Municipal Water Infrastructure for Non-Engineers

After participating in this course, you will be able to:

• Understand how municipal water supply, distribution, wastewater, and stormwater systems are structured and operated
• Interpret key technical terminology related to municipal piping, pumps, valves, and treatment systems to communicate effectively with engineering teams
• Recognize how material selection, installation methods, and commissioning practices impact cost, performance, and reliability
• Identify inspection, maintenance, and repair considerations that influence infrastructure safety and lifecycle outcomes
• Apply system level understanding to support planning, budgeting, project oversight, and operational decision making

Description
Municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater systems are complex, interconnected assets that directly affect public health, service reliability, and long term infrastructure investment. Professionals working alongside engineers are often required to make decisions, review proposals, or oversee projects without having formal engineering training in how these systems function.

This course provides a practical, system focused introduction to municipal water infrastructure for non engineers. You will explore how water supply and distribution systems operate, including storage, flow in piping networks, pumping stations, and system classification. The course also examines underground piping systems, material selection, installation practices, and the role of valves, filters, and protective measures in safe and reliable operation.

Beyond water supply, the course covers potable water treatment, wastewater treatment plants, and municipal stormwater management systems. Emphasis is placed on inspection, maintenance, and repair from a lifecycle perspective, helping you understand how infrastructure performance, risk, and cost are managed over time. By the end of the course, you will be better equipped to engage confidently in municipal infrastructure planning, oversight, and cross disciplinary collaboration.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for:

• Planners and planning professionals involved in municipal infrastructure projects
• City and municipal managers overseeing water, wastewater, or stormwater programs
• Municipal finance officers supporting capital planning and asset management decisions
• Economic development professionals working with municipal infrastructure investments
• Public safety and regulatory professionals involved in infrastructure oversight
• City, county, and municipal executives seeking a practical understanding of municipal water systems

Day 1

• Municipal water supply systems
• Water storage, capacity and operation
• Classification of water distribution systems
• Fundamentals of flow in piping systems
• Pumps and pumping stations

Day 2

• Pipe material selection, fabrication, procurement
• Control and safety valves, filters and strainers
• Underground piping characteristics: insulation and protection
• Pipe installation, commissioning and start-up
• Inspection, maintenance, and repair techniques

Day 3

• Potable water preparation process
• Wastewater treatment plants
• Municipal stormwater management
• Design elements of stormwater collector systems
• Maintenance of collector systems