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

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/scaling-up-h2o-7746/466-stories-math-and-never-again-moments-inside-awt-technical-training-with-dan-merritt-part-2
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/scaling-up-h2o-7746/466-stories-math-and-never-again-moments-inside-awt-technical-training-with-dan-merritt-part-2.md
Podcast: [Scaling UP! H2O](https://stenobird.com/podcast/scaling-up-h2o-7746)
Published: 2026-03-06T06:00:32+00:00
Episode link: https://scalinguph2o.com/2026/03/06/466-awt-technical-training-stories-and-math/
Audio file: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/scalingup/Scaling_Up_H2O_-_466_-_Dan_Merritt_-_Part_2_v2.mp3?dest-id=797464
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Duration seconds: 3432

## Resource

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 Certified Water Technologist status for five years after assuming an office manager filed his recertification paperwork. He re‑sat the exam in 2016 and now tells every candidate: verify your own paperwork. Another incident involved a sulfuric acid injection line that still held pressure; a line blew while he was replacing a fitting, covering his jeans in acid—his apron protected his torso, but he still had six‑inch holes in his pants. "Wear your PPE" is his first piece of advice to new technicians. Beyond safety, Dan highlights that water treatment careers demand communication and management skil…

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