Shaffers Engineering and Consulting's goal for offering wastewater classes to operators and staff personnel is four-fold.

  1. To offer quality classes to wastewater professionals to meet their basic knowledge requirements.
  2. To offer quality classes that allow the operator to develop their professional skills towards their ultimate professional goals.
  3. To offer quality classes that allow operators to meet their continuing education requirements.
  4. To offer quality classes close locally to make it easy operators to attend.
UPCOMING WASTEWATER PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES IN IDAHO IDAHO
July 2, 2015                               Idaho Falls, ID
       Idaho Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant
        4075 Glen Koester
        Idaho Falls, Idaho   83402
        An Introductory Course in Wastewater
                Microbiology
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

July 7, 2014                             Grangeville, ID
        Grangeville Super 8 Motel
        225 West North Street
        Grangeville, Idaho   83530
        NPDES Permit Development in Idaho
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

July 8, 2015                                           Genesee, ID
       Genesee Senior Citizen Center
       140 East Walnut Avenue
       Genesee, Idaho   83832
       NPDES Permit Development in Idaho
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

July 9,  2015                                      Rathdrum, ID
       Rathdrum Lions Club
       Highway 53 and Meyers Road
       Rathdrum, Idaho   83558
       NPDES Permit Development in Idaho
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

July 15,  2015                    Mountain Home, ID
       Mountain Home Library
        790 North 10th East Street
        Mountain Home, Idaho   83647
       NPDES Permit Development in Idaho
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

July 17, 2015                                              Hailey, ID
        1050 Fox Acres Road
        Hailey, Idaho   83333
        NPDES Permit Development in Idaho
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

July 22, 2015                                            Jerome, ID
        Jerome Library
        100 1st Avenue East
        Jerome, Idaho   83338
        NPDES Permit Development in Idaho
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

July 23, 2015                                            McCall, ID
        Location to be announced
        McCall, Idaho  
        NPDES Permit Development in Idaho
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]
The following wastewater classes are being developed and should be finalized within the year.
  • Sequencing Batch Reactors
  • Oxidation Ditches
  • Phosphorus Removal
  • pH Adjustment
  • NPDES Surface Water Discharge
  • Reuse Land Application
  • Sludge Collection/ Thickening
  • Sludge Digestion
  • Biosolids Dewatering
  • Biosolids Disposal
  • Developing a Quality Assurance Plan
  • Sampling and Quality Control
  • Basic Lab Procedures
  • Developing a Maintenance Program
  • Developing a Maintenance Manual
  • Developing a Safety Program
The cost all-day CEU-approved classes is $120.00 and is payable the day of the class by check or by credit card..  Special discounts are available and are listed below.

Seating may be limited so contact Shaffers to register for the upcoming classes.  Send us your name, telephone number, e-mail address and the system you work for:
  • Call our office at 509-334-2270 or 509-432-7070
  • Text our office at 509-432-7070
  • E-mail our office at ShaffersEngineering@gmail


  • Operators will get a $5.00 discount if they have attended previous trainings.
  • Bring a friend and get $5.00 off for each operator.
  • Bring four other operators and get $10.00 off for each operator.
  • Bring a total of ten operators and get $20 off for each operator.
  • Contract us to come to your site and we present to class for $1,500 for unlimited operators for a class listed below/$2000 for a class that you want developed.

Wastewater classes
currently offered
 An Introductory Course in Wastewater Microbiology
WWP14095944        0.7 CEUs

Wastewater Treatment Plants use biological treatment to break down soluble and colloidal BOD to settleable solids, gases, and water.  Understanding the microbiological make-up of the wastewater and conditions necessary for maximum grown is essential to the operator.  This course will give the operator a basic understanding of microbiological populations and their ability to thrive and treat wastewater.
Math for the Wastewater  Worker 
WWP13105167                                     0.7 CEUs

Math can be daunting for most of us, but it doesn't have to be.  The math that wastewater operators face can be made easier and less daunting by learning how to identify the type of problem, simplifying the problem, and then plugging the numbers into handy equations.  Learn how to make math anxiety a thing of the past.  Our small class sizes ensures personal attention.
NPDES Permit Issuance in Idaho
WWP15066581                                 0.6 CEUs

The most expensive item at a water or wastewater treatment plant is not the aeration basins, or the filters, or the digesters, but rather the permit that resides in the office and/or laboratory. This one piece of paper is the impetus for all improvements, upgrades, monitoring, and regulatory grievance and aggravation. And it seems that there is no avenue for the system to change the permit in their favor. That is not true.
         This course takes the mystery out of the permit writing process and shows the operator, engineer, administrators, and general population how they do have a big say in the development of their permit.
         This class is for system owners, engineers, administrators, operators, citizens, customers, and anyone affected by the issuance of an NPDES Permit. This could be the most valuable course you take this year or the years to come.

Safety for the Collection System Worker
WWP13095152        0.2 CEU's

This course is designed to give an overview of safety concerns that confront wastewater collection personnel and how they can be addressed.
Creating a Successful Maintenance Program
WWP13095151                                  0.1 CEU's

This course is designed to help wastewater systems develop maintenance programs for their collection and treatment systems.
Troubleshooting Activated Sludge Problems
WWP13095150                                  0.1 CEU's

This course presents the approach to solving 32 of the most common problems occurring at activated sludge sludge.
Developing a Wastewater Operations Manual 
WWP13095148                                  0.3 CEU's

Operations manuals are critical for the continued successful operations of wastewater systems and are required by states and EPA.  Learn how to develop a manual that is just right for your system.
UPCOMING WASTEWATER PROFESSIONAL CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES IN WASHINGTON
August 18, 2015                              Everett, WA
        Location to be announced
        Everett, Washington  
        An Introductory Course in Wastewater
                Microbiology
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

August 21, 2015                        Longview, WA
        Location to be Announced
        Longview, Washington
        An Introductory Course in Wastewater
            Microbiology
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

August 25, 2015                   Ellensburg, WA
        Location to be announced
       Ellensburg, Washington
       An Introductory Course in Wastewater
            Microbiology
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

September 2, 2015                          Pasco, WA
        Location to be announced
        Pasco, Washington
        An Introductory Course in Wastewater
            Microbiology
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

September 3, 2015                       Chelan, WA
       Location to be announced
        Chelan, Washington
        An Introductory Course in Wastewater
            Microbiology
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

September 16, 2015                 Spokane, WA
        Location to be announced
        Spokane, Washington
        An Introductory Course in Wastewater
            Microbiology
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]

September 23, 2015                Pullman, WA
        Location to be announced
        Pullman, Washington   99163
        An Introductory Course in Wastewater
            Microbiology
        [Info]  [Map]  [Class Agenda]
SHAFFERS ENGINEERING AND CONSULTING is developing references and training manuals to help supplement the formal classes.  We have started developing a manual that will contain all of our training material, along with references, tables, figures, formulas and a glossary (the glossary alone has over 3,000 words and terms used in drinking water, wastewater, plumbing, and environmental settings.)

We are also developing a workbook that contains math problems with step-by-step solutions to help you practice for exams, or just keep in practice for the day-to-day requirements of your job.  These problems cover the range of responsibilities for the wastewater operator over the course of his career.

Both of these resources should be ready for sale around the middle of the year, so look for our upcoming announcement.
More wastewater classes that are being developed and will be finalized within the year.
  • Wastewater System Planning
  • Water Chemistry
  • Wastewater Constituents
  • Collection System Operations
  • Pumps and Pump Stations
  • Flow-Measuring Devices
  • Flow Equalization
  • Screening Devices and Comminutors
  • Sedimentation and Settling
  • Flotation
  • Aeration
  • Disinfection
  • Fixed-Film Growth Systems
  • Trickling Filters
  • Suspended Solids Growth Systems
  • Activated Sludge
  • Extended Aeration
  • Wastewater Package Plants