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*NOVEMBER 2024*

In this issue:

* Avoiding Phishing Scams with three simple Tips. [ #link_1 ]
* Certification and Training Update. [ #link_2 ]
* DMR-QA Study 44 Update. [ #link_5 ]
* CDX Log in Transition to Login.gov . [ #link_4 ]
* For Practice. [ #link_3 ]

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Avoiding Phishing Scams with three simple Tips.

Phishing Scams

Phishing is a common and effective tactic used by attackers to gain unauthorized access to a company’s network. It involves online messages designed to look like they’re from a trusted source. We may open what we thought was a safe email, attachment, or image only to find ourselves exposed to malware or a scammer looking for personal data.

The good news is we can take precautions to protect our important data by learning to recognize the signs, and reporting phishing attempts to your IT department to protect devices and data.

*Recognize the common signs*


* Urgent or emotionally appealing language
* Untrusted shortened URLs
* Poor writing/ misspellings
* Requests for personal or financial information
* Unexpected attachments

*What to do if you Suspect Phishing?*

Resist opening the message. Don’t reply or click on any attachment or link, including the “unsubscribe” link. Delete and report to your IT department. If you are unsure if it is legitimate, go to the company’s website and call the person directly.

If you delete an email that turns out to be legitimate, the person can always send it to you again. That is a much better scenario than having your organization’s computer system exposed to malware. It’s crucial to be vigilant and know how to identify and report phishing attempts to protect your network.



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Certification and Training Update.

*Renewal Letters Mailed for Odd-Numbered Operator Certifications*

If your certification number is an odd number, you will need to renew your certification by March 1, 2025. Renewal notices were sent out by mail. If you have moved or changed your address, please contact Spring Connolly, [email protected] call 207-253-8020.

You can renew online at [link removed]. 

Not sure if you still need contact hours to renew? Scroll down the page to the blue tab, View TCH Summary, to check your continuing education hours, listed by certification number.

*Monthly Training Calendar and Training/Certification Resources. *

The monthly training calendar, which lists training by not-for-profit organizations, is emailed to certified operators each month. It can be found at the DEP’s certification website  https:/www.maine.gov/dep/water/wwoperator/ [ [link removed] ] under the Additional Materials section.

*Save the date for these Conventions and Trade Shows*


* Northeast Residuals & Biosolids Conference, Exhibit & Tour, Providence, RI, November 13-14, 2024, NEWEA Northeast Residuals & Biosolids Conference 2024 [ [link removed] ]
* MRWA 44th Annual Conference and Trade Show at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor, December 10-12, 2024, registration at [link removed].
* NEWEA Industrial Wastewater Seminar & Tour, Portland, ME, December 10, 2024, [link removed] [ [link removed] ]
* MWUA 99th Annual Conference, February 5-6, 2025 at the Augusta Civic Center, [link removed].
* JETCC’s North Country Convention (NCC), April 2-3, 2025 in Presque Isle,  [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

*Conference Highlights*

_MRWA Annual Conference_

Don’t miss MRWA’s 44th Annual Conference & Trade Show at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor on December 10-12, 2024! Located a short walk from downtown Bangor, the Cross Insurance Center is the perfect place to make new connections in the industry this year. A full slate of presentations for the Water & Wastewater industry are scheduled. Go to 44th Annual Conference & Trade Sho - Maine Rural Water Association [ [link removed] ] for more info and to register.

_NEWEA Annual Conference_

NEWEA is excited to connect in person with our water industry colleagues at the 2025 Annual Conference & Exhibit, taking place at the Boston Marriott Copley Place, Boston, MA, January 26-29, 2025.

This prestigious conference, which consistently attracts over 2,300 engineers, consultants, scientists, operators and students features a variety of technical sessions and over 200 exhibitor displays. The conference provides an opportunity for professional exchange of information and state-of-the-art concepts in wastewater treatment and other water environment issues.

Go to Annual Conference - NEWEA Annual Conference [ [link removed] ] for more info and to register.

_NEWEA Industrial Waste Specialty Conference_

Join the NEWEA Industrial Wastewater committee at Allagash Brewery in Portland for a brewery and laundry wastewater tour. There will be technical discussions on integrated wastewater management, water reuse and chemical feed pumps used in industrial applications.

Industrial and Municipal wastewater operators, engineers and responsible professionals interested in industrial pretreatment planning and operations will benefit from attending this conference for insight, information, and experiences surrounding the challenges and opportunities of industrial wastewater pretreatment treatment and reuse. The two tours include:


* Tour #1 – Industrial Pretreatment System: UniFirst Industrial Laundry Pretreatment system.
* Tour #2 – Brewery Wastewater Pretreatment: A tour through the brewery will highlight the brewhouse, cellars, brewing and wastewater treatment processes as well as a tasting.

For more information, go to www.newea.org [ [link removed] ].

*JETCC Offers Exam Prep Opportunities*

_Wastewater Grades 3-5 Exam Prep Class Offered in South Portland, Hampden, and Presque Isle_

December 17-19, 2024, Southern Maine Community College (SMCC), South Portland, with remote broadcasting at F.W. Webb Co. in Hampden and Presque Isle.

To register, visit www.neiwpcc.org/maine/jetcc-training [ [link removed] ].

Join Patrick Wiley, PhD, SMCC Water Technology instructor, to prepare for the biological grades 3-5 wastewater operator certification exams. This 3-day course will focus on activated sludge process control, biological nutrient removal, solids handling, lab testing, applied math, and other topics. Structured to include hands-on exercises and group discussions. Classes will be held at F.W. Webb in their Hampden and Presque Isle locations as a remote session and will be formatted like a regular in-person JETCC class. Instruction will be streamed to the class and structured to ensure participant engagement.

_Prepare for AND take the NEWEA Collection System Exam_

January 14-16, 2025, E.J. Prescott, Gardiner

To register, visit www.neiwpcc.org/maine/jetcc-training [ [link removed] ]

Preparing to take Grades 1 through 4 of the NEWEA Collection Systems Certification exam? Join instructor Don Kennedy to receive instruction on collection system operation and maintenance (O&M), flow characteristics, collection system components, pump stations, safety, math concepts, example problems, and other topics. Back by popular demand, you can also take the exam immediately following the class on January 16!  

Important note: Those seeking to take the exam must apply directly through NEWEA no later than November 15, 2024. Please visit NEWEA’s website at www.newea.org [ [link removed] ] for more information or to apply to take an exam.

For more information, contact Spring Connolly at [email protected], 207-253-8020.

*JETCC Website has a new Look!*

Check out JETCC’s new website to help better serve Maine’s wastewater Operator Certification Program, as well as training classes and webinars.

_NEIWPCC South Portland:_

Spring Connolly new email: [email protected]

General email: [email protected]

Landing page: www.neiwpcc.org/maine [ [link removed] ]

_JETCC Training:_

JETCC Training: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

Wastewater Operator School (WOS): [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

Management Candidate School (MCS): [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

North Country Convention (NCC): [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

About JETCC: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

_Operator Certification Program:_

Email: [email protected]

Landing page: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

Exams: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

Renewals: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

Forms Library: [link removed] [ [link removed] ]

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DMR-QA Study 44 Update.

DMR-QA Study 44 closed on August 30th and the deadline to send graded results to the DMR-QA coordinators was October 25th.

The latest version of the announcement packet can be found here: DMR-QA Study 44 Announcement [ [link removed] ]

As a reminder, if your laboratory happens to receive a “Not-Acceptable” score for one or more parameters, you must complete a corrective action and perform retests for all parameters with Not Acceptable results. A copy of the corrective action report and retest results must be sent to the State DMR-QA coordinator by December 6th. 

If you have any questions regarding DMR-QA study 44 please contact Brett Goodrich at 207-450-5590 or [email protected].

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CDX Log in Transition to Login.gov .

Log in

On August 16th, 2024, CDX transitioned to using Login.gov for all user verification, including the NetDMR and NeT reporting tools.

While the transition went smoothly for most CDX/ NetDMR users in Maine, there have been sporadic issues for some users during the past couple months.

This article will address some of the issues that have been encountered and provide updated tips for navigating the transition for users that might still be having problems.

_Example of issues with transition:_


* _Verification method doesn’t match:_ This has happened to users that have multiple Login.gov accounts. Once a CDX account is linked to a Login.gov account it cannot be linked to another Login.gov account. You can double check which account is linked by logging in at gov [ [link removed] ] and clicking “Your connected accounts” on the left side toolbar. You can also modify your authentication methods and update phone numbers from the account page.
* _Email address already in-use:_ If you’re trying to use an email address that was already associated with a CDX account you will have to contact CDX help desk to have them deactivate the existing CDX account before you can proceed with setting up a new account. The CDX help desk is available 8:00 am-6:00 pm at 888-890-1995.

Detailed instructions, trainings and FAQs are available here: CDX Login Transition Step by Step Guide [ [link removed] ]. You can also contact the NetDMR coordinator at [email protected].



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For Practice.

1. When organic wastes are discharged to receiving waters, oxygen is depleted by:

a. Algae during the day
b. Bacteria
c. Ducks
d. Limestone Rocks

2. Employee hazards include:

a. Noxious or toxic gases or vapors
b. Oxygen deficiency
c. Physical injuries
d. All of the above

3. Hydrogen sulfide gives off an odor similar to:

a. Ammonia
b. Chlorine Gas
c. Rotten eggs
d. Decayed wood

4. Coliform bacteria are:

a. Algae
b. Coagulant aids
c. Indicators
d. Sequestering agents

5. Three waterborne diseases are:

a. Mumps, measles, colds
b. Scarlet fever, pneumonia, hay fever
c. Typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera
d. Tuberculosis, diphtheria, chickenpox

6. A cylindrical tank is 10 ft. in diameter and 20 ft. in height. What is the approximate capacity in gallons?

a. 11,743
b. 8,200
c. 1,570
d. 1,123

7. Immediate first aid for bums is to:

a. Bandage tightly
b. Cover liberally with salve
c. Immerse in warm water
d. Flood with cold water

8. Which of the pH readings indicates acidic wastewater?

a. 3
b. 7
c. 9
d. 12

9. If water weighs 8.341b/gal., how much will 7.5 gal. weigh?

a. 50.8 lb
b. 62.5 lb
c. 75.61b
d. 77.31b

10. One mL is what fraction of L?

a. 1/10
b. 1/100
c. 1/1000
d. 1/10,000

11. A possible cause of electric motor failure is:

a. Dirt
b. Moisture
c. Friction
d. All of the above

12. Your pump ran continuously for 24 hours and delivered 288,000 gal. The capacity of the pump in gpm is:

a. 100
b. 200
c. 1,000
d. 12,000

13. Approximately how many gallons of wastewater would 600 ft. of 6-inch diameter pipe hold?

a. 740
b. 880
c. 900
d. 930

14. A water seal on a pump serves a dual purpose. It acts as a lubricant and it also:

a. Acts as a coolant to keep the pump bearing from overheating
b. Keeps gritty material from entering the packing box
c. Keeps the pump primed
d. Is a reserve water supply

15. The elevation of any pump above the source of supply should not exceed how many ft.?

a. 2.2
b. 22
c. 200
d. 224

*Answers*


* b.
* d.
* c.
* c.
* c.
* a.

Find the volume of the tank using the formula Volume = 0.785 X D2 X Height

0.785 X 10 ft X 10 ft X 20 = 1570 cubic feet (cf)

Multiply by 7.48 to convert cf to gallons

1570 cf X 7.48 gal/cf = 11,743 gal.


* d.
* a.
* b.
* c.
* d.
* b.

288,000 gal/24 hours = 12,000 gal/hour.

Convert to gpm: 12,000 gal/hr ÷ 60 min/hr = 200 gpm.

13.b.

Use the formula for the volume of a circular tank; in this case instead of height use the length. Don’t forget to change inches to feet (6 inches = 0.5 ft).

0.785 X D2 X Length X 7.48 gal/cf

0.785 X 0.5 X 0.5 X 600 ft X 7.48 = 880.77 gal

14.b.

15.b.

The theoretical maximum height a pump can lift water using suction is 33.9 feet at sea level (14.7 psi X 2.31 ft head/psi = 33.9 ft). Since no pump can produce a perfect vacuum, in practice the maximum suction lift is lower.

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