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Study information

Water Resources and Pollution Control - 2023 entry

MODULE TITLEWater Resources and Pollution Control CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODEECM3158 MODULE CONVENERProf Fayyaz Ali Memon (FICE, FCIWEM, FHEA, CEng, CEnv) (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 11 weeks 0 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 28
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content
With the global population expanding rapidly, wastewater management and the provision of clean drinking water to people across the world will become an increasingly challenging and important pursuit in the coming decades.
 
This module will acquaint you with current practices in water quality management, including the operational principles of water and wastewater treatment plants. You will learn about the water cycle, methods of treating polluted water so it can be reused, water behavior and flows, water-borne diseases and methods of disinfection, and. Water quality is strictly regulated by most countries, and so it is imperative that engineers around the world continually improve methods of ensuring a safe supply. 
AIMS - intentions of the module

This module covers a wide range of topics, but its principle aims include introducing you to the water cycle, flow and quality on natural systems. It is also designed to show you how proper engineering design can protect the hydraulic system, and how engineers can help to overcome the growing problem of water scarcity. 

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of current water management problems.

2. Understand traditional/local approaches of less conventional water management techniques and the ability to evaluate them critically and to apply them effectively.

3. Understand natural water cycle, flow and quality variability and how to analyse the hydrological cycle then judge how much water could be abstracted from a water source. Additionally, comprehend the operational principles of drinking water and wastewater treatment plants, dynamics of treatment processes and design guidance.

4. Able to apply computational techniques for quantifying overland flows and to assess their limitations.

5. Use fundamental knowledge on treatment processes to develop preliminary designs of resource efficient treatment solutions.

6. Apply engineering techniques taking account of a range of commercial and industrial constraints.

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

7. Apply complex equations to do hydraulic calculations.

8. Understand linkages between urban water flows, socio-economic interactions and health implications, and the ability to evaluate them critically and to apply them effectively, including in engineering projects.

9. Understand design processes (for various stages of treatment including primary and secondary biological treatment) and methodologies then be able to apply and adapt them in unfamiliar situations.

10. Able to generate an innovative preliminary design for urban water systems to fulfil new needs.

11. Show awareness that engineers need to take account of the commercial and social contexts in which they operate.

12. Understand management and business practices, their limitations, and how these may be applied in the context of water management.

13. Demonstrate awareness of relevant regulatory requirements (e.g. water quality standards and guidelines, EU water framework directive) governing engineering (water management/treatment).

14. Understand current practices and their limitations, showing appreciation of likely new developments for resource efficient water management.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

15. Apply skills in problem solving, communication, information retrieval, working with others, and the effective use of general IT facilities.

16. Plan self-learning and improve performance, as the foundation for lifelong learning/CPD.

17. Monitor and adjust a personal programme of work on an on-going basis.

18. Prove independence and self-direction in problem solving and decision making.

19. Exercise initiative and personal responsibility in professional practice.

20. Illustrate effective communication skills using a variety of commonly available media and techniques

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module
- water uses: domestic, agricultural, industrial;
- reasons for use;
- patterns of use;
- quality requirements;
- water resources:- global, continental and local balances;
- rainfall variations, temporal, spatial, duration and intensity;
- frequency analysis;
- hydrological system:- rainfall, evapo-transpiration, run-off, base-flow, streamflow, water quality:- dissolved and suspended substances, conservative and non- conservative components, BOD, COD, TOC;
- constraints on water quality in nautural systems and public water supply;
- water quality modelling:- BOD decay, re-aeration, Streeter-Phelps, other water quality models;
- water related diseases:- relationship to water cycle;
- viruses, bacteria, fungi, helminths etc;
- modes of disease transmission;
- water treatment and disinfection:- suspended solids removal, coagulation, filtration, disinfection, pH adjustment
LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 48 Guided Independent Study 102 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 24 Lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 24 Tutorials
Guided independent study 102 Lecture and assessment preparation; wider reading

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Not applicable      
       

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 30 Written Exams 70 Practical Exams
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Written exam – closed book 70 2 hours - January Exam All As per university procedure
Coursework – continuous assessment 1 15 Up to 10 pages detailed solution of coursework problems 1 Written and verbal on general points in class or by email
Practical – continuous assessment 2 15 Up to 10 pages detailed solution of concept and preliminary design of wastewater treatment plant with tertiary treatment included. 2 Written and verbal on general points in class or by email
         
         

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-reassessment
All above Written exam (100% 2 hours) All Referral/deferral period
       

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Reassessment will be by a single written exam only worth 100% of the module. For deferred candidates, the mark will be uncapped. For referred candidates, the mark will be capped at 40%.

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

Reading list for this module:

Mays, L. Water Resources Engineering, 2nd ed, Wiley 2011. ISBN: 978-0470460641

Gray N F Water Technology, Arnold 1999. ISBN: 000-0-340-67645-0

Tebbutt, T.H.Y Principles of Water Quality Control, Butterworth Heinemann 1998. ISBN: 000-0-750-63658-0

Linsley, R.K., Franzini, J.B, Freyberg, D.L. and Tchobanoglous, G Water Resources Engineering, McGrawHill 1992. ISBN: 0-071-12689-9

Mihelcic, J R, Zimmerman, J B. Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, sustainability, design. John Wiley and Sons 2009. ISBN: 978-0470165058

 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Gray N F Water Technology Arnold 1999 000-0-340-67645-0
Set Tebbutt, T.H.Y Principles of Water Quality Control Butterworth Heinemann 1998 000-0-750-63658-0
Set Linsley, R.K., Franzini, J.B, Freyberg, D.L. and Tchobanoglous, G. Water Resources Engineering McGrawHill 1992 0-071-12689-9
Set Mihelcic, J R, Zimmerman, J B Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, sustainability, design John Wiley and sons 2009 978-0470165058
Set Mays, L Water Resources Engineering 2nd Wiley 2011 978-0470460641
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 3 (NQF level 6) AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Tuesday 10th July 2018 LAST REVISION DATE Wednesday 4th October 2023
KEY WORDS SEARCH Hydrogeology; infiltration; rainfall; runoff; hydrograph; routing; reservoir; groundwater; water use; water and wastewater treatment processes; sustainable urban drainage systems; water issues in developing countries.

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.