Module: Water & Waste Management

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Water & Waste Management
Module Code	MM439B (ITS) / MEC1080 (Banner)
Faculty	Engineering & Computing	School	Mechanical & Manufacturing Eng
Module Co-ordinator	-
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

Repeat examination
Written exam and/or resubmission of CA.

Description

The combination of population growth, affluence, and improvements in living conditions as well as a 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 assess the operation of physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes in conventional wastewater, water and municipal solid waste.
3. Calculate hydraulic and organic loading based on population equivalence, and determine water treatment requirement.
4. Apply suitable waste management processes, taking into account energy demand and carbon emissions for different waste streams.
5. Understand 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
Tutorial	6	Tutorials
Assignment Completion	30	Review of nature based solutions for wastewater and waste treatment in developing countries.
Independent Study	65	Preparation for exams and independent study
Total Workload: 125

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

Wastewater and Water treatment processes
Water and wastewater treatment systems: physical, chemical and biological processes; typical design calculations in terms of load, and expected removal of particular contaminants.

Water and wastewater legislative drivers
Physical, chemical and biological water quality parameters; UN SDGs

Solid Waste systems
Municipal, industrial

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

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	30%	Examination Weight	70%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Assignment	Review of nature based solutions for wastewater and waste treatment.	20%	Week 10

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

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,
Henze, M., van Loosdrecht, M. C., Ekama, G. A., & Brdjanovic, D: 2008, Biological wastewater treatment, IWA publishing,
Mihelcic and Zimmerman: 2021, Environmental Engineering: Fundamentals, Sustainability, Design, 3rd, Wiley, ISBN: 978-1-1

Other Resources

None