Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

The provision of safe, healthful and adequate supply of water and the proper treatment, disposal, and reuse of wastewater are essential for protecting human health and well-being. Water and wastewater treatment are required for the control of water-borne diseases and the provision of proper sanitation for urban, rural, and recreational areas. Water and wastewater treatment engineering is a major field of civil and environmental engineering and is manifested by sound principles and practice in terms of solving sanitation problems.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to help you to learn about the principles of water and wastewater transfer and treatment and how they are essential for human health and well being.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:

1. Understand the fundamentals and the importance of water and wastewater transfer and treatment in municipal engineering.
2. Understand the principles of water and wastewater treatment including: physical, chemical, and biological treatment principles and the impacts of water pollutants on human health and the environment;
3. Apply the fundamental principles of water and wastewater treatment in designing water and wastewater treatment schemes to remove pollutants;
4. Understand the options available for water recycling and reuse and managing the residues resulting from water and wastewater treatment.

Content

• The Water Cycle, Surface Water, Groundwater and Water Quality Issues including Drinking Water Guidelines


• Population Growth, Concept of Unit Processes, Chemical Dosing, Sedimentation/Clarification and Filtration


• Field Trip to North Pine WTP or Mt Crosby WTP


• Disinfection and other Unit Processes


• Membrane Processes, Distribution and Reticulation Systems


• Water Recycling and Reuse


• Online Quiz on Water Treatment Section


• Introduction to Wastewater Treatment


• General Principles of Wastewater Treatment


• Unit Processes in Wastewater Treatment. Grit and Screenings, Primary Sedimentation


• Field Trip to Luggage Point WWTP


• Biological Treatment. Trickling Filters and Activated Sludge including Biological Nutrient removal Treatment of Sludges, Tertiary Treatment, Self Purification in Rivers and Streams


• Online Quiz on Wastewater Treatment Section Submit Field Trip Assignments and Exam Briefing/ Revision

The above schedule may be slightly re-arranged. Tutorials will be run in most weeks.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode: 3 hours per week
Lecture: 2
Tutorial: 1

This unit will be delivered in the form of formal lectures, site visits to a water treatment and sewerage treatment plant and tutorials. Students will be given the opportunity to report on the site activity and express their views by providing recommendations and conclusions.

Assessment

Both the formative and a proportion of the summative assessment for this unit are centred upon the completion of three Assessments.

Submissions received after the due date will be penalised at 5% per day unless there are exceptional circumstances.This unit will comprise a combination of both formative and summative approaches to assessment involving a mix of formats and a combination of group and individual work. Formative assessment in the form of feedback to you will be provided during tutorial discussions and following submission and grading of the summative assessment. General Feedback will be given via BlackBoard under Feedback Tab and individual feedback via the CRA sheets.

Assessment name: Quiz/Test
Description: Multiple choice based on lecture and tutorial materials.
1a - Water (15%)
1b - Waste water (15%)
Relates to objectives: 1 & 2
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Wks 5 & 9

Assessment name: Field Report
Description: After site visits to (a) water treatment and (b) sewage treatment plant, students will be given the opportunity to report on the site activity and express their views by providing recommendations and conclusions.
2a - Water (10%)
2b - Waste water (10%)
Relates to objectives: 3 & 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Wks 7 & 12

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: Formal Examination
Relates to objectives: 1 to 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Exam Period

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Reference Texts:

1. Hammer,M.J and Hammer, M.J. Jr.(2005) Water and wastewater technology (628 51/5)

2. Hammer, M. J. (1986), 'Water and Wastewater Technology'. (628.51)

3. Metcaffe and Eddy, (2004)4th Edition, Wastewater Engineering -Treatment and Reuse. (628.3 199)

4. Qasim, Syed R. 'Wastewater Treatment Plants: Planning, Design and Operation'. (628. 3 4)

5. Reynolds, T. D. 'Unit Operations and Processes in Environmental Engineering'. (628 162 42/2)

6. Tebbutt, T. H. Y. (1992), 'Principles of Water Quality Control', Pergamon, Oxford. (628.16 13/4)

7. Viessman, W. & Hammer, M. J. 'Water Supply and Pollution Control'. (628 104/5)


Materials will be made available via the unit's BLACKBOARD website on a week by week basis.

Risk assessment statement

You will be required to undertake two field trips under the supervision of the lecturer and technical staff of the School. The School's occupational health and safety policies and procedures will apply to these sessions. You will be informed of any requirements pertaining to a safe workplace.

In lectures, tutorials and such, the information will include location of fire exits and meeting points in case of fire; in any laboratory practicals you will be advised of requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (e.g. steel capped shoes); on any field trips or site visits, you will progress through a safety induction session and where necessary obtain a safety induction card. If you do not follow legitimate instructions or endanger the safety of others or do not act in accordance with the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety Act, you will be required to leave the session/site.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 20-Sep-2012