466 Stories, Math, and "Never Again" Moments: Inside AWT Technical Training with Dan Merritt (Part 2)

About this episode

In this episode, Dan Merritt discusses the importance of evolving technical training for water treaters and shares personal anecdotes that highlight key lessons learned in the field.

AWT's in‑person technical training is a keystone for developing competent water treaters. Yet classroom knowledge only matters when it survives the drive home and emerges later in the field. In this second conversation with Dan Merritt, CWT —National Sales Manager at CH2O Inc. and head of AWT's education committee—Trace Blackmore uncovers how stories, math, and memorable mistakes turn theory into intuition. Why training keeps evolving Dan explains that the Association of Water Technologies rewrites courses every year. Instructors refine content, delivery and demonstrations, not for novelty's sake, but because boilers and cooling towers rarely behave like textbook examples. Recognizing that multiple chemical reactions operate simultaneously helps prevent chasing the wrong problem. Updated program design and operations classes now bridge the gap between fundamentals and advanced topics. Specialized modules for sales, membrane/softener maintenance, ASSE 1280 compliance, and a two‑tier wastewater curriculum ensure that attendees can match coursework to their experience and role. Lessons from experience: paperwork, PPE and people Anecdotes ground the theory. Dan recounts losing his…

People in this episode

Host: Trace Blackmore

Guest: Dan Merritt

Topics covered

• technical training
• water treatment
• education
• professional development
• industry standards

Keywords

• water treatment
• technical training
• AWT
• Dan Merritt
• education
• certification
• industry practices

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: AWT, CH2O Inc., Association of Water Technologies

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