Course content

The aim of this course is to explain today's and future challenges related to production of drinking water, such as climate change, a chemicalized world, flooding, population growth and urbanisation, and provides technological knowledge to handle these. While the focus is on Norwegian conditions, examples and cases from across Europe are shown as well. Technologies presented in the course are also very relevant for a better understanding of systems related to stormwater, road runoff, snowmelt, landfill leachate, industrial (waste)waters, aquaculture etc.

The course introduces conventional and new emerging treatment technologies, covering physical, chemical and biological unit processes: Sedimentation and flotation, sand filtration, membrane filtration, coagulation & flocculation, oxidation & disinfection, softening and hardening, corrosion control, adsorption and ion exchange, aeration and stripping and biological treatment. The role of each treatment process and its location in a typical treatment chain is discussed. All processes will be described by theory, models and design guidelines.

Furthermore, the course emphasises on development of practical and soft skills, relevant for future engineers in their professional career. This includes training in a laboratory environment and project work; working as an individual and as a member of a team; applying teamwork to a range of situations - e.g., performing experimental work or problem solving; identifying the strengths of team members; and giving feedback. Teamwork skills include the mix of interactive, interpersonal, problem solving and communication skills needed by a group of people working on a common task, in complementary roles, towards a common goal whose outcomes are greater than those possible by any one person working independently.

Learning outcome

At the end of the term, students should have detailed knowledge about the unit processes most relevant for drinking water treatment. They will be able to analyse the underlying principles, as well as to design and optimize these processes. At the end of the term, students will be capable of aligning a series of treatment steps based on a given raw water quality and a targeted treatment goal. They will be able to evaluate the available treatment options, select an appropriate alternative and defend their choice.

At the end of the semester, the students will have acquired key engineering skills, like being able to present and defend their work (both, in oral and written form), evaluate the work of others and give constructive feedback, analyse engineering problems that may be incompletely stated, make estimations and appreciate their value and limitations, work in a team and interpret and evaluate experimental results.

At the end of the semester, students will be able to find and use scientific literature, carry out experiments independently, analyse experimental data, carry out basic statistical evaluations, visualize their results and summarize them in reports. This will be achieved with help of simple modelling and visualization tools, using Excel, Python and Jupyter.

Learning methods and activities

The teaching methods consist of a mix of class lectures, interactive exercises, quizzes, laboratory work and a semester project.

There will be two lab assignments during the semester. Students will carry out coagulation experiments in jar test, will operate a rapid sand filter, simulate the removal of micropollutants by using adsorption with activated carbon and advanced oxidation. The labs are done in groups that are set up by the students, based on a selection of available dates and time slots. Lab reports will be written about each lab assignment.

In the semester project, a group of students needs to solve real world challenges, based on real cases and water quality data. Examples include the design of complete water treatment plants for a given surface water or ground water quality, handling of challenges like colour increase, population growth, contamination with micropollutants like PFAS or microorganisms. Groups will be formed based on the interest for available topics.

Students will give and receive feedback during the semester, from both, the teacher, and their peers. There will be time available within the lecture hours to work with the lab reports and the semester project.

Python and Jupyter Notebooks are used as support tools for the exercises.

The course will be taught in English.

Recommended previous knowledge

TBM4265​ Water Infrastructure, Treatment and Resource Recovery​ or equivalent knowledge;

TVM4110 Water Quality Engineering or equivalent knowledge;

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

MWH's Water Treatment: Principles and Design John C. Crittenden, R. Rhodes Trussell, David W. Hand, Kerry J. Howe, George Tchobanoglous 3rd Edition, 2012 ISBN: 978-0-470-40539-0

Guidelines and reports from Norwegian Water (Norsk Vann)

Compendium

Credit reductions