Indiana Water

Operator Training

Lesson Four
 Indiana Water Operator Training

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Indiana Rural Water Association American Water Works Association

 Lesson Four
DSL Operators

DSL systems and operators

Distribution system booster pumps
Backflow prevention
Storage tank maintenance
System security
 Classification of water distribution systems
and water treatment plants

Distribution systems

DSL

Class DSL (distribution system large) includes systems

that meet one (1) of the following:
(A) Serve a population greater than or equal to ten thousand one
(10,001) people, or more
(B) Consist of the following:
(i) Storage tanks
(ii) Booster pumps to the distribution system
(iii) Mechanical devices for movement of water beyond storage
 Classification of water system operators

Water operator certification qualifications

DSL

Grade DSL is a certified operator qualified to operate a Class DSS,

DSM, and DSL water distribution system after having
fulfilled the following requirements:
(A) Possess a high school diploma or its equivalent
(B) Meet the qualifications of the certification rule
(C) Must be able to:
(i) maintain inventories
(ii) order supplies and equipment
(iii) interpret chemical and bacteriological sample reports
 Classification of water system operators

Water operator certification qualifications

DSL (continued from previous slide)

(D) Attain one (1) of the following acceptable work experience

requirements:
(i) One (1) year in the operation of a Class DSL water
distribution system
(ii) Three (3) years in the operation of a Class DSM water
distribution system
(iii) Five (5) years in the operation of a Class DSS water
distribution system
(iv) An acceptable number of years of experience approved by the
Commissioner if gained in operation of a combination of the
various classifications of water distribution systems
 Classification of water system operators

Water operator certification qualifications

Operator-in-Training (OIT)

Grade Operator-in-Training (OIT) is available under the following

guidelines:
(1) to a person meeting the following:
(A) Currently employed at a public water system with facilities classified
as a Class WT 3, Class WT 4 or Class WT 5 water treatment plant
or a DSL water distribution system
(B) has fulfilled the qualifications of the certification rule
 Classification of water system operators

Water operator certification qualifications

Operator-in-Training (OIT) (continued from previous slide)

(2) In accordance with the following:

(A) Until the OIT meets the experience requirement needed for the
classification of treatment plant or distribution system where the OIT
is accumulating work experience
(B) Operating work must be accomplished under the supervision of a
certified operator-in-responsible-charge who must verify to the
Commissioner the satisfactory achievement of acceptable
experience by the OIT
 Classification of water system operators

Water operator certification qualifications

Operator-in-Training (OIT) (continued from previous slide)

(C) An OIT may not:

(i) serve as a certified operator in responsible charge
(ii) transfer an OIT certification to a water treatment plant
or distribution system with a public water system identification
number (PWSID) different than the PWSID for which the
certification was issued;
(iii) hold two (2) treatment plant or distribution system OIT
certifications concurrently; or
(iv) renew the OIT certification
Distribution system booster pumps

Two types of systems

Open
Water pumped to higher pressure zone
opened to atmosphere

Closed
Water pumped to higher pressure zone
closed to atmosphere
 Distribution system booster pumps
Atmospheric vent
Open System

100 Ft

100 Ft
Zone 2 customers
Pump

100 Ft

100 Ft 400 x .433 =

Zone 1 customers 173 PSI
 Distribution system booster pumps

Closed System
Example A
Example B

Zone 2 customers
Pump

Pressure
tank

Zone 1 customers
 Distribution system booster pumps

Closed System
over-pressurization &
pump damage avoidance Pressure reducing valve

Zone 2 customers
Pump

Return line

Zone 1 customers
 Backflow prevention

Backflow is an unwanted reversal of flow

Backpressure backflow
downstream pressure increases, or
upstream pressure drops

Backsiphonage backflow
negative (vacuum or partial vacuum) pressure
 Backflow prevention

Let’s review:

A cross connection is any actual or potential connection

between a public water supply and a source of
contamination or pollution
 Backflow prevention

Backsiphonage backflow example

Top of Hill

Water main

Bottom of hill
 Backflow prevention

Backpressure backflow example

Water Supply

City water 50 psi

Customers
1. Factory with
cooling water system

2. Maintenance worker turns

wrong valve

3. Cooling water makeup pump 70 psi

 Backflow prevention

Control (prevention) devices

1. Air gap 2 times pipe diameter - 1” minimum

best protection available

2. Reduced pressure principle (RP)

backpressure and backsiphonage

3. Pressure vacuum breaker (PVB)

backsiphonage

4. Atmospheric vacuum breaker (AVB)

backsiphonage

5. Double check valve assembly (DC)

for non-health endangering substances
 Backflow prevention
Air gap

2 times
pipe
diameter
Cooling
air gap
water or
1” minimum
other
process
tank

Public water supply

 Backflow prevention

RP device

Photo courtesy Watts

Backflow prevention

PVB device

Photo courtesy backflow-supply.com

Backflow prevention

AVB device

Photo courtesy backflow-supply.com

 Backflow prevention

DC device

Photo courtesy Watts

 Storage tank maintenance

30-35 different types of tanks

Most popular are:

•Welded standpipe
•Concrete standpipe
•Concrete ground level
•Legged
•Pedestal
Storage tank maintenance

Welded standpipe

Photo courtesy USA Tank Storage Systems

Storage tank maintenance

Concrete standpipe

Photo courtesy Natgun

Storage tank maintenance

Concrete ground level

Photo courtesy Natgun

Storage tank maintenance

Legged

Photo courtesy Smith Group Consulting, LLC

Storage tank maintenance

Pedestal

Photo courtesy Gerald Tank & Steel, Inc.

 Storage tank maintenance

Safety first
Thwart vandals
Inspection
Exterior
Interior
Cathodic protection
Altitude valves
Snubbers
Isolation valves
Vent
Overflow pipe
Antenna systems
 Storage tank maintenance

Safety

Stay off your tank, if you don’t know what you’re doing
•A good superintendent can be harder to replace
than an engineer or tank inspector

Not all safety belts are safe for tank work

A 6 foot fall can break your back with a
waist belt and rope
Always use the proper climbing equipment
Full harness
Rail-mounted belt
 Storage tank maintenance

Vandals

Keep them off your tank

•Fences
•Ladder gates
•Good locks
•Fool them
 Storage tank maintenance

Exterior Inspection

Check foundations for cracking, spalling,

exposed reinforcing metal or settling
Keep vegetation away from foundations
Trim limbs that may scratch surfaces
Rust stains may indicate leaks
Inspect vent and overflow screens for
holes or debris
Check for signs of overflow
Check for signs of unauthorized entry
Look for loose bolts/nuts
Check for paint flaking
Look for rotation/turning of columns/tower
 Storage tank maintenance

Interior Inspection

What to look for

•Interior roof condition
•Corrosion
•Leaks
•Silt depth
•Cathodic protection system condition

When to inspect?
•Ideally – annually
•Realistically – every 5 years
 Storage tank maintenance

Interior Inspection (continued)

Best method- Dry

•Tank taken out of service

•Includes cleaning
•Wastes a lot of water
•Greatest potential for personal injury
•Allows for the most thorough inspection
•Most expensive

•It is a pain to drain, for when you dry inspect,

you must disinfect
 Storage tank maintenance

Interior Inspection (continued)

Good method – Wet Diver

•Tank taken out of service

•Does not include cleaning
•No wasted water
•Less potential for personal injury
•Not as thorough of inspection as dry method
•Less expensive than dry method
•Some sanitary concerns (more perceived than actual)
 Storage tank maintenance

Interior Inspection (continued)

OK method – Wet Remotely-Operated Vehicle (ROV)

•Tank remains in-service

•Does not include cleaning
•No wasted water
•Least potential for personal injury
•Least thorough inspection method
•Cheapest method
•Few sanitary concerns
 Storage tank maintenance

Cathodic protection
Corrosion occurs in water tanks due to electrical current
flow between dissimilar materials

Metal from the inside of the water tank flows into the
water because of the impurities in the water

If a sacrificial piece of metal is placed into the water,

and a reverse current is applied, metal flows from the
anode instead of the inside of the tank

Remember – cathodic protection is not a substitute

for a properly-painted (coated) tank interior

Cathodic protection only helps with the metal in contact

with the water; not the interior roof and upper sides
 Storage tank maintenance

Cathodic protection (continued)

Keep current/voltage at recommended settings
(check monthly)

At 1.2 volts and higher, hydrogen may start to form

and interior coatings will start to fail

Replace anodes annually or as recommended

by the manufacturer
 Storage tank maintenance

Cathodic protection (continued)

Gently tap on the meter face Tip of the day

to make sure the needle is not stuck
when checking current/voltage
Storage tank maintenance

Altitude valves

•One-way or two-way control

•Very little maintenance

•Usually fails due to debris or

plugged snubber

Photo curtsey fluidcontrol.com

Storage tank maintenance

Snubbers

Snubbers are small fittings

that restrict flows, preventing
rapid pressure changes
Photo credit unknown
Snubbers help prevent water
hammer damage to gauges

Snubbers help altitude valves

operate smoothly

No required maintenance

When gauges or altitude valves

exhibit erratic behavior,
check the snubber first
 Storage tank maintenance

Isolation valves

Water tank isolation valves are critical to your system

You cannot take a tank off line (or put it back on line)
if the isolation valves do not work

Just like people, valves need exercising

Storage tank maintenance

Vents
Atmospheric vent

Keep vents
open

X
Keep screens
Tank

Ta
clear

kn
Storage tank maintenance

Overflow pipes

Keep pipe open

Keep screen clean

Tank
Maintain spillway

Ponding can cause cross connection

 Storage tank maintenance

Antenna systems
Leasing antenna space = easy $ (sometimes)
•Cell phone and PCS - $5K to $20K+ annually
•Public safety, amateur radio, etc. - $1 annually

Always have a lease agreement

Never accept the radio system’s “standard agreement”
Always employ a qualified engineer to review plans
and inspect construction
Never allow cables to interfere with climbing and
safety systems

Ask yourself
Can I repaint the tank and keep the
radio system operational?
Who will remove the system when it is obsolete?
 System security

Vulnerability assessment

Eliminate or mediate vulnerabilities

Emergency response
 System security

Vulnerability assessment

Identify vulnerabilities

•Doors

•Windows

•Hatches

•Located in remote area

 System security

Eliminate or mediate vulnerabilities

Identify vulnerabilities Mediation

•Doors •Install locks & use them

•Windows •Lock and/or bar

•Hatches •Install locks & use them

•Located in remote area •Police patrols

•Fences
•Alarms
•Lighting
•Ask neighbors to watch
(Adopt-a-facility)
 System security

Eliminate or mediate vulnerabilities

(continued)
Idea of the day
Few vandalism problems:

Install your own lights

High vandalism:

Rent lights from

from the electric company
System security

Eliminate or mediate vulnerabilities

(continued)

1. Deter

2. Detect

3. Delay
System security

Emergency response
System security

Emergency response (continued)

•911 or local numbers for fire and police

•IDEM
•Local health department
•Critical users
•Your boss
•Political leaders
•Nearby water systems
•Laboratories
•Contractors
•Chemical suppliers
•Parts/equipment suppliers
•Local media
•Insurance agent
System security

Emergency response (continued)

Plan ahead

Be prepared

Remember
Protect people first
Protect property second
Ok, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

We’re about done.

Are there any questions?

Lesson Four
DSL Operators

Self Graded Examination

Lesson Four
DSL Operators

Self Graded Examination

10 Minutes
Lesson Four
DSL Operators

Self Graded Examination

5 Minutes
Lesson Four
DSL Operators

Self Graded Examination

Time’s Up
OK
 Lesson Four
DSL Operators Answers

Open
Water pumped to higher pressure zone
opened to atmosphere

Closed
Water pumped to higher pressure zone
closed to atmosphere
 Lesson Four
DSL Operators Answers

Backflow is an unwanted reversal of flow

Backpressure backflow
downstream pressure increases, or
upstream pressure drops

Backsiphonage backflow
negative (vacuum or partial vacuum) pressure
 Lesson Four
DSL Operators Answers

1. Air gap 2 times pipe diameter - 1” minimum

best protection available
2. Reduced pressure principle (RP)
backpressure and backsiphonage
3. Pressure vacuum breaker (PVB)
backsiphonage
Atmospheric vacuum breaker (AVB)
backsiphonage
4. Double check valve assembly (DC)
for non-health endangering substances
 Lesson Four
DSL Operators Answers

Stay off your tank, if you don’t know what you’re doing
•A good superintendent can be harder to replace
than an engineer or tank inspector

Not all safety belts are safe for tank work

A 6 foot fall can break your back with a
waist belt and rope
Always use the proper climbing equipment
Full harness
Rail-mounted belt
 Lesson Four
DSL Operators Answers

Best method- Dry

•Tank taken out of service
•Includes cleaning
•Wastes a lot of water
•Greatest potential for personal injury
•Allows for the most thorough inspection
•Most expensive
•It is a pain to drain, for when you dry inspect,
you must disinfect
 Lesson Four
DSL Operators Answers

Corrosion occurs in water tanks due to electrical

current flow between dissimilar materials

Metal from the inside of the water tank flows into

the water because of the impurities in the water
 Lesson Four
DSL Operators Answers

Snubbers are small fittings

that restrict flows, preventing
rapid pressure changes
Snubbers help prevent water
hammer damage to gauges
Snubbers help altitude valves
operate smoothly
 Lesson Four
DSL Operators Answers

Tank
 Lesson Four
DSL Operators Answers

X
Lesson Four
DSL Operators Answers

1. Deter

2. Detect

3. Delay
 Thank you for your participation

Are there any other questions or comments?

Please turn in your:

•Self-graded examinations
•Training course evaluation forms
•Continuing education credit reports
 Indiana Water Operator Training

Indiana Department of Environmental Management

Indiana Rural Water Association American Water Works Association

 Contact Information

Instructor:

For additional information concerning this water operator

training course, please contact:

Indiana Rural Water Association

Odetta Cadwell, Executive Director
317-402-7349