OC Process


Event Coordinator

Paul Dombrowski
Woodard & Curran

          

Event Vice Coordinator

Christen Wood
Jacobs


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2025 Process Control Event Description  

The topics for 2025 are:

Membrane Bioreactors (MBR)
 Phosphorus Removal (Biological and Chemical)
Collections
Pumps and Pumping (Centrifugal, Positive Displacement)

If you are the Process Control Event Coordinator for a state, regional or member association event and have questions, please contact the event coordinator via the Ask a Question link below to set up a call.  

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2025 WEF Operations Challenge Simulator and Multiple Choice Test Practice Version is available for download.

The practice version of the 2024 WEF Operations Challenge simulator and Multiple-Choice Quiz is now available for teams to download.  Please go to the link below to download the software and request a keycode.

Click here Hydromantis Software Download
Please fill out the forms for the practice version and download the software.  There is one installation program that installs both applications.
 
If you have any issues with installing and activating the software, please contact support@hydromantis.com for assistance.

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2024 Math Review Sessions

Beginning September 2, 2024, every Monday 8am -10am (MST), Indigo Water Group will offer 2 Hour sessions of Math Review for any Operations Challenge Team. Click here for Login Information 


 2024 Training Videos

2023 Math Review Session Questions

2022 Videos - Work out Math Problems

Past Event Questions and Answers

Ask A Question

Questions will be accepted up until  9/23/25.  Additional questions can be asked at the pre-competition meeting on Monday, September 29, in Chicago.

QuestionAnswerDate
When will the scenarios be posted?Scenario topics will be issued with the updated rules for the event no later than 1/31/20251/17/25
What are the subjects for 2025? Tx OC is March 19-20th coming up.  ThanksScenario topics will be issued with the updated rules for the event no later than 1/31/20251/17/25
Will you post the answers for the 2024 process control test?The answers have been posted above in the Past Event Questions and Answers.1/20/25
Just wondering if there is an update for the Process topics? It was previously stated that the topics would be up by 1/31/2025The updated rules with the scenario topics are now posted above.  The notable changes for the event include: (1) there is not longer partial credit on the short math questions, (2) there is a new layout included with the simulator questions, and (3) the new scenario topics have been included.2/5/25
Will Hydromantis release a 2025 practice simulator with the new layout? If so what is the timeframe?The 2025 Practice Version of the Simulator has been updated on the team resource center above.2/5/25
Do you have any study or reference materials for the category of Pumps and Pumping (Centrifugal, Positive Displacement)?
There are numerous references provided in the Process Control Event Rules that are good sources of information on pumps and pumping systems.  These include but are not limited to; WEF Wastewater Treatment Fundamentals II, WEF MOP 11, and the WEF Wastewater Collection Systems Operator Certification Studybook.
2/16/25
I wanted to reach out for some advice regarding the process event. My coworker and I are responsible for the multiple-choice section, simulator, and short math portion, while our two other teammates—who are engineers—handle the scenario section. Despite our practice efforts, the process-related aspects remain a major challenge for us.

We do study math throughout the year alongside our team members to keep up with the short math portion. However, when it comes to multiple choice and the simulator, we consistently fall short. Part of the difficulty is that neither my coworker nor I work in process-related roles—I'm in Facilities, handling maintenance for personnel-occupied buildings, and my coworker is in Safety. Our engineers, while knowledgeable, specialize in transmission rather than process engineering.

I've memorized the simulator multiple times and can achieve near-perfect scores under familiar conditions, but when it changes in competition, my lack of process knowledge leaves me at a loss. The same goes for multiple choice—because we don’t work with these systems daily, we struggle to answer with confidence.

What would you recommend for us to study or focus on to improve our understanding of process operations? We want to contribute more effectively and give our team a fighting chance in these areas. Any guidance or resources you could share would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time and insight!

There are multiple options for you to improve your process understanding that will help you improve with the short math, multiple choice and simulator questions in the event.  These include:

  1. If you have two teammates or other coworkers who are accomplished as process, ask them for their time and resources on how to improve your skills in the event.

  2. Study the WEF Fundamentals books and the MOP 11 and collection system study guides to learn about various topics and because many of the multiple choice questions come right from those references.

  3. In order to improve your score on the simulator, you will need to learn more about the fundamentals of activated sludge, secondary clarifiers and the factors that impact nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) removal such as dissolved oxygen concentration and solids retention time.  Also, this year there will be a membrane bioreactor in some of the simulator questions so that is a new topic to learn more about.  You can learn about these topics in the WEF Fundamentals books, from other classes you may have in your area and from co-workers.  I also know that there are a number of excellent trainers in your area, including some who use the process simulator in the classes.  One of the best ways to solidify what you may learn from these resources is to then apply what you've learned by playing with the practice version of the simulator, not just to get the correct effluent quality but to see the system response when you make changes.  

2/16/25