Operations & Maintenance

From hands-on-training and leadership opportunities, such as Operations Challenge, to online training, such as the Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals series, WEF provides operators with many opportunities to advance on-the-job knowledge and develop their careers.

BROWSE OPERATIONS News

The latest operations articles, videos, and other content from throughout the organization and across the water sector.

Industrial Water Resources
U.S. EPA Proposes Drinking Water Regulations for PFAS

On March 14, 2023, the U.S. EPA proposed a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) to establish legally enforceable Maximum Contamination Levels (MCLs) ...

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Design
That New Book Smell

Now that my copy of the 24th Edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater has arrived, I once again realized that there is nothing like ...

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Water & Wastewater Treatment
Words On Water #231: Greta Zornes on the Path of Potable Reuse

🎧 LISTEN to this new podcast with Greta Zornes of CDMSmith, who discusses what makes potable reuse projects different and the current path for expansion of potable ...

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Awards
Step Up to the Operations Challenge

Watch a new video describing Operations Challenge and how it promotes professional development. Then read the full coverage of Operations Challenge 2022 in WE&T.

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Collection Systems and Conveyance
Unclogged how the Evolution of Grinder Pumps with Axial Cutters is Addressing an Industrywide Collection System Challenge

*Sponsored Content* By Pentair -- Learn the significance of clogs as an industrywide problem, how to address sewer system clogs where they occur, and the evolution ...

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Jobs
Thirty-Five Years of Microbiology Workshop

In 1987, WEF’s Task Force on Wastewater Biology met to discuss how to roll out a new manual, titled “Wastewater Biology: The Microlife,” at the 1988 WEF conference. ...

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Featured Operations and Maintenance Resources

The featured resources below are just a sample of everything WEF has to offer. Search our entire website and technical resource database for more.

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Publications for Operators

From hands-on training and leadership opportunitie to our Operator Training Manuals series, WEF provides operators with various opportunities to advance your on-the-job knowledge and career.

Browse Operator Publications

Skills Builder for Operators

WEF's comprehensive Skills Builder quizzes incorporate math, safety, and a variety of other topics to help you test, maintain, and advance your operations and maintenance knowledge.

Test Your Knowledge

Operator Scholarship

This scholarship provides funding for individuals who are seeking water sector operator education, training, or certification to enter the water sector or advance their knowledge, skills, abilities or license.

More about the Operator Scholarship

Training Resources

WEF Study Guides are designed for today’s professional operators. Our guides cover a wide range of facility operations, including biosolids, collection systems, laboratory testing, and wastewater operations.

View Training/Certification Guides

Operations Challenge

Operations Challenge is the world’s premier skills competition for water resource recovery facility operators. As one of the most effective training and development tools for operators, it now has been replicated by several international organizations.

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16 May

Odors and Air Pollutants Conference 2023

Save the Date for Odors and Air Pollutants 2023 Conference May 16-19, 2023 in Charlotte, N.C.WEF is excited to announce the dates for the 2023 conference which will be co-located with the WEF/IWA Residuals and Biosolids Conference

More About OAP 2023

Find the Operations Communities You Need

OPERATIONS CHALLENGE COMMUNITY

The Operations Challenge Community coordinates the industry's premier professional-skills competition. Held annually at WEFTEC, the event recognizes excellence in wastewater operations. The committee develops and revises the competition protocols that demonstrate the span of skills necessary for contemporary water quality professionals. 

Join the Operations Challenge Community

PLANT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE COMMUNITY (POMC)

The POMC meets online every four to eight weeks and face-to-face at the Midyear Meeting and at WEFTEC. The POMC is charged with developing operations and maintenance workshops, webinars, and training, as well as supporting operations and maintenance technical sessions at WEFTEC.

Join the Plant Operations and Maintenance Community

Join or Renew Your WEF Membership Today

Connect with our community of water professionals who ensure that our local communities have access to clean water that protects public health. Explore our member benefits and find the membership type that’s right for you.

Join or Renew Online

Visit Our Community Platform

This virtual workspace empowers WEF members to network and collaborate in an online environment.

See what's happening in the Community Platform

EXPLORE ALL PRACTICE AREAS

WEF is a source of high-quality technical resources featuring the latest research, news, and education. WEF's members and other credible resources have created and compiled this information into the Practice Area groupings listed in the dropdown menu.