Course in Operational Continuity in Urban Water
The Course in Operational Continuity in Urban Water provides key knowledge in risk management, emergency planning and vulnerability analysis for drinking water and sanitation systems. It focuses on urban resilience, addressing the protection of critical infrastructure against events such as droughts, floods, and other factors that could interrupt the water supply. The course includes case studies and scenario simulation, preparing participants to implement effective business continuity plans (BCP) and ensure the uninterrupted operation of essential services.
The course focuses on developing skills in system monitoring, risk identification and the application of rapid response strategies. It covers the current regulations and best practices in the water sector, including the use of crisis management technologies and coordination with government bodies and service providers. Participants will acquire the skills to develop and manage emergency protocols, ensuring water availability in critical situations.
Course in Operational Continuity in Urban Water — studying from Australia
Australia's infrastructure pipeline is substantial, covering roads, rail, ports, water and urban development across major cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Rail engineering is especially active, with projects including Sydney Metro and Melbourne Metro. Smart city initiatives draw on sensors, data platforms and digital twins to improve transport, utilities and public services. Employers include state transport authorities, engineering consultancies such as Aurecon and WSP, and major contractors. Engineers work on design, asset management, construction oversight and sustainability.
Fees for Australia: A$868 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Does a SEIUM qualification meet Australian civil engineering registration requirements?
No. Civil engineers in Australia typically need an Engineers Australia accredited degree to pursue Chartered status, and state and territory rail and infrastructure regulators set their own requirements. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited by these bodies, so employers or regulators decide how much weight they carry.
Which Australian employers hire in civil, rail and smart cities?
Australia has public infrastructure agencies, rail operators, engineering consultancies and councils working on urban and smart city projects. Employers usually prioritise accredited qualifications, licensing and project experience. Ask potential employers whether a private online qualification would be considered alongside your experience.
Is the course workable alongside work, and what does it cost?
The courses are 100% online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in Australia without a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, diplomas 800 and master's 1,900, so plan your time accordingly. Fees are payable in instalments, employer sponsorship may be possible, and you will have an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand how the urban water cycle works.
Identify hazards and risks affecting the water service.
Design water supply continuity strategies.
Plan degraded operation of sanitation and wastewater treatment.
Simulate failure scenarios with hydraulic models.
Manage crises and communicate restrictions to the public.
Apply the ISO 24510 and 24518 standards to service management.
Who it's for
- Water supply and sanitation engineer who wants to specialise in Operational Continuity in Urban Water.
- Business continuity manager of a water operator who wants to specialise in Operational Continuity in Urban Water.
- Water quality technician who wants to specialise in Operational Continuity in Urban Water.
- Treatment plant manager who wants to specialise in Operational Continuity in Urban Water.
- Consultant in the integrated water cycle who wants to specialise in Operational Continuity in Urban Water.
- Telecontrol technician who wants to specialise in Operational Continuity in Urban Water.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter integrated water cycle management.
What you'll work with
- Royal Decree 3/2023 on technical-sanitary criteria for drinking water
- Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on the quality of water intended for human consumption
- ISO 24510 Activities relating to drinking water and wastewater services
- Royal Decree 1620/2007 on the reuse of treated wastewater
- ISO 22301 Business continuity management systems
- Directive (EU) 2024/3019 on urban wastewater treatment
- Royal Legislative Decree 1/2001 Consolidated Text of the Water Act
- ISO 24518 Crisis management in water services
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Surface and groundwater abstraction1.2Drinking water treatment: processes and control1.3Transport and distribution networks1.4Sanitation, wastewater treatment and reuse1.5Drinking water quality and health surveillance1.6Supply allowances and supply guarantee1.7Public and concession management models1.8Electrical and chemical dependencies1.9Water supply service indicators1.10Case study: diagnosis of the water supply of a medium-sized city
2.1Drought and reduction of resources2.2Contamination of abstraction sources2.3Failures of major mains2.4Power cuts at pumping stations and treatment works2.5Shortage of chemical reagents2.6Flooding of wastewater treatment plants and stations2.7Cyberattacks on telecontrol2.8Health risks from Legionella and pathogens2.9Hazard analysis according to the water safety plan2.10Practice: hazard matrix for a water supply system
3.1Alternative sources and interconnections between systems3.2Strategic reservoirs and reserve autonomy3.3Sectorisation to isolate incidents3.4Supply by tankers and distribution points3.5Bottled water for vulnerable populations3.6Reagent reserves and supplier agreements3.7Energy backup for critical installations3.8Manual operation of telecontrol3.9Emergency plans for drought situations3.10Laboratory: sectorisation simulation with EPANET
4.1Critical wastewater pumping stations4.2Bypass and relief during emergencies4.3Operation of WWTPs in degraded mode4.4Sludge management during interruptions4.5Environmental impact of accidental discharges4.6Wastewater surveillance as a health alert4.7Coordination with the river basin authority4.8Protocols following urban flooding4.9Restoration of wastewater treatment4.10Case study: prolonged failure of a WWTP
5.1Water operator crisis committee5.2Communication of restrictions and health advisories5.3Coordination with health authorities and civil protection5.4Contamination and shortage drills5.5Service continuity indicators5.6ISO 24510 to 24512 in water services5.7Asset management and investment in redundancy5.8Experiences: Barcelona drought 2024, Cape Town5.9Review of the water safety plan5.10Case study: communicating a supply restriction
6.1Selection of the water supply system6.2Hazard and dependency analysis6.3Critical interruption scenarios6.4Hydraulic model of the network6.5Proposed continuity strategies6.6Crisis management protocol6.7Testing and drill plan6.8Monitoring indicators6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: the student progresses at their own pace within the intake, making it possible to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is EPANET, InfoWorks WS Pro, EPA SWMM, QGIS, WaterGEMS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work covers real hazard analysis procedures for a water supply system, sectorisation simulation following a major mains failure, and an alternative distribution plan using tankers. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Understand how the urban water cycle works.
Identify hazards and risks affecting the water service.
Design water supply continuity strategies.
Plan degraded operation of sanitation and wastewater treatment.
Simulate failure scenarios with hydraulic models.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The work is carried out with EPANET, InfoWorks WS Pro, EPA SWMM, QGIS, WaterGEMS. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the higher programme. Please consult the recognition policy when you enrol.
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