CATALOG DESCRIPTION:  Application of unit operations and processes to the design of integrated wastewater treatment plants; critical analysis of existing designs.  Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit.

PREREQUISITES:  CE 431, or instructor permission

REQUIRED TEXTS:  Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Resource Recovery, Metcalf & Eddy, 5th ed., McGraw-Hill, ISBN-10: 0073401188; ISBN-13: 978-0073401188

INSTRUCTOR:  Erik R. Coats, P.E., Ph.D.

COURSE OBJECTIVES & STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES: The purpose of this course is to educate future civil engineers on the current and anticipated future practices for the design, process trouble-shooting, and operation of advanced water/wastewater treatment facilities. Emphasis will be placed on integrating individual unit operations and processes to achieve overall treatment objectives and to satisfy given constraints. Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:

1.                  Develop design criteria (e.g., mass and flow inputs; performance requirements; general bulk/aggregate physical, chemical, biochemical, and biological kinetic and stoichiometric parameters) necessary for the preparation of designs for advanced water and wastewater treatment unit operations and processes.

2.                  Analyze secondary and tertiary water and wastewater treatment components and systems to determine overall process and individual unit effectiveness.

3.                  Troubleshoot process “failures.”

4.                  Complete basic designs for secondary and tertiary water and wastewater treatment unit operations and processes, including system layout and specification of equipment.

An important philosophy I want you to embrace in this class is to immerse yourself into the material such that you UNDERSTAND THE FUNDAMENTALS rather than simply commit material to short-term memory. In the long term you will realize significant benefits by embracing this approach, both in your continued education and as practicing engineers. And one last point: spelling, grammar, sentence construction, and overall communications skills are vital areas for success in engineering. Therefore, these will be considered in my grading of your work. Proficiency, or lack thereof, could easily be the difference in a final letter grade.

TOPICS COVERED (may be modified and/or supplemented):

1.      Bacterial metabolisms, growth, energetics, kinetics – as related to biological processes employed in the treatment of wastewater and recovery of resources from wastewater.

2.      Suspended growth Biological Nutrient Removal (denitrification and phosphorus removal)

3.      Chemical phosphorus removal – including coagulation & flocculation principles

4.      Fixed film Biological Nutrient Removal (nitrification) – Fixed Film Systems

5.      Sand Filtration/Membrane Filtration/Water Reuse

6.      Sludge handling, Biosolids digestion (time allowing)

7.      Biosolids Dewatering & Use/Residuals Mgt (time allowing)

8.      Odor Control (time allowing)

 COURSE PROFILE:  Three semester credits.  Three 50-minute lectures per week.