Municipal Engineering Fundamentals for Non-Engineers

This course introduces non-engineers to the core principles and practices of municipal engineering, with a focus on real-world applications in street design, water supply, sanitary sewer, and stormwater systems. Participants will learn how public works engineers approach planning, design, and maintenance, and how to ask the right questions to ensure successful infrastructure outcomes. Whether you're in planning, finance, management, or public service, this course will help you better understand the systems that keep communities running.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand the basic engineering concepts behind municipal infrastructure systems including streets, water, sewer, and storm drainage.
  • Learn how to interpret design considerations, regulatory requirements, and maintenance strategies used by public works professionals.
  • Gain the confidence to collaborate effectively with engineers and contractors on infrastructure projects.

Who Should Attend:

  • Planners, city managers, and elected officials involved in infrastructure decision-making.
  • Finance officers, maintenance supervisors, and public works staff preparing for expanded responsibilities.
  • Individuals enrolled in the Public Works Management Institute (PWMI) or anyone seeking a foundational understanding of municipal systems.

Upcoming dates coming soon!

Take course number RA00356 when it’s offered next.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand the basic engineering concepts behind municipal infrastructure systems including streets, water, sewer, and storm drainage.
  • Learn how to interpret design considerations, regulatory requirements, and maintenance strategies used by public works professionals.
  • Gain the confidence to collaborate effectively with engineers and contractors on infrastructure projects.

Who Should Attend:

  • Planners, city managers, and elected officials involved in infrastructure decision-making.
  • Finance officers, maintenance supervisors, and public works staff preparing for expanded responsibilities.
  • Individuals enrolled in the Public Works Management Institute (PWMI) or anyone seeking a foundational understanding of municipal systems.

Keep Up With This Course

Course Details: RA00356

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Course Outline

Online Course Modules Starting May 10th 

Pre-course Activity

  • Overview of the Course
  • Overview of the Municipal Engineering Function
  • What is unique about municipal engineering?
  • What are the challenges of designing municipal infrastructure systems?
  • What tools and standards are used by municipal engineers?

Session 1 Friday May 10, 2024  - Street Design, Maintenance and Rehabilitation

  • Soils, water, and pavement thickness design
  • Pavement management
  • Preventive maintenance and rehabilitation
  • Estimating and Bidding

Session 2 Wednesday May 15, 2024 - Street Planning and Traffic Engineering

  • Planning and functional classification systems
  • Urban vs. rural roadway geometric standards
  • Intersections and sidewalks
  • Traffic engineering and operation
  • Traffic engineering studies 

Session 3 Friday May 17, 2024  - Storm Drainage

  • Catch Basins & Inlets
  • Regulatory considerations
  • Combined Sewers
  • Stormwater Quality
  • BMP’s & BMP Application

Session 4 Wednesday May 22, 2024 - Water Systems

  • Water Supply
  • Water Treatment
  • Water Demand and Water System Sizing
  • Water Distribution System 

Session 5 Wednesday May 29, 2024 - Sanitary Sewers and Waste Treatment

  • Projecting System Capacity
  • Collection System
  • Treatment Techniques
  • Treatment Plant Design

In-person outline: (Not Scheduled at this time)

Day 1

Overview of the Municipal Engineering Function

  • What is unique about municipal engineering?
  • What are the challenges of designing municipal infrastructure systems?
  • What tools and standards are used by municipal engineers?

Street Planning, Design, and Maintenance

  • Planning and functional classification systems
  • Urban vs. rural roadway geometric standards
  • Intersections and sidewalks
  • Soils, water, and pavement thickness design
  • Pavement management systems
  • Preventive maintenance and rehabilitation
  • Traffic engineering and operation
  • Traffic engineering studies
  • Understanding a civil engineering plan set

Water Supply Systems 

  • Projecting water system demand
  • Calculating average demand
  • Estimating peak demand
  • Accommodating fire flows

Water Distribution 

  • Water mains
  • Water storage requirements
  • Metering and water loss
  • Valves and hydrants
  • Testing

Water Treatment - Groundwater and Surface Water

  • Physical and chemical processes
  • Hardness and softening
  • Filtration and disinfection

Day 2

Sanitary Sewerage Systems

  • Projecting system capacity
  • Sewer collection systems
    • Design parameters
    • Materials
    • Maintenance
  • Treatment Plant Considerations
    • Hydraulic and waste loadings
    • Phosphorous and nitrogen
    • Special loadings
  • Treatment processes:
    • Primary
    • Secondary
    • Tertiary

Stormwater Drainage and Control Systems

  • Why we manage stormwater
  • Understanding rainfall and runoff, and the “Rational Formula”
  • Drainage system design
  • Catch basins and inlets
  • Flood control: detention, flow control, and regional approaches,
  • Water quality: EPA, NPDES, and MS4s
  • Combined sewers
  • Stormwater best management practices (BMPs) and sustainability

 

Program Director & Instructors

  • Benjamin Jordan

    Program Director

    Benjamin J. Jordan, PE, is a program director with Interdisciplinary Professional Programs in the transportation sector. He has over 35 years of experience in civil engineering and public works. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign and a Master of Public Affairs degree with a Certificate in Public Management from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Illinois.

  • Program Director

    Benjamin Jordan

Total Credits:
CEU 1.5
PDH 15

Course Administration

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Payment Options

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

  • Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
  • Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
  • You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

  • Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
  • Provide the registrations representative with:
    • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
    • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
  • You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

  • Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
  • Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
  • Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
  • You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

Create a custom learning experience

We can deliver this course as an on-site learning experience tailored to your organization’s specific training needs.