Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant Course
Online course of 300 hours in urban wastewater treatment plants. 6 modules covering urban wastewater, pre-treatment and primary treatment, secondary treatment, tertiary treatment and sludge, and WWTP design and operation, applying Directive (EU) 2024/3019, Directive 91/271/EEC and Royal Decree-Law 11/1995 with DESASS, with an assigned technical tutor.
Urban Wastewater Treatment Plant Course — studying from New Zealand
Civil engineering is one of New Zealand's largest engineering employers, driven by the need for earthquake-resilient infrastructure, roading, water and wastewater systems across a seismically active country. Major projects include Auckland's City Rail Link and Wellington's transport upgrades, with rail maintained largely by KiwiRail. Engineers work for consultancies, contractors and councils, and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment administers the Building Act and related standards, while Waka Kotahi manages the national land transport network.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$887 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
What is the recognition pathway for civil and rail engineers in New Zealand?
Engineering New Zealand administers Chartered Professional Engineer registration, which is the main recognised professional standard for civil engineers. Rail is regulated through the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and the Ministry of Transport. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by a national body, so employers or the relevant body decide how much weight to give them.
Who hires civil, rail and smart city engineers in New Zealand?
Employers include city and regional councils, central government agencies, consultancies, contractors, and rail and transport operators. Smart city roles increasingly combine infrastructure knowledge with data and digital systems. Hiring usually depends on registration, experience and project records, so a private qualification is a supporting credential rather than a guaranteed entry point.
Will I need a visa, and how do fees and employer funding work?
No student visa is needed to study from home, because all programmes are 100% online and taught in English. Each programme includes an assigned technical tutor and a final project. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship is possible. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 and specialist courses 300, so check the time commitment against your workload.
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
Characterise urban wastewater and its design loads.
Size pre-treatment and primary treatment units.
Select and size biological treatment processes.
Design sludge treatment lines and biogas recovery.
Apply the discharge requirements of European legislation.
Assess the costs and energy efficiency of a WWTP.
Prepare the basic design of an urban WWTP.
Who it's for
- Wastewater process engineers.
- WWTP plant managers.
- Hydraulic infrastructure designers.
- Water laboratory technicians.
- Environmental consultants specialising in discharges.
- Technical staff at sanitation authorities.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to join WWTP operating companies.
What you'll work with
- Directive (EU) 2024/3019 (urban wastewater treatment)
- Directive 91/271/EEC (urban waste water treatment)
- Royal Decree-Law 11/1995 (rules applicable to urban wastewater treatment)
- Royal Decree 509/1996 (implementing Royal Decree-Law 11/1995)
- Royal Decree 1310/1990 (use of sewage sludge in agriculture)
- Royal Decree 849/1986 (Regulation on the Public Water Domain)
- Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive)
- DESASS
- Hydromantis GPS-X
- BioWin
- AutoCAD
- Wonderware SCADA
6 modules
1.1Origin and composition of wastewater1.2Parameters: BOD5, COD, solids, nitrogen and phosphorus1.3Design flows and loads1.4The population equivalent concept1.5Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive1.6Sensitive and normal areas1.7Discharge requirements1.8Sampling and characterisation1.9WWTP types by size1.10Case study: characterisation of a WWTP influent
2.1Inlet works and overflows2.2Screening and sieves2.3Grit and grease removal2.4Flow equalisation2.5Design of primary settling2.6Physico-chemical treatment with coagulants2.7Hydraulic design criteria2.8Equipment and maintenance2.9Management of pre-treatment waste2.10Practical exercise: sizing an aerated grit chamber
3.1Suspended-growth biological processes3.2Biofilm processes: trickling filters and MBBR3.3Biological nitrogen removal3.4Biological and chemical phosphorus removal3.5Membrane bioreactors3.6Design of secondary settling3.7Natural systems for small communities3.8Process selection by population3.9ASM activated sludge models3.10Workshop: sizing a reactor with nitrification-denitrification
4.1Tertiary filtration with media beds and discs4.2UV disinfection and chlorination4.3Removal of micropollutants4.4Sludge thickening4.5Anaerobic digestion and biogas4.6Dewatering with centrifuges and belt filters4.7Thermal drying and composting4.8Agricultural application of sludge4.9Cogeneration and energy self-sufficiency4.10Lab: sludge balance and biogas production
5.1Layout and hydraulic grade line5.2Electromechanical equipment and instrumentation5.3Automation and SCADA5.4Odour control5.5Energy consumption and efficiency5.6Investment and operating costs5.7Health and safety at WWTPs5.8Carbon footprint of wastewater treatment5.9Operation contracts5.10Case study: energy audit of a WWTP
6.1Definition of population and design horizon6.2Calculation of project flows and loads6.3Selection of the water line6.4Selection of the sludge line6.5Sizing of the main units6.6General layout and hydraulic profile6.7Budget and operating costs6.8Environmental study of the facility6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is DESASS, Hydromantis GPS-X, BioWin, AutoCAD and Wonderware SCADA, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for sizing treatment units, sludge and energy balances and operational audits of WWTPs. Assessment is continuous per module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Directive (EU) 2024/3019, Directive 91/271/EEC, Royal Decree-Law 11/1995, Royal Decree 509/1996, Royal Decree 1310/1990, Royal Decree 849/1986, Directive 2000/60/EC.
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 capable of running 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 DESASS, Hydromantis GPS-X, BioWin, AutoCAD and Wonderware SCADA, 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 English sufficient 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.
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