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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.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Characterise urban wastewater and its design loads.

02

Size pre-treatment and primary treatment units.

03

Select and size biological treatment processes.

04

Design sludge treatment lines and biogas recovery.

05

Apply the discharge requirements of European legislation.

06

Assess the costs and energy efficiency of a WWTP.

07

Prepare the basic design of an urban WWTP.

Profile

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.
Standards & tools

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
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Origin and composition of wastewater
  2. 1.2Parameters: BOD5, COD, solids, nitrogen and phosphorus
  3. 1.3Design flows and loads
  4. 1.4The population equivalent concept
  5. 1.5Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive
  6. 1.6Sensitive and normal areas
  7. 1.7Discharge requirements
  8. 1.8Sampling and characterisation
  9. 1.9WWTP types by size
  10. 1.10Case study: characterisation of a WWTP influent
  1. 2.1Inlet works and overflows
  2. 2.2Screening and sieves
  3. 2.3Grit and grease removal
  4. 2.4Flow equalisation
  5. 2.5Design of primary settling
  6. 2.6Physico-chemical treatment with coagulants
  7. 2.7Hydraulic design criteria
  8. 2.8Equipment and maintenance
  9. 2.9Management of pre-treatment waste
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: sizing an aerated grit chamber
  1. 3.1Suspended-growth biological processes
  2. 3.2Biofilm processes: trickling filters and MBBR
  3. 3.3Biological nitrogen removal
  4. 3.4Biological and chemical phosphorus removal
  5. 3.5Membrane bioreactors
  6. 3.6Design of secondary settling
  7. 3.7Natural systems for small communities
  8. 3.8Process selection by population
  9. 3.9ASM activated sludge models
  10. 3.10Workshop: sizing a reactor with nitrification-denitrification
  1. 4.1Tertiary filtration with media beds and discs
  2. 4.2UV disinfection and chlorination
  3. 4.3Removal of micropollutants
  4. 4.4Sludge thickening
  5. 4.5Anaerobic digestion and biogas
  6. 4.6Dewatering with centrifuges and belt filters
  7. 4.7Thermal drying and composting
  8. 4.8Agricultural application of sludge
  9. 4.9Cogeneration and energy self-sufficiency
  10. 4.10Lab: sludge balance and biogas production
  1. 5.1Layout and hydraulic grade line
  2. 5.2Electromechanical equipment and instrumentation
  3. 5.3Automation and SCADA
  4. 5.4Odour control
  5. 5.5Energy consumption and efficiency
  6. 5.6Investment and operating costs
  7. 5.7Health and safety at WWTPs
  8. 5.8Carbon footprint of wastewater treatment
  9. 5.9Operation contracts
  10. 5.10Case study: energy audit of a WWTP
  1. 6.1Definition of population and design horizon
  2. 6.2Calculation of project flows and loads
  3. 6.3Selection of the water line
  4. 6.4Selection of the sludge line
  5. 6.5Sizing of the main units
  6. 6.6General layout and hydraulic profile
  7. 6.7Budget and operating costs
  8. 6.8Environmental study of the facility
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
Methodology, software & labs

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.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Directive (EU) 2024/3019, Directive 91/271/EEC and Royal Decree-Law 11/1995 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:DESASS, Hydromantis GPS-X, BioWin, AutoCAD and Wonderware SCADA, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:the basic design of an urban WWTP, from design flows and loads to layout, hydraulic profile and budget, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Define population and loads
Define the population and design horizon and calculate project flows and loads.
Select treatment lines
Select the water line and sludge line processes.
Size the main units
Size the main treatment units of the plant.
Layout and costs
Draw up the general layout and hydraulic profile, budget, operating costs and environmental study.
Final project
Present the basic design report of the urban WWTP, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Wastewater process engineerWWTP plant managerHydraulic infrastructure designerWater laboratory technicianDischarge environmental consultantSanitation authority technician
Admissions & scholarships

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.

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FAQ

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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