This team-taught comprehensive course explores modern techniques and technologies used in water treatment and utility asset management. The session begins with an in-depth look at iron and manganese and will learn where these elements originate, their characteristics in groundwater and distribution systems, and effective treatment approaches to remove or control them. Real-world project examples will illustrate typical design steps, pilot testing, and implementation timelines for treatment systems in Massachusetts.
The course then examines solutions for small water systems, and will review treatment technologies addressing emerging contaminants such as PFAS, nitrates, and disinfection by-products, as well as methods for pH adjustment and corrosion control. Emphasis will be placed on how site conditions and system constraints influence treatment selection, operation, and maintenance.
The course concludes with a focus on GIS-based asset management, a cornerstone of effective utility operations. Attendees will discover how Geographic Information Systems enhance visibility, efficiency, and decision-making by integrating asset inventory, maintenance tracking, and field data collection into one streamlined platform. Demonstrations will highlight how digital mapping tools support real-time monitoring, automated reporting, and field-to-office communication empowering communities to maintain resilient, data-driven water infrastructure systems.
Specific instruction includes the following topics:
- Understanding and treating iron & manganese, by Derek Belanger
- An Overview of Water Treatment Solutions for Small Water Systems, by Ryan Fleming
- Leveraging Geospatial Solutions for Asset Management, by Alexis Freudenberg:
- GIS-Based Asset Management – Tools for Operations, By Elizabeth Hanna
To sign up for this class, REGISTER ONLINE, or contact Erica Burns
Date: July 16, 2026 (#2026-18)
Locations:
Montague Public Safety Complex-Training Room
180 Turnpike Rd
Turners Falls, MA 01376
County: Franklin
Time:
Attendance: 7:45AM – 8:00AM
Class: 8:00AM – 11:30AM (includes breaks)
Morning Refreshments will be provided!
Class Fee (per registrant): NONE
Agency Approval:
3.0 TCH’s for MA Water operators
Instructors & Bios: All from Tighe & Bond
Speaker Bio Derek Belanger
Derek is a Senior Engineer from Tighe & Bond’s Worcester office. As a professional engineer Derek has worked on a variety of water treatment solutions. He’s here today to share some of his recent experiences.
Speaker Bio Ryan Fleming
Ryan Fleming is a principal engineer and technical director for drinking water services with Tighe & Bond in their Middletown, Connecticut office, where his expert knowledge of water quality and treatment contributes to the planning, design, construction, and operation of new and existing water treatment facilities. In addition to his consulting engineering experience, Ryan worked as an operations engineer for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Water and Sewer Operations and was Director of Water Quality for a large, publicly traded water utility in the State of Connecticut. Ryan is a licensed professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. He earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Colorado State University and a Master of Science degree from Cornell University.
Speaker Bio Alexis Freudenberg:
Alexis is a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst with five years of experience at Tighe & Bond. She has strong background supporting municipal, water, sewer, and stormwater operation and inventory mapping needs. She works on a variety of asset management projects in New England, as well as energy utility mapping, transportation projects, and Lead Service Line Inventories. Alexis holds a Master of Science degree in Energy and Environmental Management with a GIS Certificate from the University of Connecticut.
Speaker Bio Elizabeth Hanna
Elizabeth Hanna is a Staff Engineer at Tighe & Bond with four years of experience supporting municipal water and wastewater infrastructure projects, specializing in planning, permitting, and design through construction. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida.
Register Online! at Massrwa.org, or for questions, email: eburns@massrwa.org
Cancellation Policy: Individuals registered for one of our training classes, seminars, and/or conferences will be charged the class fee if we have not received notice of cancellation at least 48-hours prior to the beginning of the session. Anyone contacting MassRWA to cancel enrollment from a training session will receive a cancellation number. In the event of an emergency, which would prevent attendance, please contact us as soon as possible with the details at eburns@massrwa.org
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