Wastewater math is a significantly stressful topic for many operators who are preparing for an exam. When your algebra teacher said you would use those skills someday, she wasn’t kidding. And now that you have an exam staring you in the face, it’s time to brush the dust off your thinking cap and remember exactly what those skills were and how you should apply them to your career.

To help, we’ve reached out to some experts in the wastewater field to suggest a few study resources. If you’re preparing for an exam, you might want to start with some of these highly recommended wastewater math books.

1. Math Handbook for Wastewater Treatment Plants by Bob Larsen

This handbook reviews key principles of wastewater treatment math and helps operators better understand and solve math-related problems. Larsen has also published a book for water treatment operators along the same concept.

2. Applied Math for Wastewater Plant Operators by Joanne Price

For those of you who need visual examples, this book provides step-by-step instruction for wastewater calculations. Take a refresher course in the fundamental math concepts that are required for daily plant operations. You can also purchase a workbook to accompany the textbook. A water treatment version is also available.

3. Math for Wastewater Treatment Operators Grades 3 & 4 by John Giorgi

This book is divided into a review of significant numbers and rounding, two chapters on math followed by practice tests and appendices.

The appendices in this helpful reference book include conversion factors, wastewater treatment equations, chemistry tables, depth-to-diameter tables and flow charts of wastewater treatment processes.

4. Mathematics Manual for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators by Frank Spellman

This user-friendly study guide provides hundreds of worked examples presented in step-by-step format. You’ll find practical application for all levels of treatment plant operators including those in training all the way to advanced licensure. The three-volume set includes Basic Mathematics for Water and Wastewater Operators, which introduces and reviews fundamental concepts critical to operators.

5. Sidney’s Big Book of Water and Wastewater Math from the Indigo Water Group

This Internet freebie is presented as a downloadable PDF. You’ll find basic unit conversions, water formulas and easy-to-follow conversion problems. Even if you’re not studying for an exam, this is a good printout to have on hand.