Desalination and Water Reuse Course in Cities
Online course of 300 hours in desalination and water reuse in cities. 6 modules covering non-conventional water resources, reverse osmosis desalination, brine and environmental impact, wastewater reclamation and urban reuse and management, applying Regulation (EU) 2020/741 and Royal Decree 1085/2024 with DuPont WAVE, with an assigned technical tutor.
Desalination and Water Reuse Course in Cities — studying from South Africa
Civil engineering is central to South Africa's infrastructure, from roads and water systems to rail and urban development. Transnet's freight rail network, the Gautrain system in Gauteng and metropolitan projects in Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg create steady demand for engineers. Large contractors and consultancies, along with public agencies such as the South African National Roads Agency Limited, employ specialists in structures, transport and urban systems. Smart city initiatives increasingly combine civil works with digital monitoring and sustainable design.
Fees for South Africa: R 10 200 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Which South African body registers civil engineers, and would SEIUM qualifications count towards registration?
ECSA registers engineering professionals in South Africa, and built environment professionals are registered through SACPCMP and SACAP. Registration requires recognised qualifications, supervised experience and assessment. SEIUM is a private online institute, and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. Whether they count is decided by ECSA or the relevant body and your employer, so verify before enrolling.
Will this programme help me work on rail or smart city projects in South Africa?
South Africa has ongoing infrastructure, rail and urban development work, with projects involving public bodies, engineering consultancies and contractors. Employers typically seek registered professionals with proven project experience. A private online qualification in smart cities or rail can support your profile, but it does not guarantee work on any project. Speak to potential employers about how they view it.
Can I study alongside a full-time job, and can my employer help pay?
Yes, the programme is 100% online, so you can study around work, though you need a reasonable level of English as teaching is in English. Master's programmes take 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with a technical tutor. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Many employers in South Africa fund professional development, so ask yours.
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
Analyse the role of non-conventional resources in urban water supply.
Design reverse osmosis desalination processes.
Evaluate brine management and its environmental impact.
Select reclamation treatments according to the intended use.
Apply European and Spanish water reuse regulations.
Calculate the costs and energy consumption of the solutions.
Prepare a conceptual project for urban desalination and reuse.
Who it's for
- Desalination process engineers.
- Treatment plant managers.
- Water reuse technicians.
- Water resources consultants.
- Water quality technicians.
- Water service operations managers.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to join desalination companies.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2020/741 (minimum requirements for water reuse)
- Royal Decree 1085/2024 (Spanish Water Reuse Regulation)
- Royal Decree 3/2023 (technical and health criteria for drinking water quality)
- Directive (EU) 2020/2184 (quality of water intended for human consumption)
- Royal Legislative Decree 1/2001 (consolidated text of the Spanish Water Act)
- Law 21/2013 (environmental assessment)
- Directive (EU) 2024/3019 (urban wastewater treatment)
- DuPont WAVE
- Hydranautics IMSDesign
- CORMIX
- ROSA
- WaterGEMS
6 modules
1.1Water stress in cities1.2Balance of resources and urban demand1.3The role of desalination in Spain1.4Reuse as a strategic resource1.5Raw water qualities: seawater, brackish and wastewater1.6Comparison of costs per cubic metre1.7Energy footprint of water1.8Social acceptance of reclaimed water1.9River basin plans and alternative resources1.10Case study: water balance of a Mediterranean city
2.1Principles of osmotic pressure2.2Open intakes and beach wells2.3Pre-treatment: coagulation, filtration and ultrafiltration2.4Reverse osmosis membranes and staged configuration2.5Isobaric energy recovery devices2.6Post-treatment and remineralisation2.7Membrane fouling and scaling2.8Chemical cleaning of membranes2.9Design with manufacturers' software2.10Practical exercise: design of a reverse osmosis train
3.1Brine composition3.2Discharge through outfalls and diffusers3.3Dilution modelling3.4Impact on Posidonia meadows3.5Environmental monitoring of the discharge3.6Brine valorisation3.7Energy consumption and renewables3.8Carbon footprint of desalination3.9Environmental impact assessment3.10Workshop: sizing a brine diffuser
4.1Quality requirements by use4.2Conventional tertiary treatments4.3Filtration and UV disinfection4.4Membrane bioreactors (MBR)4.5Reverse osmosis in reclamation4.6Indirect and direct potable reuse4.7Pathogens and emerging contaminants4.8Risk management plan for reclaimed water4.9Experiences: Singapore NEWater and Orange County4.10Lab: selecting the reclamation train according to use
5.1Irrigation of parks and street cleaning5.2Industrial uses and cooling towers5.3Aquifer recharge5.4Reclaimed water distribution networks5.5Greywater in buildings5.6Quality control and sampling frequencies5.7Tariffs and economic viability5.8Concessions and authorisations5.9Communication with the public5.10Case study: irrigation network with reclaimed water
6.1Diagnosis of demand and deficit6.2Selection of alternative sources6.3Conceptual design of the facility6.4Calculation of energy consumption6.5Management of reject streams and discharges6.6Health risk analysis6.7Economic assessment of the proposal6.8Communication and acceptance plan6.9Report 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 DuPont WAVE, Hydranautics IMSDesign, CORMIX, ROSA and WaterGEMS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for designing reverse osmosis trains, modelling brine discharges and selecting reclamation treatments. Assessment is continuous per module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Regulation (EU) 2020/741, Royal Decree 1085/2024, Royal Decree 3/2023, Directive (EU) 2020/2184, Royal Legislative Decree 1/2001, Law 21/2013, Directive (EU) 2024/3019.
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 DuPont WAVE, Hydranautics IMSDesign, CORMIX, ROSA and WaterGEMS, 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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