Future of Urban Water Management Course
Online course of 300 hours on the future of urban water management, structured in 6 modules covering urban water challenges, water-sensitive cities, resource recovery, emerging technologies, and governance and management models under the Water Framework Directive and the new Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, with 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
Identify the future challenges of urban water management.
Apply the water-sensitive city paradigm.
Evaluate resource recovery opportunities.
Analyse emerging technologies and their maturity.
Compare governance and regulatory models.
Build future scenarios for the urban water cycle.
Draw up an urban water strategy for a city.
Who it's for
- Strategic water planners.
- Water innovation consultants.
- Executives at water utilities.
- Public water policy officers.
- Water asset managers.
- Urban sustainability analysts.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to join water-cycle management companies.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive)
- Directive (EU) 2024/3019 (urban wastewater treatment)
- Directive (EU) 2020/2184 (quality of water intended for human consumption)
- Regulation (EU) 2020/741 (minimum requirements for water reuse)
- Law 7/2021 (Spanish climate change and energy transition law)
- ISO 24510 (drinking water and wastewater services: guidelines for the assessment and improvement of the service)
- ISO 46001 (water efficiency management systems)
- ISO 55001 (asset management)
- EPA SWMM
- EPANET
- QGIS
- Microsoft Power BI
- Python with pandas
6 modules
1.1Urban growth and demand1.2Climate change and hydrological extremes1.3Ageing infrastructure1.4Emerging contaminants and PFAS1.5Affordability and the human right to water1.6Sustainable Development Goal 61.7European water resilience strategy1.8OECD reports on water governance1.9Scenarios to 20501.10Case study: diagnosis of a city's water challenges
2.1The water-sensitive city paradigm2.2Integrated management of the urban water cycle2.3The sponge city concept2.4Water and urban planning2.5Diversification of water sources2.6Greywater and rainwater in buildings2.7Decentralised water infrastructure2.8Water Sensitive Cities Index2.9Experiences: Melbourne, Copenhagen and Singapore2.10Workshop: assessment with the Water Sensitive Cities Index
3.1Wastewater treatment plants as biofactories3.2Phosphorus and struvite recovery3.3Biomethane and hydrogen3.4Heat recovery from wastewater3.5Bioplastics and cellulose3.6Energy neutrality in wastewater treatment3.7Large-scale water reuse3.8Urban water symbiosis3.9Markets for recovered resources3.10Practical exercise: balance of recoverable resources at a WWTP
4.1Digital twins of the urban water cycle4.2Artificial intelligence in operation4.3Advanced sensors and remote sensing4.4Advanced treatment for micropollutants4.5Wastewater-based epidemiology4.6Robotics for network inspection4.7Blockchain and water traceability4.8Cybersecurity of the urban water cycle4.9Technology readiness and adoption4.10Lab: technology roadmap for a water operator
5.1Public, private and mixed management models5.2Independent economic regulation5.3Public participation in the process5.4Transparency and open data5.5Long-term asset management5.6Financing the transition5.7Future talent and skills5.8Communicating the value of water5.9Performance indicators5.10Case study: governance model for a metropolitan area
6.1Selection of the city6.2Current diagnosis of the urban water cycle6.3Future scenarios6.4Vision and strategic objectives6.5Lines of action6.6Technology roadmap6.7Financing and governance6.8Monitoring indicators6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final 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. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is EPA SWMM, EPANET, QGIS, Microsoft Power BI and Python with pandas, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: water-sensitive city assessments, resource recovery balances and preparation of strategic roadmaps. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrated project.
Standards covered: Directive 2000/60/EC, Directive (EU) 2024/3019, Directive (EU) 2020/2184, Regulation (EU) 2020/741, Law 7/2021, ISO 24510, ISO 46001, ISO 55001.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
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 over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with EPA SWMM, EPANET, QGIS, Microsoft Power BI and Python with pandas, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and enough English to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
Related programmes
Underground Metro Station Design Course
Online course of 300 hours in underground metro station design, structured in 6 modules covering station planning, functional and passenger flow design, structural and geotechnical design,…
European Regulation Course on Urban STIs
Online course of 300 hours in European regulation of urban ITS: 6 modules covering European smart transport policy, the ITS Directive and its revision, data, interoperability…
Urban Data Auditing Course
300-hour online course in Urban Data Auditing. 6 modules covering ISO/IEC 25012:2008, ISO 8000-8:2015 and Great Expectations. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
More in Civil, Rail & Smart Cities
All Civil, Rail & Smart Cities programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships