575.605.81 - Principles of Water and Wastewater Treatment

Expanded Course Description

This course covers the basic principles of water and wastewater systems management and treatment processes. Course topics include overviews of water supply and demand, wastewater projection and capacities, water and wastewater regulations, water quality objectives, conventional and advanced treatment processes, biosolids, and water treatment residuals management.

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Modules on the course menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Most modules run for a period of seven (7) days, exceptions are noted on the Course Outline. You should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

This course covers the basic principles of water and wastewater systems management and treatment processes. Course topics include:

• overviews of water supply and demand
• wastewater projection and capacities
• water and wastewater regulations
• water quality objectives
• conventional and advanced treatment processes
• biosolids and
• water treatment residuals management.

Course Goals

To understand the basic principles of and perform sizing calculations for major components of drinking water treatment, water distribution system, wastewater collection system and wastewater treatment processes. Using these principles and design tools, students can apply this knowledge to provide the framework for sizing water supply, water and wastewater treatment systems for various size communities.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Analyze the relationship between the natural water cycle and human water use.
• Evaluate the chemical, physical, and biological principles of conventional and advanced water and wastewater treatment processes.
• Compute the designs for primary, secondary, tertiary, conventional, and advanced water and wastewater treatment processes
• Examine regulations governing water and wastewater treatment.
• Summarize the major design parameters for safe drinking water and wastewater treatment and disposal/reuse processes

Textbooks

Viessman Jr., W., Hammer, M.J., Perez, E.M., & Chadik, P.A. (2014) Water Supply and Pollution Control (8th ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ. Pearson. ISBN- 0-13-233717-7

Davis, M. L. (2020) Water and Wastewater Engineering, Design Principles and Practice, (2nd Ed.) McGraw-Hill ISBN 978-1-260-13227-4

Note: The textbook by Davis (2020) Water and Wastewater Engineering (2nd Ed.) is provided by JHU Library Electronic Reserves as an eBook at no cost to students enrolled in this course. It is accessible via the EReserves.

Other Materials & Online Resources

Many valuable resources are available via the Internet, including materials from the Environmental Protection Agency, American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation web sites. You are encouraged to take advantage of these and other valuable resources on the web.

Required Software

MATLAB

You may need access to a recent version of MATLAB with the Signal Processing Toolkit. The MATLAB Total Academic Headcount (TAH) license in now in effect. This license is provided at no cost to students. Send an email to software@jhu.edu to request your license file/code. Please indicate that you need a standalone file/code. You will need to provide your first and last names, as well as your Hopkins email address. You will receive an email from Mathworks with instructions to create a Mathworks account. The MATLAB software will be available for download from the Mathworks site.

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that each module will take approximately 5–8 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: reading the assigned sections of the texts (approximately 1-2 hours per week) as well as some outside reading, listening to the audio slide presentations (approximately 1-2 hours per week), participating in class discussions (approximately 0.5-1 hours per week) and writing assignments (approximately 2–3 hours per week). Preparation for the project can be broken down into small chunks of work and may take 0.5 hours or less per week. The site visit (which will be arranged by each student separately, may take 3-5 hours during the semester.

This course will consist of the following four basic student requirements:

Discussions: Preparation and Participation (15% of Final Grade Calculation)

You are responsible for carefully reading all assigned materials and being prepared for discussion. The majority of readings are from the course textbooks; however, additional readings may be assigned to supplement readings from the textbooks.

Post your initial response to the discussion questions by the evening of day 3 of that module. Posting a response to the discussion question is part one of your grade for module discussions (i.e., Timeliness).

Part two of your grade for module discussion will be based on your interaction (i.e., responding to classmate postings with thoughtful responses) with at least two classmates (i.e., Critical Thinking). Just posting your response to a discussion question is not sufficient; we want you to interact with your classmates. Be detailed in your postings and in your responses to your classmates' postings. Feel free to agree or disagree with your classmates. Please ensure that your postings are civil and constructive.

We will monitor module discussions and respond to some of the discussions as they are posted. In some instances, we may summarize the overall discussions and post the summary for the module.

Evaluation of preparation and participation is based on contribution to discussions.

Discussion postings will be graded based on the following:

1. Postings were submitted on time (20%)
2. The original posting addressed the discussion topic (40%)
3. Adequate facts and references were included (20%)
4. The subsequent postings contributed to the content of other student's postings (20%).
5. Timeliness (50%)
6. Critical Thinking (50%)

Assignments (20% of Final Grade Calculation)

Assignments may be from the textbooks as well as from external sources. Include a cover sheet with your name and assignment identifier. Also include your name and a page number indicator (i.e., page x of y) on each page of your submissions. Each problem should have the problem statement, assumptions, computations, and conclusions/ discussion delineated. All Figures and Tables should be captioned and labeled appropriately.

All assignments are due according to the dates in the Course Calendar. Late submissions will be assessed a 10-point penalty for each week late (no exceptions without prior coordination with the instructors). Acceptance of late submission of assignments after the assignment solutions are released is not guaranteed and, if accepted, will not exceed 40%.

1. Each part of the question is answered (20%)
2. Rationale and assumptions are clearly stated (20%)
3. Intermediate derivations and calculations are provided (25%)
4. Answer is technically correct and is clearly indicated (25%)
5. Outside references are included (10%)

The Assignments will be graded as follows:

• 100–90 = A—All parts of question are addressed; All assumptions are clearly stated; All intermediate derivations and calculations are provided; Answer is technically correct and is clearly indicated; Answer precision and units are appropriate.
• 89–80 = B—All parts of question are addressed; All assumptions are clearly stated; Some intermediate derivations and calculations are provided; Answer is technically correct and is indicated; Answer precision and units are appropriate.
• 79–70=C—Most parts of question are addressed; Assumptions are partially stated; Few intermediate derivations and calculations are provided; Answer is not technically correct but is indicated; Answer precision and units are indicated but inappropriate.
• <70=F—Some parts of the question are addressed; Assumptions are not stated; Intermediate derivations and calculations are not provided; The answer is incorrect or missing; The answer precision and units are inappropriate or missing.
  

Course Project (20% of Final Grade Calculation)

A course project will be assigned at the beginning of each part of the course and will be due at the end of each part. 

The course project will be evaluated based on the following elements:

1. Student preparation and participation (as described in Course Project Description) (40%)
2. Student technical understanding of the course project topic (as related to individual role that the student assumes and described in the Course Project Description) (20%)
3. Team preparation and participation, if applicable, (as described in Course Project Description) (20%)
4. Team technical understanding of the course project topic, if applicable, (as related to the Team roles assumed by the students and described in the Course Project Description) (20%).

The Course Project will be graded as follows:

• 100–90 = A—Student Preparation and Participation/ Team Preparation and Participation [individual/ team roles and responsibilities well defined and understood; individual/ team well versed in use of Adobe Connect; individual/ teamwork product(s) agreed to, well prepared and available to all team members/ instructors]; Student Understanding/ Team Understanding [rich in content; full of thought, insight, and analysis].
• 89–80 = B—Student Preparation and Participation/ Team Preparation and Participation [individual/ team roles and responsibilities well defined and understood; individual/ team well versed in use of Adobe Connect; individual/ team work product(s) agreed to and prepared]; Student Understanding/ Team Understanding [substantial information; thought, insight, and analysis has taken place].
• 79–70 = C—Student Preparation and Participation/ Team Preparation and Participation [individual/ team roles and responsibilities agreed to; individual/ team well versed in use of Adobe Connect; individual/ teamwork product(s) prepared]; Student Understanding/ Team Understanding [generally competent; information is thin and commonplace].

Exams (45% of Final Grade Calculation: 20% for Midterm and 25% for Final)

The midterm and final exams will be available based on the dates shown in the calendar. You will have 3 days (including 2 days of the weekend) to complete each exam. You may use the course materials to complete the exams.

The exams will be evaluated based on the following elements:

1. Each part of the question is answered (20%)
2. Rationale and assumptions are clearly stated (20%)
3. Intermediate derivations and calculations are provided (25%)
4. Answer is technically correct and is clearly indicated (25%)
5. Outside references are provided (10%)

Grading Policy

The grading policy for this course is as follows:

A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.

A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.

EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).

Final grades will be determined based on the following weightings:

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.