3rd Edition

Spellman's Standard Handbook for Wastewater Operators Volume I, Fundamental Level, Third Edition

By Frank R. Spellman Copyright 2026
244 Pages 54 B/W Illustrations
by CRC Press

244 Pages 54 B/W Illustrations
by CRC Press

244 Pages 54 B/W Illustrations
by CRC Press

Spellman’s Standard Handbook for Wastewater Operators: Volume I, Fundamental Level, Third Edition, contains the necessary information to successfully prepare for the currently administered certification examinations. Primarily designed to provide a readily accessible, user-friendly source of information for the first levels of wastewater licensure, this volume also sets the stage for Volumes II... Read more

Contents

Preface (3rd Edition)

About The Author

The Wastewater Operator’s Digital Train

Chapter 1             Introduction

Chapter 2             Wastewater Terminology and Definitions

Chapter 3             Basic Wastewater Mathematics

Chapter 4             Conversions

Chapter 5             Measuring Plant Performance

Chapter 6             Hydraulic Detention Time

Chapter 7             Wastewater: Sources and Characteristics

Chapter 8             Microbiology

Chapter 9             Water Hydraulics             

Chapter 10          Pumps

Chapter 11          Wastewater Collection

Chapter12            Preliminary Treatment

Chapter 13          Sedimentation (Primary Treatment)

Chapter 14          Secondary Treatment

Chapter 15          Activated Sludge

Chapter 16          Chlorination

Chapter 17          Solids Handling

Chapter 18          Wastewater Sampling and Testing

Chapter 19          Permits, Records, and Reports

Chapter 20          Final Review Exam

Appendix A—Answers to Chapter Review Questions

Appendix B—Answers to Final Review Exam: Chapter 20

Appendix C—Formulae

Biography

Frank R. Spellman, PhD, is a retired assistant professor of environmental health at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, and the author of more than 165 books covering topics ranging from concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) to all areas of environmental science and occupational health. Many of his texts are readily available online and several have been adopted for classroom use at major universities throughout the United States, Canada, China, Europe, South Korea, and Russia; many have been translated into Spanish for South American markets. Dr. Spellman has been cited in more than 1,250 publications. He is a professional expert witness for three law groups and an incident/accident investigator for the U.S. Department of Justice and a northern Virginia law firm. Dr. Spellman has contributed to fashioning several state licensing examinations for water and wastewater operators at all levels for licensure certification. In addition, he consults on homeland security vulnerability assessments for critical infrastructures, including water/wastewater facilities nationwide. He conducts nationwide pre-Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)/Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) audits. Dr. Spellman receives frequent requests to co-author with well-recognized experts in several scientific fields: for example, he is a contributing author of the prestigious text The Engineering Handbook, 2nd ed. (CRC Press). Dr. Spellman lectures on sewage treatment, water treatment, homeland security, and safety topics throughout the country and teaches water/wastewater operator short courses at Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, Virginia). He holds a BA in public administration, a BS in business management, both summa cum laude, an MBA, and an MS and PhD in environmental engineering. In 2011, Dr. Spellman traced the ancient water system at Machu Picchu, Peru, and two different drinking water systems in the Galapagos Islands.