Water and Wastewater Treatment

As a core component of Environmental Engineering, Water and Wastewater Treatment applies scientific and engineering principles to design, operate, and manage systems for purifying water. The discipline has two primary functions: treating raw water sources to produce safe, potable water for human consumption, and treating municipal and industrial wastewater to remove harmful contaminants before its safe release back into the environment. Through a combination of physical, chemical, and biological processes, this field is essential for protecting public health from waterborne diseases and preserving the ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems.

1. Introduction to Water and Wastewater Treatment
   1. Historical Perspective and Public Health
      1. Early Water Supply and Sanitation Practices
      2. Major Waterborne Disease Outbreaks
      3. Evolution of Treatment Technologies
      4. Impact on Public Health and Urbanization
   2. The Hydrologic Cycle and Water Resources
      1. Components of the Hydrologic Cycle
         1. Precipitation
         2. Evaporation and Transpiration
         3. Infiltration and Percolation
         4. Runoff and Surface Water
         5. Groundwater Recharge and Discharge
      2. Types of Water Resources
         1. Surface Water Sources
         2. Groundwater Sources
         3. Alternative Water Sources
            1. Desalination
            2. Water Reuse
      3. Water Scarcity and Stress
   3. Regulatory Frameworks and Standards
      1. Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)
         1. Key Provisions and Amendments
         2. Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs)
         3. Monitoring and Reporting Requirements
      2. Clean Water Act (CWA)
         1. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
         2. Water Quality Standards
         3. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs)
      3. International and Local Regulations
         1. World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines
         2. European Union Directives
         3. Local and Regional Standards
   4. Key Terminology and Units of Measurement
      1. Common Terms in Water and Wastewater Treatment
      2. Units of Concentration
         1. Milligrams per Liter (mg/L)
         2. Parts per Million (ppm)
         3. Parts per Billion (ppb)
      3. Flow and Volume Units
         1. Liters per Second (L/s)
         2. Cubic Meters per Day (m³/d)
         3. Gallons per Day (gpd)
      4. Conversion Factors