WATR06011 2018 Wastewater Sludge Treatment
Full Title
Wastewater Sludge Treatment
Transcript Title
Wastewater Sludge Treatment
Code
WATR06011
Attendance
N/A %
Subject Area
WATR - Water Studies
Department
ESCI - Environmental Science
Level
06 - Level 6
Credit
05 - 05 Credits
Duration
Semester
Fee
€
Start Term
2018 - Full Academic Year 2018-19
End Term
9999 - The End of Time
Author(s)
Mel Casserly, Cait Coyle, Noel Connaughton
Programme Membership
SG_SWAST_E06 201800 Certificate in Wastewater Treatment Operations
SG_SWATE_C06 201800 Higher Certificate in Science in Water and Waste Water Operations
SG_SWAST_E06 201900 Certificate in Wastewater Treatment Operations
SG_SWATE_C06 201900 Higher Certificate in Science in Water and Waste Water Operations
SG_SWATE_C06 202100 Higher Certificate in Science in Water and Waste Water Operations
SG_SWAST_E06 202100 Certificate in Wastewater Treatment Operations
SG_SWATE_C06 202200 Higher Certificate in Science in Water and Waste Water Operations
Description
This module explains the nature, sources, characteristics and nuisance issues associated with wastewater sludges and biosolids; the importance of the reduction of moisture content and volatile solids content; the various processes used to treat and dewater sludge, and the legal and technical requirements to convert wastewater sludge to biosolids and to recycle biosolids to land. The module also explains the practical issues arising in relation to the operation, maintenance and monitoring of sludge thickening, treatment and dewatering facilities.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;
1.
List and describe the critical characteristics of biosolids and wastewater sludges from various sources.
2.
Estimate the mass and volumes of sludge generated by various wastewater treatment processes
3.
Explain why chemicals are used to assist in the thickening and dewatering of sludges and how these processes should be operated and monitored
4.
Discuss the critical features of a range of sludge dewatering and sludge treatment technologies
5.
Demonstrate how sludge facilities should be operated, monitored, trouble-shooted and managed to achieve legal, environmental and economic objectives.
Teaching and Learning Strategies
This module will be delivered using blended learning techniques. This will include online lectures (via Adobe Connect or similar), workshops and site visits augmented by independent learning and directed learning. This approach is expected to address student-learning needs. Moodle will be used to upload educational material (i.e. presentations and recordings of online lectures plus supplementary reading material) and as a means of assessment (e.g. quizzes, uploading assignments and journals). This blended approach (lectures and workshops) brings students together to facilitate group learning.
Module Assessment Strategies
This module is 40% Continuous Assessment and 60% Final Exam.
Assessment will consist of two MCQs in weeks 4 - 6 and 8 - 10.
A practical assignment issued in weeks 3 - 4 must be submitted in weeks 10 - 12.
Repeat Assessments
Repeat Continuous Assessment and/or Final Exam.
Indicative Syllabus
- List and describe the critical characteristics of biosolids and wastewater sludges from various sources.
Wastewater sludge and biosolids characteristics – quantities generated from various primary and secondary treatment processes, solids content, nutrient content, pathogens, heavy metals. - Estimate the mass and volumes of sludge generated by various wastewater treatment processes
Inverse relationship between sludge volume and solids content, economic importance of reducing the volume of sludge, sludge thickening process - Explain why chemicals are used to assist in the thickening and dewatering of sludges and how these processes should be operated and monitored
Use of polyelectrolytes for sludge dewatering operations including use of belt presses, centrifuges, dryers and drying beds/sludge drying reed beds - Discuss the critical features of a range of sludge dewatering and sludge treatment technologies
Sludge treatment processes including aerobic and anaerobic digestion, pre-post pasteurisation, hydrolysis, thermal drying, alkali stabilization and composting and the legal and technical issues associated with the production of high-quality biosolids - Demonstrate how sludge facilities should be operated, monitored, trouble-shooted and managed to achieve legal, environmental and economic objectives
National policy relating to "Sludge Hubs". Sludge recycling options to land, including an overview of nutrient management planning, specific requirements of legislation/codes of practice on land-spreading operations and issues associated with heavy metals and emerging contaminants
Other sludge disposal options, including landfill and incineration
Coursework & Assessment Breakdown
Coursework & Continuous Assessment
40 %
End of Semester / Year Formal Exam
60 %
Coursework Assessment
| Title | Type | Form | Percent | Week | Learning Outcomes Assessed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MCQ1 (week 4 - 6) | Coursework Assessment | Multiple Choice/Short Answer Test | 10 % | Week 5 | 1,2 |
| 2 | MCQ2 (week 8 - 10) | Coursework Assessment | Multiple Choice/Short Answer Test | 10 % | Week 9 | 3,4 |
| 3 | Practical Assignment (week 10 - 12) | Coursework Assessment | Assignment | 20 % | Week 11 | 5 |
End of Semester / Year Assessment
| Title | Type | Form | Percent | Week | Learning Outcomes Assessed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FT | Final Exam | Closed Book Exam | 60 % | End of Semester | 1,2,3,4,5 |
Online Learning Mode Workload
| Type | Location | Description | Hours | Frequency | Avg Workload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Online Lecture | Online | Online Lecture | 1 | Weekly | 1.00 |
| Directed Learning | Online | Directed Learning | 1 | Weekly | 1.00 |
| Workshop / Seminar | Not Specified | Attendance at Workshop | 4 | Once Per Module | 0.27 |
| Independent Learning | Not Specified | Independent Learning | 5 | Weekly | 5.00 |
Total Online Learning Average Weekly Learner Contact Time 1.27 Hours
Required & Recommended Book List
Recommended Reading
2013-10-16 Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Resource Recovery McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 0073401188 ISBN-13 9780073401188
2013-10-16 Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Resource Recovery McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 0073401188 ISBN-13 9780073401188
Recommended Reading
2007 Sludge Treatment and Disposal: Biological Wastewater Treatment Vol. 6 IWA Publishing
2007 Sludge Treatment and Disposal: Biological Wastewater Treatment Vol. 6 IWA Publishing
Recommended Reading
2014 Management Options for the Collection, Treatment and Disposal of Sludge Derived from Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems Irish EPA
2014 Management Options for the Collection, Treatment and Disposal of Sludge Derived from Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems Irish EPA
Recommended Reading
2017 National Wastewater Sludge Management Plan .
2017 National Wastewater Sludge Management Plan .
Recommended Reading
1999 Code of Good Practice for the Use of Biosolids in Agriculture DoELG
1999 Code of Good Practice for the Use of Biosolids in Agriculture DoELG
Module Resources
Journal Resources
Not relevant
URL Resources
A range of manufacturer and national/international regulator websites providing technical details of advanced wastewater treatment systems will be uploaded directly to the subject Moodle page by the lecturer as required.
Other Resources
STATUTORY INSTRUMENT S.I. No. 605 of 2017 EUROPEAN UNION (GOOD AGRICULTURAL PRACTICE FOR PROTECTION OF WATERS) REGULATIONS 2017
STATUTORY INSTRUMENT S.I. No. 148/1998 - Waste Management (Use of Sewage Sludge in Agriculture) Regulations, 1998 as amended
Additional Information
Not relevant