Water Treatment Course

Lesson 1 • Types of Water Contaminants

Categorises physical, chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants found in raw water. Connects contaminant type to downstream treatment selection.

Lesson 2 • Drinking Water Quality Standards

Covers regulatory frameworks and health-based limits governing potable water quality. Establishes the compliance targets that treatment systems must achieve.

Lesson 3 • Overview of Treatment System Components

Maps the major unit processes in a conventional treatment train from intake to distribution. Orients students to the full system before detailed study of each process.

Lesson 4 • Water Quality Parameters and Measurement

Introduces key physical, chemical, and biological parameters used to assess water quality. Students gain fluency in interpreting standard water quality data.

Lesson 1 • Coagulant Types and Selection

Compares metal salt coagulants, polymers, and blended products and their mechanisms of action. Guides selection based on raw water quality and treatment objectives.

Lesson 2 • Rapid Mix Design and Operation

Covers hydraulic and mechanical rapid-mix systems that disperse coagulants uniformly throughout raw water. Links mixing intensity and contact time to coagulation efficiency.

Lesson 3 • Flocculation Basin Design and Control

Addresses slow-mix flocculation that grows micro-floc into settleable aggregates. Students adjust paddle speed, baffling, and detention time to maximise floc size.

Lesson 4 • Optimising Coagulation Performance

Applies jar testing, streaming current monitoring, and zeta potential measurement to fine-tune coagulation. Connects process control data to finished water turbidity targets.

Lesson 1 • Sedimentation Basin Operation and Control

Details daily operational tasks including sludge blanket monitoring, flow rate control, and chemical adjustments. Connects operational decisions to effluent turbidity and filter performance.

Lesson 2 • High-Rate Clarification Technologies

Introduces tube settlers, lamella plates, and ballasted flocculation systems that increase throughput per unit footprint. Compares performance and retrofit potential versus conventional basins.

Lesson 3 • Troubleshooting Clarification Problems

Diagnoses common failures such as floc carryover, density currents, and rising sludge blankets. Provides systematic corrective actions linked to upstream coagulation and flocculation.

Lesson 4 • Conventional Sedimentation Basin Design

Covers rectangular and circular basin geometry, inlet/outlet structures, and sludge collection systems. Students calculate surface overflow rate and weir loading for design compliance.

Lesson 1 • Filter Design and Hydraulics

Covers filter box sizing, underdrain systems, and hydraulic loading rate selection for gravity and pressure filters. Links design parameters to filter run length and backwash frequency.

Lesson 2 • Granular Media Filtration Fundamentals

Explains removal mechanisms including straining, adsorption, and biological action within filter beds. Establishes the theoretical basis for media selection and filter run management.

Lesson 3 • Backwash Design and Execution

Details backwash water rates, air scour, and surface wash systems needed to restore filter media. Students calculate backwash requirements and evaluate media cleanliness after washing.

Lesson 4 • Membrane Filtration Systems

Introduces microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis and their removal capabilities. Compares membrane configurations and operational requirements to granular media systems.

Lesson 1 • Alternative Disinfection Technologies

Evaluates ozone, chlorine dioxide, and UV radiation as primary and secondary disinfectants. Compares efficacy, byproduct profiles, and operational complexity for each technology.

Lesson 2 • Microbiology of Waterborne Pathogens

Profiles bacteria, viruses, and protozoa of public health concern and their resistance to disinfectants. Provides the microbiological context for setting disinfection treatment objectives.

Lesson 3 • Chlorination Systems and Chemistry

Covers free chlorine chemistry, chloramine formation, and breakpoint chlorination in drinking water treatment. Students dose and control chlorine systems to achieve residual targets safely.

Lesson 4 • Disinfection Kinetics and CT Concept

Applies Chick-Watson kinetics and the CT (concentration × time) framework to quantify pathogen inactivation. Students calculate CT values required for target log-inactivation credits.

Lesson 1 • Chemical Feed System Types

Compares dry feeders, liquid metering pumps, and gas chlorinators used to introduce chemicals at precise rates. Links feeder selection to chemical form, dose range, and reliability needs.

Lesson 2 • Chemical Storage and Handling Safety

Covers safe receipt, storage, containment, and emergency response for treatment chemicals. Establishes safety practices that protect operators and the surrounding environment.

Lesson 3 • Instrumentation and Sensors

Introduces flow meters, analysers, and online sensors that provide real-time process data. Students interpret sensor outputs and recognise calibration drift or failure.

Lesson 4 • Dose Calculation and Chemical Optimisation

Applies flow-proportional dosing calculations and bench-scale testing to minimise chemical use while meeting targets. Connects dose optimisation to cost reduction and byproduct control.

Lesson 1 • Backwash Water Recovery and Recycle

Addresses collection, equalisation, and recycle of filter backwash water to minimise water loss. Evaluates recycle impacts on treatment plant hydraulics and finished water quality.

Lesson 2 • Lagoon and Pond Residuals Systems

Describes sludge lagoon design, operation, and closure for plants using impoundment-based residuals management. Addresses liner requirements, decant management, and long-term storage limits.

Lesson 3 • Types and Quantities of Treatment Residuals

Quantifies sludge, filter backwash water, and membrane concentrate generated by each treatment process. Establishes the mass balance foundation for sizing residuals handling systems.

Lesson 4 • Residuals Disposal and Beneficial Use

Evaluates land application, landfill disposal, and beneficial reuse options for dewatered water treatment solids. Connects disposal method selection to regulatory requirements and cost.

Lesson 1 • Distribution System Water Quality

Addresses corrosion control, disinfectant residual maintenance, and nitrification prevention in distribution networks. Connects treatment plant decisions to water quality at the customer tap.

Lesson 2 • Ion Exchange and Softening

Covers cation and anion exchange resins for hardness removal, nitrate reduction, and radionuclide control. Students operate exchange systems and manage regeneration brine disposal.

Lesson 3 • Plant-Wide Performance Optimisation

Integrates energy auditing, process benchmarking, and continuous improvement methods to maximise plant efficiency. Students identify optimisation opportunities and develop action plans for implementation.

Lesson 4 • Advanced Oxidation Processes

Covers ozone/hydrogen peroxide, UV/hydrogen peroxide, and Fenton-based systems for destroying recalcitrant contaminants. Students select and size AOP systems based on target compound and water matrix.