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n.BA.UI.WWM.25HS (Water and Wastewater Management) 
Module: Water and Wastewater Management
This information was generated on: 24 September 2025
No.
n.BA.UI.WWM.25HS
Title
Water and Wastewater Management
Credits
5

Description

Version: 1.0 start 01 August 2025

 

Study Programme Natural Resource Sciences
Regulations Applicable RPO, 29 January 2008, School of Life Sciences and Facility Management Academic Regulations, 15 Dec. 2009, Annex for the Bachelor of Natural Resource Sciences degree programme
Module Type  
  Compulsory Module  X Elective Module    Optional Module
Planned Semester 4th Semester
Module Coordinator Luca Regazzoni
Telephone / E-Mail +41 (0)58 934 58 42 / luca.regazzoni@zhaw.ch
Lecturer(s),
Speaker(s),
Associate(s)		 Luca Regazzoni, Fridolin Tschudi, Maximilian Grau, Jürgen Ebert, external lecturers
Entrance Requirements See Digital Study Planner
Learning Outcomes and Competencies The students are able to…
  • define, explain and discuss the water-energy-nexus.
  • explain the relevant physical, chemical and microbial processes in the context of drinking- and wastewater treatment.
  • describe drinking- and wastewater based on its composition and define the needed treatment steps for its consumption/discharge.
  • explain the function of the four types of wastewater treatment step (“classical” and “novel” technologies, “primary”, “secondary"…).
  • summarize and explain the current legal requirements for drinking water treatment/consumption and wastewater treatment/discharge.
  • identify and evaluate drinking water supply distribution networks.
  • interpret and discuss the potential role of wastewater avoidance strategies.
  • dimension specific elements of a drinking and wastewater treatment plant.
  • know technologies of house water treatment (HWT) and identify their potential (e.g., boiling, SODIS, etc).
  • discuss the pros and cons of central vs decentral drinking water and wastewater treatment.
  • identify requirement of (bio)-chemical reactions (in drinking- and wastewater treatment) and the required educts.
  • explain the methodological challenges of circular systems.
  • use the correct terminology in the subject area drinking and wastewater treatments.
  • independently define necessary treatment steps for an exemplary treatment challenge.
Module Content Drinking Water & Treatment
  • Importance of drinking water and global water availability
  • Water quality standards (WHO, EU, Swiss regulations)
  • Surface water vs. groundwater  
  • Common contaminants (microbial, chemical, physical)
  • Overview of drinking water treatment processes and monitoring of quality
Water Distribution & Access
  • Water distribution networks and storage
  • Challenges in water supply (leakage, aging infrastructure, biofilms)
  • Urban vs. rural water supply and governance (Switzerland & International)
  • Affordability and access to safe drinking water
Practical Applications in Drinking Water
  • Hands-on water quality testing (e.g., E. coli detection)
  • Introduction to Household Water Treatment (HWT)
  • HWT methods: Boiling, chlorination, filtration, and storage
  • Practical results and analysis
Wastewater Treatment (WWT) & Microbial Ecology
  • Introduction to wastewater treatment processes
  • Primary treatment: Sedimentation and precipitation
  • Case study: Sedimentation and precipitation in WWT
  • Microbial ecology and activated sludge processes
  • Biofilm engineering and calculation exercises
  • Filtration, particle removal, and ozonation in wastewater treatment
  • Methanogenesis and residuals treatment in WWT
Hands-on Wastewater Treatment Operations
  • Practical introduction to wastewater treatment plant operation
Decentralized & Resource-Oriented Wastewater Treatment
  • Introduction to decentralized wastewater treatment approaches
  • Case study: Decentralized wastewater treatment solutions
Follow-up Modules See Digital Study Planner
Methods of Instruction 
  • Lectures incl. exercises
  • Group work
  • Plenum discussions
  • Hands-on practica
Digital Resources Moodle
Lesson Structure / Workload  
 Contact Hours 56
 Guided Self-Study 34
 Independent Self-Study 60
 Total Workload 150
Classroom Attendance Attendance during practicals is compulsory
Assessment Written exam at the end of the semester (100%)

If there is a low number of participants, the lecturer may change the form of a repeat examination after consultation with the head of the study programme: e.g. an oral examination can be used to replace a written one. Please report any changes to the form of examinations by e-mail to pruefungsadmin.lsfm@zhaw.ch and Cc. Head of study programme.
Language of Instruction  English
Comments -

 

Course: Water and Wastewater Management
No.
n.BA.UI.WWM.25HS.V
Title
Water and Wastewater Management

Note

  • No module description is available in the system for the cut-off date of 24 September 2025.