Drinking Water Treatment Operations

Certificate

Course Details

Course Code	SG_SDRIN_E06
Level	6
Duration	2 years
Credits	60
Method of Delivery	Online
Campus Locations	Sligo
Mode of Delivery	Part Time

How to Apply

Course Overview

This course will prepare participants with the knowledge, skills and competencies required for success in operation of water treatment plants. It will also provide formal certification to operatives in this area.

Programme/Course Structure

In collaboration with Irish Water and the Local Authority Services National Training Group, L6 Certificate in Drinking Water Treatment Operations (online and on a part time basis) tailored to address the increasing and demanding needs of water treatment plant operations.

Available to operatives in Local Authorities, Irish Water and Private Sector Water organisations. Approved Local Authority and Irish Water employees will have their fees fully funded to undertake these programmes.

Stage 1 focuses on developing a greater understanding of computer applications, health and safety, flow measurement and controls, as well as law and compliance.

In Stage 2 the focus is on water sector specific specialist topics in the drinking water area including source abstraction and quality, drinking water treatment, treatment plant maintenance and drinking water sludge treatment. Advanced drinking water treatment is also included in stage 2.

Course Details

Year 1

Semester	Module Details	Credits	Mandatory / Elective
1	ICT and Transferable Skills The module aims to provide students with fundamental skills for effective and professional communication (written and verbal) in the workplace. It also deals with the effective us of Information Technology in the implementation of these skills. It will cover the use of software packages for word processing, spreadsheet creation and the production of presentations. The students will be also be given an introduction to Computer Systems. The meaning of plagiarism and peer reviewed information will be explained to students. The importance of teamwork, leadership and conflict management will be discussed. Learning Outcomes 1. Identify the main component parts and peripheral devices of a standard computer system 2. Create documentation using Word processing software incorporating a range of data management and editing techniques including a business letter, email and a short technical report. 3. Compile and edit data sets using Spreadsheet software including the use of functions and formulae, chart construction and object linking. 4. Participate as part of a team to create and deliver a professional oral presentation using relevant software. 5. Explain the meaning of peer reviewed information, plagiarism and the Harvard Referencing System.	05	Mandatory
1	Water and Wastewater Science Module This module deals with selected aspects of Water and Wastewater Science that are relevant to Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants. This module will introduce the importance of water, it sources, its uses, the quality of water, the sources and types of water pollution, how it is measured and how these measurements are interpreted. It forms the foundation module for all modules in 2nd, 3rd and 4th semester modules. Learning Outcomes 1. Name, explain and apply the various basic concepts of Water and Wastewater . 2. Distinguish sources, uses and quality of Water and Wastewater. 3. Identify sources and types of pollution. 4. Interpret scientific measurements and results.	05	Mandatory
1	Health and Safety for Treatment Plant Operators This module will give treatment plant operator students a foundation in occupational safety and health, including an introduction to: health and safety legislation; hazard identification and risk assessment; common workplace and job specific hazards & control measures; safe systems of work; site safety inductions; accident and incident reporting; emergency planning; training; and personal protective equipment. Learning Outcomes 1. Identify the main pieces of Irish health & safety legislation and describe important components within (e.g. Employers Duties and Employees Duties). 2. Conduct a hazard identification & risk assessment of a specific workplace activity. 3. Identify a variety of common workplace hazards (e.g. fire; electricity; machinery; chemicals; biological agents; manual handling; work at heights; noise; occupational health hazards; psychosocial hazards; etc) and job specific hazards (e.g. lone working; drowning; confined space entry; explosive atmospheres;aerosols; flocculants; chlorine; asbestos;pressurevessels;road works;livestock; Weils disease; Hepatitis A; etc) and the appropriate workplace control measures to be applied. 4. Outline Safe Systems of Work (e.g. Method Statements; Permit to Work Systems, Lock Out/Tag Out, Traffic Management Plans, etc) to be applied within the workplace. 5. Identify specific workplace requirements for Site Safety Inductions; Accident & Incident reporting; Emergency Planning; Training; and Personal Protective Equipment.	05	Mandatory
2	Energy Management This module will familiarise students with the fundamentals of thermal, electrical, chemical and mechanical energy systems and how energy transitions between these systems. The module will then explore the various ways of metering and recording these energy transfers and their associated metric, US and imperial units. As motors & pumping systems are particularly relevant – the operation and management of these will be explored in detail along the principles of power factor and power factor correction. The principles of energy management and energy management systems will be examined, particularly in the context of Irish Water. Learning Outcomes 1. Quantify different energy types in appropriate units 2. Describe the various forms of energy (mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical etc) and common conversion processes between them (kinetic to electric, etc). 3. Describe the operation of an AC induction motor and a simple pumping system and perform calculations based on the Affinity laws of pumping systems. 4. Discuss the hierarchical principles of energy management. 5. Conduct a brief energy survey highlighting potential for improved energy management in a practical scenario. 6. Write report in relation to this survey suggesting improved future practice based on the principles of energy management.	05	Mandatory
2	Law and Compliance This introduction to law and legislative approaches provides the basic framework in which participants can understand the application of environmental law within Ireland. The role of the European Union and the Irish legislature in the formation of national environmental legislation is examined, as is the role and responsibilities of environmental enforcement agencies. The aim is to provide a sense of how the overall regulatory system operates and might affect an organisation, and how it can be used to protect the environment. The importance of environmental compliance is also explored. A contextual overview of existing Irish environmental legislation is provided with more detailed attention to more salient instruments. Learning Outcomes 1. Give an overview the Irish and EU legislative system, sources of legislation and list and explain key terms and definitions associated with environmental regulation 2. Outline the environmental legal and regulatory framework and functions of the key bodies and identify the role(s) that the public can have 3. List the main pertinent Irish environmental statutes and outline the main provisions of each 4. Explain the practical implications of Irish environmental legislation on operations in an organisation 5. Communicate information regarding environmental regulation and compliance in a manner appropriate to an audience of peers	05	Mandatory
2	Networks Flow Measurement and Control This module introduces flow concepts used for the design of water supply and drainage systems. The module will also examine issues relating to the maintenance and management of waste water drainage systems and water distribution networks. Learning Outcomes 1. Define and manipulate the theoretical concepts which underline basic fluid properties. 2. Identify and understand the components of water supply systems and foul water drainage networks. 3. Understand the conceptsand techniques associated withwater supply system maintenance and management. 4. Understand the concepts and techniques associated with foul and mixed sewer drainage systems maintenance and management. 5. Complete a case study project on improving a waste water drainage network or water supply network in your care.	05	Mandatory

Year 2

Semester	Module Details	Credits	Mandatory / Elective
1	Water Sources, Abstraction and Quality This module will enable students to understand the fundamental aspects of the hydrological cycle and its relevance to the provision of a sustainable water supply. Students will be taught about the methods used for the collection of a raw water supply from groundwater and surface water sources, in addition to the infrastructure used for its transport, storage and distribution. The module examines potential sources of contamination, which may impact on raw water quality at catchment level. Particular emphasis will be placed on the importance of compliance with water quality legislation and relevant guidelines in order to protect the water resource. Learning Outcomes 1. Explain the hydrological cycle and its relevance to a holistic approach to sustainable water supply. 2. Outline typical methods/approaches for the abstraction of raw water from groundwater and surface water sources, in addition to its regulation. 3. Demonstrate an understanding of the main infrastructure used for the transport, storage and distribution of water to domestic properties and businesses. 4. Define key characteristics (chemical, physical and microbiological) of satisfactory raw water quality, especially for the protection of human health. 5. Outline the importance of compliance with key legislation for the protection of drinking water quality, groundwater and surface water.	05	Mandatory
1	Drinking Water Treatment This Module informs the learner about the function and operation criteria of a drinking water treatment plant and its main elements. It describes the treatment stages that transform a typical raw water source (surface water or ground water) to one that is fit for human consumption and meets the required drinking water legislation. The module will explore the factors that influence the design and operation of a water treatment plant. It will also explore the importance of monitoring key parameters within a system to minimise operational problems and optimise treatment efficiency. The learner will gain an understanding of water quality parameters and parametric values, legal requirements of drinking water treatment and customer expectations and gain an understanding of water safety planning. The module also introduces "risk" and "barrier" approach to achieving safe drinking water and monitoring requirements. Also introduced in the module are loss and wastage of water during treatment. The learner will also carry out lab testing for key water quality parameters measured routinely at plants. Learning Outcomes 1. Explain the function and operation criteria of drinking water treatment processes. 2. Differentiate between water treatment process steps and their application. 3. Perform calculations necessary for efficient plant operation and differentiate between measurement units used. 4. Describe the various disinfection processes and understand log credit and log removal in drinking water treatment 5. Define and describe water quality parameters, parametric values, methods of measurement and and carry out lab testing. 6. Analyse drinking water treatment plant performance, identify critical control points and understand mananging for loss/wastage of treated water 7. Identify and describe the \”risk\” and \”barrier\” approach to achieving safe drinking water, the main contaminants of water and their sources and drinking water safety planning.	10	Mandatory
2	Drinking Water Sludge Treatment This module covers production, treatment, handling and disposal of water treatment sludge and includes the following: The circular economy – (Design, Production, Consumption and Re-use). Drinking water treatment sludge characteristics. Traditional sludge treatment processes and new technologies. Sludge disposal methodologies and the decision process. Environmental impact and Regulatory Compliance building and understanding of the relevant Directive, Act Regulations applicable to Sludge management. Methodologies are employed to validate and optimise the sludge treatment processes. Learning Outcomes 1. Define sludge characteristics from water treatment plants, describe dewatering and other common treatment processes options and stabilization processes. 2. Calculate sludge volume reductions due to dewatering processes. 3. Select and recommend on appropriate sludge disposal methods. 4. Interpret the relevant legislation and describe the control standards, manuals and directives. 5. Explain how to develop national sludge management plans	05	Mandatory
2	Drinking Water Treatment Plant Maintenance This module presents a Quality Management Framework that is integrated with Water Safety Planning, Health and Safety Planning, Planned Preventative Maintenance, Emergency Planning and Plant Optimisation to minimise costs. The module includes the following topics: documentation (paper and/or electronic), drawings/schematics, standard operating procedures, operations and maintenance manuals, monitoring of processes, equipment/instrumentation calibration and the importance of effective communication. Learning Outcomes 1. Describe the main elements of a quality framework for the operation and maintenance of water treatment and distribution systems 2. Explain what a Water Safety Plan (WSP) is and the role of the Plant Operator in achieving the objectives of the WSP 3. Discuss the differences in approach to the work of a Plant Operator between Planned Preventative Maintenance and unplanned responses to breakdowns and/or emergency situations 4. Discuss the tasks involved in monitoring and maintenance of a water treatment plant and distribution system for source protection, raw water quality, process performance, treated water quality compliance, residuals treatment, asset condition and process efficiency 5. Discuss how the maintenance of water treatment plants and water distribution systems should be managed to achieve legal, environmental, technical and economic objectives.	05	Mandatory
2	Advanced Drinking Water Treatment This module provides the learner with the fundamental characteristics and operational processes for a range of Advanced Drinking Water Treatment Systems including ortho-P dosing for lead mitigation and removal, ultraviolet irradiation technology, advanced water filtration, activated carbon filtration, membrane technologies, taste and odour improvement, advanced oxidation technologies including ozonation, aeration, water softening, desalination, and pH adjustment. Learning Outcomes 1. Describe the range of advanced drinking water treatment processes and explain where and when they can be used effectively and efficiently. 2. Outline the potentially harmful and deleterious effects that various substances and micro-organisms may have on consumers of drinking water from both polluted and natural sources. 3. Describe the processes that would positively impact on the quality of drinking water produced from a number of sources and comparatively assess the relative costs and benefits of employing such technologies. 4. Sample, test and monitor the water quality from advanced drinking water treatment processes and provide an analysis of the success of such systems for various water sources and potential uses of the treated water. 5. Identify technologies to solve issues for drinking water supplies and determine the appropriate applications of such technologies to solve problems.	05	Mandatory

Recommended Study Hours per week

3-4 hours of online lectures per week. Students should also allow 6-7 hours for self-directed learning.

Examination and Assessment

Modules are a mix of continuous assessment and Exam.

On-Campus Attendance Requirement

Two full day workshops per semester in ATU Sligo. Attendance at the workshops will be compulsory.

Progression

Students who wish to continue their studies following completion of this programme can complete a further 60 credits by way of (a) a 30 Credit Work Based Project Module and (b) 30 credits of modules not already undertaken from the Certificate in Waste Water Treatment Operations. On completion of these additional 60 Credits (120 Credits in total will then be held) students will be entitled to the award of a Higher Certificate in Water and Wastewater Treatment Operations and can apply to progress to our Level 7 Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management.

Please contact admissions.sligo@atu.ie for details on application process.

Download a prospectus

Undergraduate Prospectus Online, Flexible & Professional Development Prospectus

Entry Requirements

A Level 5 qualification (e.g. leaving certificate) or equivalent is required for entry to this programme.

Applicants with other qualifications and with relevant work experience may also be considered through ATU Sligos Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) process. RPL is a process that may allow you to gain admission to a programme or to receive exemptions / credit from some parts of a programme based on demonstrated learning that you may have achieved through another programme of study or through your work and career. Further information is available through www.atu.ie/recognition-of-prior-learning which our dedicated RPL portal or by contacting our admissions team at admissions.sligo@atu.ie.

Fees

Total Fees EU: €4800

Further information on fees

Professional Accreditation

Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Managers.

Careers

Graduates will be qualified to work in Water Treatment Plants as operators to the expected industry standard. This qualification may become the standard that the major operators in the Water Industry in Ireland will come to expect from their operators.

Further Information

Who Should Apply?

Suitable for existing drinking water treatment plant operators and managers in local authorities, Irish Water/ Uisce Éireann and private sector water organisations as well as those looking to work in this area in the future.