Associate of Applied Science│Online Degree│ 2 Years│63 Credits│Eligible for Financial Aid
WI Median Salary for Recent Graduates: $55,585
Water Quality Technology Program
Water quality issues are continuing to increase in the country—and so are career opportunities in the water technology industry. Moraine Park’s Water Quality Technology program prepares students for a rewarding technical career through hands-on training and industry expertise.
Each day, municipalities and industries generate billions of gallons of wastewater that must be collected, analyzed and treated. Through targeted instruction and an on-the-job internship, students learn how to test, analyze and improve operational procedures at water treatment facilities. Students unable to secure an internship will have opportunities to do a research project.
Water Quality technicians are responsible for ensuring that the water we use is safe and that discharge water is processed effectively. Their work combines the precision and accuracy found in the biochemical laboratory with operational aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
MPTC’s Program graduates also have employment opportunities as environmental technicians and field service technicians at companies that design and install water treatment equipment for municipalities and manufacturing companies.
Water Quality Technology students learn to:
- Analyze and improve operational procedures at water and wastewater treatment facilities
- Test, analyze and treat community and industrial water supplies and wastewater
- Analyze and improve equipment maintenance programs for water treatment and wastewater treatment facilities
- Determine flow rate in hydraulic designs to control treatment processes and treatment facilities
- Determine industrial waste treatment strategies to minimize impact of waste streams
- Determine and employ optimization strategies for water treatment and wastewater treatment processes and treatment facilities
Moraine Park’s Water Quality Technology program provides students with the skills and training to perform testing, analysis and treatment to community and industrial water supplies. Career opportunities include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Environmental Technician
- Field Service Technician
- Industrial Waste Technician
- Wastewater System Technician
- Water Plant Operator
- Water Treatment Equipment Sales Representative
Statewide Median Salary for Recent Graduates: $55,585
There are also positions available at breweries as they treat their water and wastewater, at large dairies where they process the milk, food handling companies such as packaging plants, and harvesting companies that process the food like Heinz or pickle producers.
Some other areas include bean harvesters and canners, cheese factories, paper mills, and engineering firms as Operations Specialists, where the O&M Specialist helps with some design, writes documents for operators, trains people in processes, and will perform process startup services once built.
Some have found work in laboratories, aquariums, pond or lake maintenance and water parks.
Graduates are strongly encouraged to pursue obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
Moraine Park’s admissions starts with the online application. The admissions steps and financial aid process can take 4-5 weeks for some programs, so plan ahead.
View and begin standard admissions steps.
If you have any questions or need help with the process, please contact us at admissions@morainepark.edu OR 920-924-3200, TTY/VP:Use Relay VRS.
Several factors influence the total cost of your degree, including enrollment fees, the number of credits required, textbooks and equipment. Financial aid can assist with those costs.
The following estimated costs for completing this degree are based on the 2023-24 academic year and are subject to change. For further details, please visit the estimated cost of attendance page.
$11,258.10
Current tuition and fees
Coming Soon
Textbooks*
*Based on new books, rental, electronic, and used options may be available.
WQT Student Voices
"I had a great learning experience and MPTC helped advanced career. MPTC is one of the few affordable technical schools in the country that has a program in my field of Water Quality Technology (WQT). I attended courses while working full time as a Wastewater Operator. The staff were experienced and the valuable knowledge I gained was concurrently applied to my job. The WQT degree assisted in my promotion to Operations Manager at a Wastewater Engineering Firm. I highly recommend MPTC to anyone looking for a quality technical degree." - Dustin Odden
High school dual credit provides high school students the opportunity to earn college credit while in high school, without leaving their high school classroom. The courses are taught by certified high school instructors using technical college curriculum, grading policies and textbooks.
Has previous life experience already helped you build knowledge and skills applicable to your studies? Applying previously earned credits to a program of study can save you both time spent in the classroom and money spent on tuition and fees.
Transferring here is easy! You can transfer in prior college work by submitting official college transcripts or get a free transcript review.
Financial Aid is provided to aid eligible associate degree and technical diploma programs with 28 credits or more. Processing can take 6-8 weeks after a student’s completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is received.
Financial Aid is available for associate degree and technical diploma programs (those that are 2 semesters in length and typically with 28 credits or more). Processing can take 4-5 weeks after a student’s completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is received. Visit the Financial Aid page to learn more.
Our recruiters on any of the three campuses are ready to help you plan your future!