Assessing Water Quality Problems

For:

Service techs

Sales Reps

System Designers

Dealers

Course Format:

Live-Online

This 14-week course is WQA’s Introductory Instructor-led course on POU/POE Water Treatment and the first course required for the CWS/CWR/CST/CTD certification titles. It walks the learner through identifying aesthetic problems, onsite testing, interpreting water analyses for aesthetic contaminants, and drinking water regulations.

Instructor-Led Training

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14-week course

2 hours/week (includes time for homework)

Offered at two different times for East Coast/West Coast convenience

Winter Classes
Jan 21 – May 2, 2025

Tuesdays

8–9am ET/5-6am PT

Fridays

12-1pm ET/9-10am PT

Upon completing the course, the learner will be able to:

Explain the characteristics of water sources and potential contaminants they contain
Explain where to find information about contaminants that may be common in their area
Explain what to look for at a customer’s site and which questions to ask when investigating potential working water problems and taste/odor complaints
Explain the behavior and symptoms of working water contaminants such as hardness minerals, iron, manganese, hydrogen sulfide, and tannins
Explain the cause of common taste and odor complaints
Determine which water test are needed both on-site and by certified laboratories
Accurately perform appropriate water test on-site and collects water samples for laboratory analyses
Correctly interpret the results of water tests
Explain the benefits of certified products
List the standards to which products may be certified
Explain the marketing guidelines in the WQA Code of Ethics for the Water Quality Improvement Industry

Introduction to the course, Why water quality is important, water problems, and an overview of the industry
Explain how contaminants get into water, an overview of water delivery
List of contaminants in working water and potential problems; water hardness-how it presents and how to test
How these contaminants present, behave, what questions to ask, how to test, and how to interpret results
Walk through customer scenarios to determine what the problem might be, interpreting water analyses, and on-site testing
Regulatory structures, where to find primary/secondary standards
CCRs-Interpreting the information, understanding testing intervals
Testing for contaminants on private wells; focus on problem solving, not equipment selling
Sampling technique, interpreting lab tests, recognizing problems
Review of consumer protection laws and an introduction to WQA’s Code of Ethics Marketing Guidelines
How WQA’s Code of Ethics benefits the entire industry
What are certified products, and what are the benefits; overview of certifier testing
What the standard numbers mean, safety and performance

Peter Cartwright, MWS, PE

Peter Cartwright, MWS, PE, entered the water purification and wastewater treatment industry in 1974 and has had his own consulting engineering firm since 1980. He has a degree in Chemical Engineering and is a registered Professional Engineer in Minnesota.

Peter has authored over 300 articles, written several book chapters, presented more than 300 lectures around the world and holds several patents in the water/wastewater industry. He served as the Technical Consultant to the Canadian Water Quality Association from 2007 to 2018.

Peter is a recipient of the Award of Merit, Lifetime Member Award and Hall of Fame Award from the Water Quality Association.

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Paul Friot, MWS, CI, CWR

Paul Friot, MWS, CI, CWR, has 45 years of experience in water treatment as an independent dealer in Massachusetts.

He is a WQA Master Water Specialist, Certified Installer, Certified Water-Treatment Representative, and holds a U.S. patent for an arsenic removal process.

He recently started a new business, Get Water Answers, which provides consumers and water treatment dealers with help understanding water test results or water problems they find challenging.

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