from 1996 to 1998. He currently holds a T4/W3 Water license and is an instructor for the Introductory and Advanced Water Treatment Courses in NJ. He has also coordinated many accredited seminars for organizations such as an Adjunct Professor for Rutgers University, NJIT, NJWEA, NJWA, NJWC and the AWWA-NJ. Mr. Furrey was the AWWA-NJ section chair in 2015 and currently serves as a legislative liaison for the section locally in NJ. He also served as Environmental Commission and Greenway Chair for Vernon Township, NJ. He is currently the chair of the Vernon Township Municipal Utility Authority. He was also recently appointed to the Drinking Water Quality Institute and a member of the NJ Future Lead in Drinking Water 35-member Task Force.

Student Reviews

Most useful part of the course: “Learning about MCL violations, regulations, and treatment options.”

– Past Participant

“Good explanations of common issues in the water wastewater field.”

– Past Participant

“Very informative for a refresher / Good instructors.”

– Past Participant

Continuing Education Credits

The most recent offering of Water and Wastewater Chemistry: Back to the Basics was approved for 0.6 Rutgers CEUs (6 contact hours) as well as the following credits from professional organizations. We will reapply for similar credits the next time the course runs, but we cannot guarantee credit approval for future offerings.

The Water and Wastewater Chemistry: Back to the Basics course is approved for 0.6 Rutgers CEUs (6 contact hours) as well as the following credits from professional organizations.

State of New Jersey map iconNew Jersey

NJ Certified Public Works Managers (CPWM): 5 Technical, 1 Government Contact Hours

NJ Drinking Water and Wastewater Operators: 6 TCHs (Approval #01-010105-30)

NJ Professional Engineers: 6 Continuing Professional Competency (CPC) Credits

State of Pennsylvania map iconPennsylvania

PA Drinking Water and Wastewater Operators: 6 Recertification Hours

Course Requirements and Policies

electronic devices iconTechnology Requirements

This online course will be delivered via Zoom.

Equipment you will need to access this training:

  • Laptop or desktop computers are required for this class.
  • A microphone is required.

 A week before the start date of class, you will receive an email from Judith Joshua with more details on the class.

email iconEmail Requirement

A unique email address is required for each registrant to register and access our courses.

  • If this is your first time registering with us, please provide your own unique email address when registering; do not provide an email address that you share with co-workers.
  • If you have previously taken classes with us and have used an email address that you share with your co-workers or supervisor, your account must be updated with a unique email address. To do this, please send an email to us at registration@njaes.rutgers.edu stating that your email address needs to be changed and include:
    • Your full name
    • The shared email address that needs to be changed
    • Your unique email address
    • A phone number where you can be reached if we have any questions

x icon with circle around itCancellations and Substitutions

A $75 cancellation fee applies for this course. Substitutions are permitted. View our cancellation policy.

Attention U.S. Veterans

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This course is approved by the New Jersey State Approving Agency for Veterans Training for educational benefits through the GI Bill®. Learn more.

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

Program Questions? We’re Here to Help!

If you have any questions about Water and Wastewater Chemistry: Back to the Basics, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Headshot of Judith Joshua, administrative assistant

Administrative Assistant: Judith Joshua
848-932-7483 
judith.joshua@rutgers.edu

For registration assistance, please contact our Registration Department at 848-932-9271, option 2 or email registration@njaes.rutgers.edu.

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Group of wastewater operators assessing plant performance

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Wastewater discharged from the industrial sewage pipe

Discharge Monitoring Reports

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