Overview
From the time the very first public sewer system was constructed until the 1960’s, a conventional gravity system was the only choice US engineers had when considering a public sewer collection system. This changed about 40 years ago when the USEPA challenged the industry to developed alternative collection by providing special funding for such endeavors. One of the alternative collection systems is vacuum sewers.
This 4 PDH course is Part III of a three part series on vacuum sewers and will focus on operation & maintenance and system management considerations for vacuum sewer systems. Part I discusses the basics of vacuum sewer technology by providing a broad overview of the technology while Part II focuses on the design and installation aspects related to vacuum sewers.
This course will provide information that will guide the Utility and their system operator in the proper operation & maintenance of a vacuum sewer system as well as the management of these systems. The course materials are based on the materials presented in the vacuum chapter of the “Water Environment Federation (2007) Alternative Sewer Systems, 2nd ed.; Manual of Practice No. FD-12” as published by the Water Environment Federation. The student will learn about the level of effort required to operate and maintain a vacuum system, how to estimate the annual O&M costs based on data from operating systems and where to find additional written information regarding vacuum sewers. The student will also learn about key system management considerations such as staffing, operator training, and the responsibilities of the homeowner and the operating Utility.
The student must take a multiple-choice quiz consisting of twenty (20) questions at the end of this course to earn PDH credits.
Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained
This course teaches the following specific knowledge and skills:
- The operating history of vacuum systems (O&M data - existing systems)
- Normal, preventive and emergency maintenance associated with vacuum systems
- How to estimate annual O&M cost (labor, power, equip replacement)
- Guidelines regarding staffing requirements and operator training
- Guidelines regarding system management considerations
- Where the Utility’s responsibility ends and the homeowner’s begins
- Where to find technical and educational literature on vacuum systems.
Course
Click on the following link to the PDF document to review the course material before taking the quiz for credit.
Vacuum Sewers O&M and System Management
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