GV2WPNU: Water Pollution Control Engineering

Module code: GV2WPNU

Module provider: Geography and Environmental Science; School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr Steve Robinson, email: j.s.robinson@reading.ac.uk

NUIST module lead: Feihu Li, email: favorlee@163.com

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module provides the student with a detailed understanding of water pollution from an engineering perspective. Design and engineering principles will be applied to the treatment and disposal of urban and industrial wastewater. Key concepts and applied skills in maintaining and enhancing the sustainability of both the natural and wastewater environments are addressed. By the end of the module, it is expected that students should be able to apply scientific concepts, techniques and expertise to devise sustainable solutions to water pollution.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Describe the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the natural water environment, explain the hydrological cycle and describe, identify and explain the sources of water pollution and their effects.
2. Describe the main sewage sludge treatment and disposal processes and design and select suitable sewage treatment techniques for selected water pollution problems.
3. Define water quality indicators and apply suitable water quality tests for raw wastewater analysis and apply water pollution control techniques for industrial wastewater treatment design.
4. Perform simple experiments and data analysis relevant to water treatment and interpret and explain different river quality models and their application for water quality prediction.

Module content

Lectures include:                                                                               

• Overview of Water Pollution and Water Basics
• Water Basics and Pollution of the Natural Aquatic Environment
• The Effects of Pollutants on the Aquatic Environment
• Sewage Treatment
• SludgeTreatment
• Water Quality Tests
• Industrial Wastewater Treatments
• River Quality Modelling

Laboratory training and experiments include:

• Coagulation and free sedimentation
• Activated carbon adsorption
• Determination of the oxygenation capacity of aeration equipment
• Determination of sewage biodegradability
• Oxidation-ditch treatment of municipal sewage
• SBR treatment of municipal sewage

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The lectures introduce the student to the principles of the subjects studied. Seminars allow students to research and discuss topics in greater depth whilst case studies and videos may also be used to enhance understanding. A weekly surgery hour tutorial provides an opportunity for students to seek additional help, if required. The module includes a practical laboratory component that will allow for application of the principles through hands-on experiments. The laboratory project element in the module will allow for decision making and arrival at a solution for a water pollution problem relevant to the topics covered.

Study hours

At least 96 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

In-class quizzes, including multiple-choice and other short-answer questions, will create feedback and feedforward on strengths and weaknesses, and help the students to prepare for their summative assessments.

Reassessment

Additional costs