Description: Understanding basic hydraulic principles is essential for the effective operation and maintenance of drinking water systems. This one-hour webinar introduces operators to the fundamental concepts of water hydraulics and demonstrates how these principles affect water movement through treatment facilities, storage systems, transmission mains, and distribution systems. Participants will learn key hydraulic terms, explore the relationships between flow, pressure, velocity, and head, and review common calculations used in daily operations. Through practical examples and operator-focused exercises, attendees will gain a better understanding of how hydraulic conditions impact system performance, water quality, and regulatory compliance.

This webinar is designed for entry-level and experienced drinking water operators seeking to strengthen their understanding of hydraulic concepts and improve their ability to make informed operational decisions.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Define basic hydraulic terms, including flow, pressure, velocity, head, friction loss, and static and dynamic conditions.

• Describe the relationships between flow, pressure, and pipe size and explain how changes in one variable affect system performance.

• Perform common hydraulic calculations used in drinking water operations, including flow rate, velocity, volume, and pressure conversions.

Presenter: Daryl Gotham, P.E., Senior Research Engineer, Great Lakes Environmental Infrastructure Center

Certificate: This webinar has NOT been submitted for approval of continuing education credit. We can provide a certificate of attendance to eligible attendees, but cannot guarantee it will meet your PDH or CEU requirements.

Who Should Attend: 

• Managers, owners, and operators of small drinking water systems serving less than 10,000 people

• Decision-makers for drinking water utilities, including mayors, finance officers, utility managers, public works directors, city councilors, board members, tribal council members, and clerks

• Consultants and technical assistance providers serving drinking water systems

Partner: