Stormwater I

Hours: 80 / Access Length: 12 Months / Delivery: Online, Self-Paced
Retail Price: $1,250.00

Course Overview:

Stormwater effects on receiving streams and the aquatic ecosystems in them is very important. Developing performance goals and design criteria for stormwater controls is a necessary step. This course addresses the concept of unit processes and unit operations as they apply to stormwater management.  Learners will become familiar with a simplified framework to facilitate communication between stormwater management professionals, and how to promote the development of a stormwater management strategy, at the site level, that serves as a blueprint for the design process.  The importance of basin volume to effectively treat stormwater, and the five categories of stormwater controls, for example: swales and strips, and filters are explained.

About This Course:

We are committed to offering world class interactive online courses that provide training and learning support for the student in a number of ways during their experience. This course structure has been developed to provide activities to guide students throughout the entire process of learning. Learning activities include hands-on assignments that allow students to use what they are learning to allow better transferable skills within their work environments.

When a student learns, they are not alone.   Each student will be supported by our student services department – which ranges from course mentors, registrar, and technical support assistance.   Every month students have a progress report run on them every month by our student services department to ensure they are making satisfactory progress.   If a student falls behind, we reach out to them personally by phone call every month to see if there is anything we can do to continue to assist them with moving forward in their course.

Course Outline:

Lesson 1 Introduction
  • Urban Stormwater Management Overview
Lesson 2 Effects of Stormwater on Receiving Waters
  • Effects of Urbanization on Water Quantity
  • Effects of Stormwater Control Practices on Water Quantity
  • Effects of Urbanization on Water Quality
  • Effects of Stormwater Control Practices on Water Quality
  • Effects of Urbanization on Channel Form
  • Effects of Stormwater Control Practices on Channel Form
  • Effects of Urbanization on Aquatic Biota
  • Effects of Stormwater Control Practices on Aquatic Biota
Lesson 3 Performance Goals for Stormwater Controls
  • Introduction
  • Methods for Establishing Performance Criteria
  • Methods for Establishing Watershed-Based Performance Criteria
  • Methods for Establishing Technology-Based Performance Criteria
Lesson 4 Unit Processes and Operations for Stormwater Control
  • Introduction
  • Application of Unit Processes and Operations Concepts
  • Unit Processes for Quantity Control
  • Unit Processes for Quality Control
Lesson 5 Selection Criteria and Design Considerations
  • Introduction
  • Understanding Goals and Design Criteria
  • Understanding and Protecting Site Resources
  • Identification of Source Controls
  • Implementation and Performance Monitoring
Lesson 6 Basins
  • Description
  • Design Principles
  • Cisterns and Rain Barrels
  • Forebays
  • Vaults and Swirl Concentrators
  • Oil and Water Separators
  • Dry Basins
  • Wet Basins
  • Wetlands
Lesson 7 Swales and Strips
  • Description
  • Basic Design Principles
  • Swales
  • Strips
Lesson 8 Filters
  • Description
  • Design Principles
  • Surface Sand Filter
  • Subsurface Sand Filter
  • Bioretention Filter
  • Landscaped Roofs
  • Drain Inlet Inserts
  • Manufactured Filters
  • Subsurface Gravel Wetland

All necessary materials are included.

Certification(s):

After the completion of the Stormwater I & II and Stormwater Management Hydraulics and Hydrology Part I & II courses, the student will be prepared to take the American Public Works Association (APWA) Certified Stormwater Manager (CSM) certification exam.

To demonstrate eligibility, candidates must submit an application documenting the completion of one of the following education and work experience pathways:

  • High school graduation or equivalent and 7 years of relevant work experience
  • Associate’s degree or equivalent trade school certificate and 5 years of relevant work experience
  • Bachelor’s degree and 3 years of relevant work experience
  • Master’s degree and 2 years of relevant work experience
  • Doctoral degree and 1 year of relevant work experience

Relevant work experience is that performed within or for a public entity in one or more aspects of stormwater management as defined in the CSM target audience description and illustrated in the CSM Content Outline.

Please note that the individual state requirements may vary.  Students will be responsible to check with their state’s governing body for state specific requirements.


System Requirements:

Internet Connectivity Requirements:

  • Cable, Fiber, DSL, or LEO Satellite (i.e. Starlink) internet with speeds of at least 10mb/sec download and 5mb/sec upload are recommended for the best experience.

NOTE: While cellular hotspots may allow access to our courses, users may experience connectivity issues by trying to access our learning management system.  This is due to the potential high download and upload latency of cellular connections.   Therefore, it is not recommended that students use a cellular hotspot as their primary way of accessing their courses.

Hardware Requirements:

  • CPU: 1 GHz or higher
  • RAM: 4 GB or higher
  • Resolution: 1280 x 720 or higher.  1920x1080 resolution is recommended for the best experience.
  • Speakers / Headphones
  • Microphone for Webinar or Live Online sessions.

Operating System Requirements:

  • Windows 7 or higher.
  • Mac OSX 10 or higher.
  • Latest Chrome OS
  • Latest Linux Distributions

NOTE: While we understand that our courses can be viewed on Android and iPhone devices, we do not recommend the use of these devices for our courses. The size of these devices do not provide a good learning environment for students taking online or live online based courses.

Web Browser Requirements:

  • Latest Google Chrome is recommended for the best experience.
  • Latest Mozilla FireFox
  • Latest Microsoft Edge
  • Latest Apple Safari

Basic Software Requirements (These are recommendations of software to use):

  • Office suite software (Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, or LibreOffice)
  • PDF reader program (Adobe Reader, FoxIt)
  • Courses may require other software that is described in the above course outline.


** The course outlines displayed on this website are subject to change at any time without prior notice. **