Engineering Chemistry for Water Systems

Subject to approval of the Programme Director

Timetable Note

Block Timetables

Monday, 1 August (tentative schedule)
9-9:30 Welcome and overview; importance of water quality
9:30-10:30 Interpreting water quality data: stream water, groundwater
11:00-12:00 Problem-solving tutorial (acid-base)
12:00-1.00 Lunch
1:00-2:30 MINTEQ session (computer lab)

Tuesday, 2 August
11.00-12.00 Guest speaker(s)
12.00-13.00 Lunch
13.00-14.00 Problem-solving tutorial (submit assignment)
14.00-17.00 Laboratory (acid-base buffering) (CAPE teaching lab)

Thursday, 6 October (tentative schedule)
13.00-14.00 Problem-solving tutorial (redox)
14.00-17.00 Laboratory (reduction-oxidation effects) (CAPE teaching lab)

Friday, 7 October (tentative schedule)
9-11.00 Laboratory report write-up
11-12.30 Problem-solving tutorial (redox) (submit assignment)

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Mark Milke

Lecturers

Ricardo Bello Mendoza and Frances Charters

Assessment

1. Assignments: completed individually and submitted on Learn.  Two assignments will be done and submitted during the blocks.

2. Laboratory reports or application reports
Students will submit either (1) two laboratory reports in small groups, or (2) an individual application report.  The latter is for students who will not attend the blocks.

2a. Laboratory reports: Group reports on two practical problems explored in the laboratory

Block 1:  Acid-base neutralisation of roofwater (Frances Charters)
Evaluate amount of base needed to neutralise roofwater and dropout metals.  Use MINTEQ to check against laboratory results.

Block 2:  Reduction-oxidation (Ricardo Bello Mendoza)
How to limit manganese in small groundwater wells?  Explore amount of oxidant needed to precipitate during treatment.  Explore effect of natural variations in groundwater.  Use MINTEQ to check against laboratory results.

2b. Application reports topics:  Individuals will be given or select a set of water quality data of interest to them.  They will then explore engineering chemistry concepts from the course relevant to their situation.  This will involve use of MINTEQ.  Examples of relevant topics are:
1. Phosphorus and sediments
2. Septic system discharge and groundwater quality  
3. Wastewater treatment case study
4. Environment Canterbury groundwater monitoring data and potential contamination

3. Test:  The test will cover half of the course content.  

4. Weekly tutorials:  A total of 5% is available for attendance and readiness to participate in the weekly tutorials.

5. Examination:  The examination will cover course material after the test, though it does build on content covered in the first half of the course.

In the case of an emergency that affects the whole course, the Course Coordinator, in consultation with the Dean, may change the nature, weighting and timing of assessments, e.g. tests and examination may be replaced with assignments of the same weight or different weight at a different time and/or date (which, under certain circumstances, may be outside the prescribed course dates).  The ‘Special consideration’ process will also be used for unforeseen circumstances that adversely affect the academic performance of students individually. The usual grounds for this are described in the UC policy ‘Special Consideration Procedures and Guidelines’, and personal circumstances due to a wider emergency event may also qualify.

Textbooks / Resources

Textbook: Water Chemistry, by Snoeyink and Jenkins, John Wiley, 1980. All students are expected to obtain access to the book and read the assigned sections.  I have a limited number of copies I can provide to students.  In addition to personal and library copies, copies can be purchased used through abebooks.com, bookfinder.com or other used booksellers.

Indicative Fees

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

Minimum enrolments

This course will not be offered if fewer than 5 people apply to enrol.