Course Description
This course provides a comprehensive overview of global wastewater challenges, from decentralized to centralized treatment technologies, and explores opportunities in wastewater management, reuse, and resource recovery, including materials and energy. It will also address the impact of climate crises on flooding and how it can overwhelm treatment plants and sewer systems. The course is designed for students from diverse disciplines and combines foundational principles with practical insights.
Real-world case studies, including the "Venice scenario," will be discussed, and a site visit to a local wastewater treatment plant and an analytical lab for water quality analysis in Venice region will provide hands-on learning. The course covers basic principles and the latest advancements in wastewater treatment and reuse, highlighting the evolving perception of wastewater as a resource for energy, nutrients, and potable water.
The curriculum also focuses on current regulatory trends, particularly regarding nitrogen and phosphorus removal, while emphasizing the environmental impacts, such as carbon footprints and greenhouse gas emissions. It explores the growing movement towards energy-neutral or energy-positive wastewater treatment plants through improved energy efficiency.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Identify global wastewater challenges and the impact of climate change on treatment systems.
- Recognize the environmental impact of untreated wastewater on the ecosystems and public health
- Evaluate opportunities for wastewater reuse and resource recovery.
- Understand the principles, processes, and technologies of wastewater treatment.
- Apply knowledge through real-world global case studies and site visits.
- Discuss regulatory trends and environmental impacts, such as carbon footprints and emissions.
- Recognize advancements in wastewater management for energy efficiency.
- Develop a multidisciplinary approach to wastewater management solutions.

Course Content
Introduction to Wastewater Management: Importance and societal relevance of effective wastewater management; consequences of inadequate treatment.
Wastewater Characteristics: Composition and common contaminants in wastewater from domestic and industrial sources.
Wastewater Treatment Processes: Overview of physical, chemical, and biological methods for removing impurities.
Case Studies: Real-world examples, including challenges in diverse regions like Venice.
Resource Recovery: Opportunities for recovering materials (e.g., nutrients) and energy (e.g., biogas) from wastewater.
Impact of Climate Crises: Effects of climate change on wastewater systems and adaptive strategies.
Environmental Impacts and Sustainable Solutions: Carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions, and energy-efficient treatment approaches.

Teaching and Evaluation Methods
This course will be delivered through lectures, interactive discussions, polls, and multimedia presentations.

Student evaluation will be based on:
Homework assignments (20%),
Class participation, and engagement in activities (30%), and the
Final Project: applying their knowledge to real-world scenarios (50%).

Bibliography
Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Resource Recovery, 5th Edition by Metcalf and Eddy, Mc-Graw Hill, 2014.
https://globalwaterresearchcoalition.net/resource/water-reuse-in-2030-2012/
https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/guidelines-water-reuse
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/topics/water/urban-wastewater_en
Pathways to a net-zero-carbon water sector through energy-extracting wastewater technologies. npj Clean Water 5, 49 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41545-022-00197-8
Marsh resilience to sea-level rise reduced by storm-surge barriers in the Venice Lagoon. Nat. Geosci. 14, 906–911 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00853-7
"Law and design: Venice between emergencies and planning." Town Planning Review 95, no. 4 (2024): 417-433. https://doi.org/10.3828/tpr.2024.11
Boon and burden: economic performance and future perspectives of the Venice flood protection system. Reg Environ Change 24, 44 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-024-02193-9.

Last updated: November 20, 2024