This event will be held in partnership with the Professional Training Association at no cost to SWIOS members and reduced cost to non-SWIOS members.

Registration Deadline: 5 pm November 18th, 2025 using the links provided below
Instructor: Erika Schwender of PTA
CEUs: provided to attendees
Lunch: provided to attendees
Two Separate Registration Links: "Things to know when doing Wastewater Lab Work" In-person | —— "BOD Testing for Wastewater Operators" In-person workshop, Eagle, |

Things To Know When Doing Wastewater Lab Work (9:00 - 12:00): In this class we will discuss key processes wastewater operators are encountering in the lab. This workshop covers essential information for all levels of wastewater operator certification exams. We will explain:

• How to select the appropriate glassware, chemicals, and reagents used for analyses

  1. Reagent preparation

  2. Instrument calibration

  3. Quality Assurance / Quality Control

  4. Lab documentation

  5. Critical steps of performing the pH, TSS, and fecal coliform analyses

  6. Q&A

BOD Testing For Wastewater Operators (12:30 - 3:45): BOD, CBOD, and COD are fundamental water-quality indicators used to measure the quantity and type of organic pollution in wastewater and natural waters. Each represents oxygen demand in a different way. In this class we will discuss anything related to the BOD analysis. This workshop covers essential information for all levels of wastewater operator certification exams for wastewater professionals. We will cover:

• Sample collection, preservation, and storage

• Types of BOD (Soluble & non-soluble BOD, Total BOD, CBOD, NBOD)

• COD

• Dilution water preparation

• Seed material

• Sample preparation requirements

• Set up and reading of the test

• QAQC

• BOD Math (dilutions, seed strength, BOD concentration)

• Troubleshooting

• Q&A

"Things to know when doing Wastewater Lab Work" In-person | To register for the morning training.

"BOD Testing for Wastewater Operators" In-person workshop, Eagle, | To register for the afternoon training.

Contact: info@pro-train.org or (360) 490-2426 for more information about the class.

Bio: Erika Schwender has a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and holds the following certifications: Wastewater Operator Group IV, Drinking Water Treatment Operator III, Sample Collection Technician II, and Environmental Professional. Mrs. Schwender has over 27 years of experience in the water quality, treatment, and regulatory field. In 1991 she started her career in a commercial laboratory in MD, where the majority of her activities were related to collecting, preparing, and analyzing water and wastewater samples, managing the quality assurance program, and providing support to water and wastewater utilities’ compliance programs. Throughout her career she was hired by a variety of municipal, private, and governmental agencies to develop, implement, and manage water quality, stormwater, pretreatment, wastewater, drinking water, and other regulatory programs.

In 1999 Erika held a temporary appointment as a Chemist II with the WA Dept. of Ecology’s Laboratory in Manchester. Later that year she joined the Central Kitsap WWTP laboratory, where she performed a variety of analyses for process control and regulatory purposes, and oversaw quality assurance, lab accreditation, waste management, and permit compliance activities. She collaborated with operations on a variety of projects and studies and provided support related to compliance, lab data, and lab accreditation for the County’s 4 WWTPs.

In 2002 Mrs. Schwender was one of the founders of the Lab Training Group in Port Angeles, WA, which became a subsection of PNCWA. From 2002 to 2010 she was essential in the development and organization of the group’s laboratory and process control training for wastewater operators. Later she developed and managed the regulatory compliance and water quality monitoring program for the Buckman Direct Diversion Project, a state-of-the-art surface water treatment plant, in Santa Fe, NM, and was promoted to General Manager of the facility. As the Resource Protection Division Director of the NM Environment Department Mrs. Schwender oversaw the State’s Groundwater Quality Bureau, Surface Water Quality Bureau, Petroleum Storage Tank Bureau, and the Department of Energy Oversight Bureau.

After returning to WA in 2014, she became Mason County’s Deputy Director – Utilities & Waste Management and managed the County’s 3 wastewater treatment operations, 2 drinking water systems, and 4 solid waste operations. In 2016 Mrs. Schwender joined the WA Dept. of Health as the Deputy Director of the Office of Drinking Water, where she managed the Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance, State Revolving Fund, Finance, and Public Outreach programs. In 2017 Mrs. Schwender and 4 other industry related professionals created Professional Training Association (PTA) to provide support for rural communities. PTA is a non profit organization and focuses on supporting small to mid-sized water and wastewater operations by providing training and technical support to operations, maintenance, finance, and management, as well elected officials. In her current role as PTA's Executive Director she manages the training and technical support, public relations / outreach, and fundraising programs, and provides technical assistance and training to water & wastewater professionals.