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*FEBRUARY 2026*

In this issue:

* Tips for Preparing for the Wastewater Certification Exam. [ #link_1389912064779 ]
* EPA Offers Free Assistance for Resiliency Planning. [ #link_1389912066563 ]
* No-Cost Cybersecurity Vulnerability Assessments and Technical Assistance for POTWs. [ #link_1389912068132 ]
* Certification and Training Highlights. [ #link_1389912070779 ]
* For Practice. [ #link_1389912072571 ]

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Tips for Preparing for the Wastewater Certification Exam.

Many examinees have been out of school for a while and may not be used to taking exams in their day-to-day working life. Others feel test anxiety when taking an exam. Here are a few simple tips to help prepare for your certification exam:


* Take an exam prep training class. A list of self-paced, web-based training can be found at: Maine Wastewater Operator Renewals • NEIWPCC [ [link removed] ], click on Training Contact Hour (TCH) Information, On-Demand training, and download the spreadsheet to find your course.
* Study your course notes, reference books, and class examples in order to prepare for the exam. Study over a long period of time instead of cramming right before the exam. Use highlighters and yellow sticky notes to find topics easily.
* Study with co-workers using study questions, practice tests, and a basic math review.
* Try a sample exam using this link, Understand WPI's Web-Based WBT Exams & Preparation Tips [ [link removed] ] and clicking on the tab labelled Wastewater Treatment Sample Questions.
* Stay relaxed and get a good night’s sleep the night before the test. Start your day as you always do. Eat a good breakfast. Think Positive!

Multiple Choice Questions:


* There is only _one, best answer_.
* Sometimes it is possible to eliminate some answers and narrow it down to the best two to help choose the correct answer.
* Make sure you understand what the question is asking! Read the question and all answers before marking anything.
* Find key words or phrases in the question that will help you choose the correct answer.
* Pace yourself. Don’t spend too much time on any one questions. Do your best then move on.
* Make sure to answer all questions. Do not leave any questions blank. There is no penalty for guessing.
* Your first impulse is usually right. Don’t dwell on any one question and resist changing your answers!
* If you don’t know, put your best guess, then go back later to spend more time. Sometimes another question will help you remember the answer to the previous one. Try not to change your answers unless you are very certain about your first answer choice.
* Be sure to go back and answer any questions you skipped.
* Don’t guess blindly. Take time to think about the best answer choice.

Math Questions:


* Practice using the math formula sheet BEFORE the exam to become familiar with the equations and conversion factors commonly used in your discipline. The wastewater formula sheet can be found at Ace Your WPI/ABC Exams: Essential Formula/Conversion Tables [ [link removed] ].
* Use scratch paper to draw a figure of the math problem. Find the formula on the sheet provided and write down all your work, including units, on the scratch paper. If you fill up one sheet, ask for another.
* Check math answers to verify the correct units the question is asking for.
* If your math answers does not match any of the choices, check the formula against the one you have written down, and try the calculation again.
* Sometimes superfluous information is given in math questions to throw you off!
* Does the math answer “make sense” as far as quantity of what is being asked?
* After you have finished, go back and check your answers. But avoid changing answers unless you have thought of new information to answer the question.

Additional exam resources can be found at: Maine Wastewater Operator Certification Exams • NEIWPCC [ [link removed] ].



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EPA Offers Free Assistance for Resiliency Planning.

EPA’s has a program to help drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities communities increase system resilience to natural hazards and disasters. The initiative, called "Strengthening Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT), "provides technical assistance and practical risk assessment tools to identify and evaluate resilient strategies.

SWIFT helps promote a better understanding of natural hazard threats and their impacts on vulnerable assets, providing the guidance needed to make risk-informed infrastructure and investment decisions. SWIFT offers approaches to infrastructure financing, making necessary connections that help utilities fund the implementation of their disaster resilience projects.

Communities that participate in SWIFT projects work with EP scientists and engineers through remote meetings and information sharing. The commitment is about 8 hours total. Findings from SWIFT analyses help utilities assess potential risks to their systems and explore financial resources to help implement these resilience  projects.

For find more information, as well as online tools and resources, visit Strengthening Water Infrastructure for Tomorrow (SWIFT) | US EPA [ [link removed] ]. If you would like to request SWIFT technical assistance for you utility, contact Aliza Furneaux ([email protected]), or submit an online request form found at Water Technical Assistance Request Form | US EPA [ [link removed] ].

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No-Cost Cybersecurity Vulnerability Assessments and Technical Assistance for POTWs.

Cyber-attacks against water and wastewater infrastructure across the country are increasing. Even small municipalities are being targeted. Is your plant ready for a cyber incident that could take out your SCADA system and jeopardize plant operations?

A valuable tool for evaluating the cyber hygiene of your facility plant is to conduct a vulnerability assessment. A vulnerability assessment is a systematic examination to determine the adequacy of security and privacy measures by identifying security holes that may be exploited on a computer or network.

The EPA and the Maine National Guard (MENG) are offering no-cost to assessments to POTWs. Assessments are completely voluntary and confidential with no information shared with regulatory authorities.


* Please contact [email protected] if you would like to know more about MENG cyber assessments.
* Click Here [ [link removed] ] for more information on EPA’s vulnerability assessment program.__

*_DEF CON "Franklin": A Completely Free Program to Improve Your Water System Cybersecurity_*

DEF CON "Franklin" is a free cyber volunteer program - established in partnership with the National Rural Water Association (NRWA) - that offers free cyber assistance to water and wastewater systems across the nation. "Franklin"'s" "cyber volunteers are highly qualified to help you scope your cyber needs, identify existing vulnerabilities, and patch up any weaknesses. Over the past year, the program has assisted small and rural water systems in Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Utah, Oregon, and Vermont, and is now expanding its services to the state of Maine. The initiative is named the "Project Franklin, "in honor of US founding father Benjamin Franklin.

Project Franklin is joining forces with MRWA to help small communities with cyber assistance. Please contact Aaron Gaylord [email protected] for more information.

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Certification and Training Highlights.

*_MWUA's 100th Annual Tradeshow & Conference_*

Join MWUA for their 100th Annual Tradeshow & Conference, February 3rd - 5th, 2026 at the Augusta Civic Center. Join Water & Wastewater professionals for a full lineup of presentations, vendor hall, and networking opportunities. Other events include:


* *Meet & Greet* – Wednesday, February 4 | 3:30 – 6:00 PM
* *Cornhole Competition* – Wednesday, February 4 | Begins at 4:00 PM
* *Tapping Contest* – Thursday, February 5 | Begins at 10:30 AM

Go to MWUA’s website at MWUA Annual Tradeshow & Conference - MWUA [ [link removed] ] to register.

*_March 1, 2026 Renewal Deadline for Even-Numbered Operator Certifications_*

If your certification ends in an even number, you will need to renew your certification by March 1, 2026 in order to maintain Active status. You can renew online with a credit card at Maine Wastewater Operator Renewals • NEIWPCC [ [link removed] ], which includes the following:


* Providing documentation of the required 18 Training Contact Hours (TCHs).
* Paying the renewal fee (currently $125).
* Updating contact information, including email address.

Timely renewal of operator certification is very important!. Failure to renew on time makes the certificate inactive, increases the cost of renewal, and may lead to other complications.

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. This report is updated on the first business day of the month.

Contact Aiden Mabey, [email protected] or call 207-253-8020 with questions.

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For Practice.

1. The purpose of an air-gap device is to:

a. Put more oxygen in the waste in sewers to avoid odors
b. Lessen vibration in pipes.
c. Prevent cross connections between wastewater and potable water.
d. Ventilate wet wells at pump stations

2. A BOD test was run using three dilutions of the same sample. Which dilution gives the most valid results?

Sample:

   *  Volume     Initial         DO Final     DO BOD*
a.  3 mL         8.0 mg/L     6.7 mg/L      130 mg/L
b.  5 mL         7.9 mg/L     4.0 mg/L      234 mg/L
c.  8 mL         8.1 mg/L     0.9 mg/L      270 mg/L

3. If the return sludge rate does not change, the influent flow increases and the influent BOD concentration remains constant, the F/M ratio in the aeration basin will most likely…

a. Remain the same
b. Increase
c. Decrease
d. Depend on the air temperature

4. If a lab analyst has a stock solution of acid that is 10N and mixes 200 mL of that acid with 800 mL of distilled water, what will the normality of the resulting solution be?

a. 0.8N
b. 0.2N
c. 8.0N
d. 2.0N

*Answers:*

1. c. An air-gap is the only acceptable method to prevent cross-connections between wastewater and potable water.

2. b. The BOD acceptance criteria for DO depletion requires a minimum 2.0 mg/L DO depletion and at least 1.0 mg/L of DO remaining.

In sample a, the depletion of DO in the sample bottle is less than 2.0 mg/L indicating that there was not enough biological activity for a valid test. In sample C, the DO was depleted to less than 1.0 mg/L. There might not have been enough DO available to complete the biological reduction of the organic material in the wastewater.

Sample b. is the only sample to meet both acceptance criteria.

3. b. The F/M ratio is the ratio of the pounds of food to the pounds of microorganisms. If more flow having the same BOD concentration comes into the plant, the plant will receive more pounds of BOD. If the return sludge rate remains constant, there will be more food for the same amount of sludge. Thus, the F/M ratio increases

4. d. The normality of the final solution is given by (Volume of Acid X Normality of Acid)/Total Volume

Normality of Solution = (200 mL X 10N)/(200mL + 800mL) = 2.0N

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