PhD Programme in Innovation for the Circular Economy

Sustainable use of water resources 

Sustainable use of water resources 

Academic year 2024/2025

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Program
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Support activities
• Suggested readings and bibliography
• Teaching tools
• Course card

Course objectives

The course contributes to the educational project of the PhD course by providing:

- a general background and overview on the fresh water availability, its characteristics as natural water and reclaimed water

- an overview on the water pollution and wastewater treaments technologies (well established and innovative ones)

- a critical discussion on the water management models: linear and circular approaches

- a wide perspective on the multidisciplinary aspects and disciplines involved in water reuse

Results of learning outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

By the end of the course, students will:

- have a background on the availability and distribution of fresh water, on the physico-chemical characteristics of natural water and on the different classes of water pollutants;

- have a clear picture of the integrated water cycle, from water potabilization for human consumption up to consolidate waste water treatments

- have acquired the fundamentals of innovative waste water treatments, with particualr emphasis on those devoted to the removal of micropolluntants and contaminants of emerging concerns;

- have a clear picture of the transition from a linear to a circular approach for the water management, encompassing the water reuse and the so called "fit-for purpose" approach

- know the european regulatory framework for water reuse and have analyzed the main drivers and barriers to water reuse implementation.

Applying Knowledge and Understanding

Students should be able to apply theoretical knowledge to understand and discuss case studies of contaminated water treatment, water reuse application and risk assessment

Making Judgements

Doctoral students must critically discuss sustainability of water management and regulatory constraints. The course aims to encourage a multidisciplinary approach and critical evaluation of sustainability claims concerning wastewater treatment and reuse in selected case studies 

Communication Skills

Since students come from different backgrounds, they should be able to:

- Translate technical concepts for policymakers, water resource managers and consumers.
- Effectively present research findings to academic, industrial, and policymaking audiences.

Moreover, students should have acquired oral and written communication skills, including the ability to use graphical and formal languages, making them able to engage in interdisciplinary discussions, bridging the gap between scientific aspects, environmental policy, stakeholders engagements.

Learning Skills

Acquisition of autonomous learning capacity and self-assessment of their knowledge and competencies
Autonomously find state of the art data concerning the sustainable use of water with particular emphasis on water reuse.
Develop a critical and reflective approach to continuous learning in the field of integrated and sustainable water management 

Program

A quali/quantitative evaluation of the water sources and the effect of climate change on the  water distribution and availability

Composition of natural and treated water. Chemical and microbiological pollutants 

Fundamentals of established technologies for urban wastewater treatment. Limits and perspectives 

Fundamentals of advanced wastewater treatments for micropollutant removal. Consolidated vs. innovative tertiary and quaternary urban wastewater treatments, including solar-based technologies.

Fundamentals on European regulatory framework for water management, with specific focus on water reuse

Categories, distribution, opportunities, and challenges of Unconventional Water Resources

Risk management

Fit-for purpose approach to water treatment and management

Institutional arrangements for water reuse: main drivers and barriers for the transition to water circularity, water loops, industrial symbiosis 

Course delivery

The course will be delivered in a blended format, in presence in the classroom and simultaneously in streaming. Communication with students takes place via e-mail.

Learning assessment methods

Ongoing formative assessment with closed-answer test

Support activities

None

Didactic material provided by the teachers

• Teaching material
• Exams and finals
• Class schedule
• Go to Moodle
• Register for the course
• Enrolled students
• Invia email agli studenti registrati
• Export table