Collection Systems

Collection Systems Exam Prep — Grade 4

Supervisor-level preparation for the highest CWEA collection system maintenance grade.

Course overview

Collection Systems Exam Prep — Grade 4 is a 24-contact-hour advanced or supervisory-level certification-review course for senior operators, lead workers, and supervisors preparing for higher certification. It organizes a broad exam outline into a deliberate sequence covering system design, cleaning, inspection, pipeline maintenance, lift stations, testing, rehabilitation, emergency response, confined-space safety, traffic control, and collection-system mathematics.

Major study areas include Collection system components, Gravity sewers and manholes, Lift stations and force mains, Pipe materials and defects, Hydraulic cleaning and jetting, Mechanical cleaning and rodding, CCTV inspection and coding, Root and grease control, Sanitary sewer overflows and SSO reporting, and Confined space entry, followed by additional grade-specific review and application.

The course emphasizes advanced process control, unusual operating conditions, system planning, compliance responsibility, and supervisory judgment. You will repeatedly connect technical concepts to operating decisions such as prioritizing maintenance, diagnosing blockages and infiltration, operating lift stations, protecting crews, and responding to overflows and service interruptions. Operator math is placed beside the process or system topic where it is used, making formulas easier to understand and recall.

Study is self-paced during the access period. Work through the lessons in order, revisit difficult material, use knowledge checks to identify weak areas, and finish with focused review and certification-style practice where provided. Progress is saved in the classroom, and the student Support area is available when you need help using the course.

This course prepares you to study more effectively; it does not issue a state license or guarantee an examination result. Compare the curriculum below with the latest exam bulletin from your certifying authority.

Who it is for

Senior operators and supervisors preparing for advanced technical and operational responsibility.

How you will study

Self-paced lessons, operator math, knowledge checks, focused review, and certification-style practice.

What you take away

A more organized understanding of the exam outline and a clear plan for reviewing weaker topics.

Course details

Program trackCollection Systems
Course typeCertification Exam Prep
Grade or levelGrade 4
Contact hours24 hours (2.4 CEUs)
Curriculum19 clearly listed modules
Access period180 days from first classroom login
Learning accessAvailable online on phone, tablet, or computer during the access period
Refund policyAll sales are final except where a refund is required by applicable law.
Certification contextCalifornia Water Environment Association (CWEA)
This course is being prepared in the classroom. Enrollment opens as soon as its lessons and final exam are published. Ask us to be told when it opens.

What you will study

The curriculum is shown before enrollment so you can compare it with your current exam bulletin, job duties, or renewal needs.

  1. Collection system components
  2. Gravity sewers and manholes
  3. Lift stations and force mains
  4. Pipe materials and defects
  5. Hydraulic cleaning and jetting
  6. Mechanical cleaning and rodding
  7. CCTV inspection and coding
  8. Root and grease control
  9. Sanitary sewer overflows and SSO reporting
  10. Confined space entry
  11. Traffic control and excavation safety
  12. Odor and corrosion control
  13. Rehabilitation methods and CIPP
  14. Collection system math
  15. Preventive maintenance planning
  16. Asset management and GIS
  17. Crew supervision and scheduling
  18. Capital rehabilitation programs
  19. Budgeting for collections