Learn how pollutants move and transform in water systems, and how better understanding of water quality supports effective management decisions.
Water Quality provides a foundational and applied understanding of water quality challenges in surface water systems. You will learn about the sources and effects of pollutants, the (bio)chemical processes that determine their transport, and the measures that can be taken to improve water quality.
This course prepares you to understand how pollutants behave in lakes, rivers and other surface waters. This knowledge can be used to assess water quality problems and support effective management decisions.
Water quality is one of the central issues in water management, with direct relevance for ecology, human health and regulatory compliance. Professionals increasingly need to understand the sources of pollutants, how substances move and transform in water systems and how policy frameworks shape intervention strategies. A better understanding of water systems supports better diagnosis of problems and effective decision making.
This is a regular master course in which both students and professionals can participate. The course introduces water quality policy frameworks and the technical content: pollutants, their sources, and the physical and (bio)chemical processes that determine their transport and transformation in water systems.
This course includes lectures on topics such as the derivation of water quality standards and the measures that can be taken to prevent or reduce pollution. During an excursion and a practical case assignment, participants apply their knowledge to a real system and design a solution.
Course content and assessment consist of:
This course is intended for professionals who want to strengthen their understanding of water quality processes and management. Typical profiles include, but are not limited to, water managers, environmental engineers, civil engineers, consultants, technical advisors and professionals working for municipalities, provinces, water authorities or Rijkswaterstaat.
The course is suitable for participants with at least HBO-level education in a relevant field. Basic programming skills can be useful for the assignment, but are not essential, as calculations can also be carried out in Excel.
Start date: 31 August (Q1)
Total duration: September until October (excluding resits) (140 hour study load)
Number of teaching days / sessions: Weekly lectures + tutorials + group assignment + written exam
Total programme fees: €2067,15 (5 ECTS × 413,43)
Programme type: mastercourse
Location: University of Twente, Enschede, NL
Language of instruction: English
Admission requirements: A background at HBO level in Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field is recommended. Basic programming skills may be useful for the assignment but are not required.
Teachers: