Environmental Water Quality: Complete 5-Day Professional Training Course

Course Overview

The Environmental Water Quality training program is an intensive 5-day course designed to provide comprehensive knowledge of water quality assessment, monitoring, protection, and management strategies. This professional development program covers aquatic ecosystem health, pollution sources, regulatory frameworks, sampling techniques, and remediation approaches essential for environmental professionals working in water resource management, compliance, and conservation.

Who Should Attend This Environmental Water Quality Course?

• Environmental consultants and water quality specialists

• Regulatory agency personnel and compliance officers

• Water resource managers and watershed coordinators

• Environmental engineers and scientists

• Industrial environmental health and safety (EHS) professionals

• Municipal stormwater and wastewater managers

• Ecological restoration practitioners

• Environmental monitoring technicians and laboratory analysts

• Sustainability professionals and corporate environmental managers

Day 1: Water Quality Parameters & Assessment Fundamentals

Morning Session: Physical & Chemical Water Quality Parameters

Foundation Knowledge:
Understanding the fundamental parameters that define water quality is essential for effective environmental management and regulatory compliance.

Key Topics:

• Temperature effects on aquatic ecosystems and dissolved oxygen

• pH and its ecological significance in freshwater and marine environments

• Dissolved oxygen (DO) dynamics and oxygen demand concepts

• Turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), and water clarity

• Electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids (TDS)

• Alkalinity, hardness, and buffering capacity

• Nutrients: nitrogen and phosphorus cycles and forms

• Major ions and salinity in water systems

Afternoon Session: Biological & Microbiological Parameters

Ecosystem Health Indicators:

• Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and carbonaceous vs. nitrogenous demand

• Chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements

• Indicator bacteria: total coliforms, E. coli, enterococci

• Pathogen presence and waterborne disease risks

• Algae and cyanobacteria: identification and toxin concerns

• Benthic macroinvertebrates as bioindicators

• Fish population health and tissue analysis

• Bioassessment methods and indices of biotic integrity (IBI)

Field Demonstration: Water quality parameter measurement using field instruments and proper calibration techniques

Day 2: Pollution Sources & Contaminant Behavior

Morning Session: Point & Non-Point Source Pollution

Pollution Source Identification:

• Municipal wastewater discharge characteristics and impacts

• Industrial effluent sources and sector-specific pollutants

• Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs)

• Agricultural runoff: pesticides, fertilizers, and animal waste

• Urban stormwater quality and first-flush phenomenon

• Construction site erosion and sediment control

• Atmospheric deposition of pollutants

• Groundwater contamination and aquifer vulnerability

Afternoon Session: Emerging Contaminants & Pollutant Fate

Advanced Contamination Issues:

• Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in aquatic systems

• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination

• Microplastics in freshwater and marine environments

• Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) and ecological effects

• Heavy metals: sources, toxicity, and bioaccumulation

• Organic pollutants: PAHs, PCBs, and persistent organic pollutants

• Contaminant transport mechanisms: advection, dispersion, diffusion

• Partitioning behavior: sorption, volatilization, and transformation

Case Study Analysis: Investigating major water contamination incidents and lessons learned from environmental disasters

Day 3: Water Quality Monitoring & Sampling Techniques

Morning Session: Monitoring Program Design

Strategic Planning:

• Establishing monitoring objectives and data quality objectives (DQOs)

• Sampling location selection using statistical and spatial approaches

• Sampling frequency determination and temporal considerations

• Quality assurance project plans (QAPP) development

• Chain of custody procedures and documentation

• Field blank, duplicate, and spike sample protocols

• Data management systems and electronic data deliverables

• Cost-effective monitoring strategies for limited budgets

Afternoon Session: Field Sampling Methods

Hands-On Techniques:

• Surface water sampling: grab, composite, and automated samplers

• Groundwater monitoring well installation and sampling

• Sediment sampling techniques and core collection

• Biological tissue sampling for contaminant analysis

• In-situ water quality probe deployment and data logging

• Flow measurement methods: flumes, weirs, velocity-area

• Proper sample preservation and holding time requirements

• Field safety protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE)

Field Exercise: Conducting a complete water quality sampling event with proper documentation, including stream assessment and habitat evaluation

Day 4: Regulatory Frameworks & Water Quality Standards

Morning Session: Water Quality Legislation & Standards

Compliance Requirements:

• Clean Water Act (CWA) overview and key provisions

• Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and maximum contaminant levels

• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits

• Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development process

• Water quality standards: designated uses and criteria

• Antidegradation policies and Tier I, II, III protections

• State water quality regulations and tribal authority

• International water quality frameworks (EU Water Framework Directive)

Afternoon Session: Assessment & Impairment Listing

Water Body Evaluation:

• Section 303(d) impaired waters listing process

• Integrated reporting categories and assessment methodology

• Numeric vs. narrative water quality criteria

• Biological criteria development and implementation

• Use attainability analysis (UAA) procedures

• Variances, schedules of compliance, and mixing zones

• Public participation in water quality standard development

• Enforcement actions and penalty assessment

Workshop: Developing water quality-based effluent limits (WQBELs) and permit conditions for NPDES discharge scenarios

Day 5: Watershed Management & Restoration Strategies

Morning Session: Watershed-Based Approaches

Holistic Water Management:

• Watershed characterization and delineation using GIS

• Land use impacts on water quality and hydrologic modifications

• Best Management Practices (BMPs) for pollution prevention

• Green infrastructure and low-impact development (LID)

• Riparian buffer zone design and effectiveness

• Wetland functions and water quality improvement

• Stormwater management systems and treatment trains

• Agricultural conservation practices and nutrient management

Afternoon Session: Remediation & Restoration Techniques

Active Intervention Strategies:

• In-stream habitat restoration for aquatic ecosystems

• Lake and reservoir management: aeration, dredging, biomanipulation

• Contaminated sediment remediation approaches

• Phytoremediation and constructed wetlands for treatment

• Stream channel restoration and natural flow regime

• Dam removal and passage improvement for ecological connectivity

• Adaptive management frameworks for restoration projects

• Monitoring effectiveness and long-term stewardship

Advanced Topics: Climate Change & Water Quality

Emerging Challenges:

• Climate change impacts on water temperature and stratification

• Altered precipitation patterns and extreme weather events

• Sea-level rise and saltwater intrusion

• Harmful algal bloom proliferation under warming conditions

• Drought effects on water quality and aquifer recharge

• Integrated water resources management under uncertainty

• Resilience planning for water quality protection

• Nature-based solutions for climate adaptation

Final Session: Data Analysis & Reporting
Technical Communication:

• Statistical methods for water quality data interpretation

• Trend analysis using Mann-Kendall and seasonal Kendall tests

• Exceedance frequency analysis and compliance assessment

• Data visualization techniques for stakeholder communication

• Technical report writing for regulatory submissions

• Public outreach and community engagement strategies

• Dashboard development for real-time water quality information

Capstone Project: Participants complete a watershed assessment plan including monitoring design, data analysis approach, and management recommendations

Course Deliverables & Professional Development

Comprehensive Training Materials:

• Environmental water quality reference manual with regulatory guidance

• Field sampling standard operating procedures (SOPs)

• Water quality assessment toolkit with calculation spreadsheets

• Database of water quality standards by jurisdiction

• Identification guides for biological indicators

• Access to online water quality databases and mapping tools

Key Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion, participants will:

• Understand physical, chemical, and biological water quality parameters

• Design and implement effective monitoring programs

• Interpret water quality data using appropriate statistical methods

• Navigate regulatory requirements and compliance obligations

• Identify pollution sources and assess contaminant risks

• Apply watershed management principles to protect water resources

• Develop restoration strategies for impaired water bodies

• Communicate water quality findings to diverse audiences

Certification & Credits:
Participants receive a certificate of completion with continuing education units (CEUs) applicable toward professional certifications including Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control (CPESC), Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), and other environmental credentials.

Interactive Learning Methods: Field sampling exercises, laboratory demonstrations, regulatory case studies, GIS mapping workshops, group discussions, and real-world problem-solving scenarios.

Register for Environmental Water Quality training and gain the expertise needed to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems while ensuring regulatory compliance and sustainable water resource management for future generations.