Free online water education modules available

From MSU News Service

BOZEMAN — The Montana Water Center and Montana NSF EPSCoR have posted eight water education modules that can be downloaded for free.

Developed to support water systems operators, the modules include:

• Water Quality Expedition — an overview of water quality issues, including primers on the hydrologic cycle and determinants of water quality.

• Operator Basics — including surface and ground water systems, ground water systems and wastewater lagoons.

• Contamination Explorer — covering pathogens, stormwater runoff, arsenic and biofilms.

• Virtual System Explorer — which simulates a small water system operation.

• Stormwater control.

• Sanitary survey fundamentals.

• Microbial risk assessment.

• Point-of-use reverse osmosis.

The modules, which were originally created for CD/DVD and as web-based applications, are now available for free download at http://montanawatercenter.org/wastewater-operator-resources . While the technology used to create and distribute the modules is being phased out, much of the content is still current and relevant for professionals.

The Montana Water Center is a federally funded water research institute that applies science, education and outreach to help solve contemporary water resource issues in Montana and the region. Its main office is located at Montana State University in Bozeman. NSF EPSCoR is a Montana University System program focused on stimulating Montana’s research and development capacity with offices at MSU and the University of Montana.