Module: Water & Waste Management

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

All Module information is indicative, and this portal is an interim interface pending the full upgrade of Coursebuilder and subsequent integration to the new DCU Student Information System (DCU Key).

As such, this is a point in time view of data which will be refreshed periodically. Some fields/data may not yet be available pending the completion of the full Coursebuilder upgrade and integration project. We will post status updates as they become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Water & Waste Management
Module Code	MM439 (ITS) / MEC1041 (Banner)
Faculty	Engineering & Computing	School	Mechanical & Manufacturing Eng
Module Co-ordinator	Lorna Fitzsimons
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	7.5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Repeat examination
Individual project and written exam

Description

The combination of population growth, affluence, and improvements in living conditions as well as consumerism unfortunately increases the amount of waste that is produced across the globe. In a sustainable society, water and resource consumption and waste generation should be minimised and managed effectively. Innovative engineering solutions and technologies can help, but must be applied in conjunction with sustainability principles such as resource consumption reduction, the waste and energy hierarchies and the move to a more circular economy. This module will educate students on the technical and management aspects of water production/usage, waste treatment (UPW, desalination, potable water treatment), and waste management. It will teach them how to analyse existing systems and recommend sustainable alternatives. The module will also address societal attitudes to waste management.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe the legislative drivers for water, wastewater, and solid waste treatment and management in Europe and Ireland.
2. Design and analyse the operation of physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes in a conventional and nature-based wastewater, water and municipal solid waste treatment systems.
3. Calculate hydraulic and organic loading based on population equivalence, and determine water treatment requirement.
4. Apply and evaluate suitable waste management processes, taking into account energy demand and carbon emissions for different waste streams.
5. Propose suitable waste management options for a product.
6. Evaluate and analyse the evolution and social context of wastewater, water and solid waste treatment systems.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lectures in class
Workshop	6	Interactive workshop including presentations and discussions.
Online activity	36	Preparation for and delivery of challenge based group assignment deliverables (report, presentation, oral interview).
Independent Study	113	Preparation for exams and assignments and study
Assessment Feedback	8	Tutorials
Total Workload: 187

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Water treatment processes
Wastewater, potable water, desalination, UPW, - typical design calculations in terms of load, expected removal of particular contaminants in these systems, typical mecheng considerations including pumps, and blowers.

Water conservation
Water stress, industrial, UNEP/SDGs

Waste systems
Municipal, industrial

The waste hierarchy
Rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle, recover - waste hierarchy and the circular economy

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	70%	Examination Weight	30%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Group presentation	A challenge-based learning assignment which focuses on addressing SDG6 for a less developed country. A suitable wastewater treatment system will be designed and analysed. The system will meet location specific design objectives and constraints. The CBL has three main deliverables: a mid-semester presentation, a written report, and an oral interview. The presentation is marks account for 10%.	10%	Week 25
Group project	Written report: part of the CBL activity.	35%	Week 30
Group assignment	Oral interview: part of the CBL activity.	25%	Week 30

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Mihelcic and Zimmerman: 2021, Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability, Design, 3, Wiley,
Tchobanoglus, G., Burton, F., & Stensel, H. D.: 2013, Wastewater engineering: Treatment and reuse., 5, American Water Works Association,
Williams, P. T.: 2013, Waste treatment and disposal, 4, John Wiley & Sons,

Other Resources

None