In Handbook of Water and Wastewater

In Handbook of Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant
Operations, the intent of the author is twofold. The first
intent is to consolidate the information and experience in
waterworks and wastewater treatment plant operations
that have evolved as a result of technological advances in
the field, and as a result of the concepts and policies
promulgated by the environmental laws and the subsequent
guidelines. The second intent is to discuss step-bystep
procedures for the correct and efficient operation of
water and wastewater treatment systems. Tertiary to this
twofold intent is the proper preparation of operators to
qualify for state licensure and certification examinations.
With the impetus given to water quality improvement
through the Municipal Construction Grants Program, the
United States has undertaken an unprecedented building
program for new and improved water and wastewater treatment
systems. To date, much emphasis has been placed on
training engineers to plan, design, and construct treatment
facilities. At present, many programs in various engineering
disciplines at many universities offer courses in water
and wastewater treatment plant design and operation.
This text is not about the planning, designing, or construction
of water and wastewater treatment facilities.
While these tasks are paramount to conception and construction
of needed facilities and needed infrastructure,
many excellent texts are available that cover these important
areas. This text is not about engineering at all. Instead,
it is about operations and is designed for the operator. We
often forget the old axiom: someone must build it, but
once built, someone must operate it. It is the operation of
ìitî that concerns us here.
Several excellent texts have been written on water and
wastewater treatment plant operations. Thus, the logical
question is, why a new text covering a well-trodden road?
The compound answer is a text that is comprehensive
in scope, current, and deals with real world problems
involved with plant operations is needed. The simple
answer is that after September 11, things have changed.
Many of these changes were apparent before September
11; at the same time, many of our present needs were
not so apparent. Consider, for example, the need for plants
to become more efficient in operation and more economical
in practice. This is not new, but it now takes on added
importance because of the threat of privatization.