Advanced Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Recycling Systems

Catalog description

This course provides students instruction on water treatment technologies that are rapidly advancing the state of the art in pollution control. Taking advantage of San Antonio’s proximity to oil fields, students will be exposed to innovative technologies coming into use through research and proof of concept testing directed at finding solutions to water resource impacts and usage during energy extraction, especially resulting from hydrologic fracturing processes. They will have an opportunity to explore compact modular treatment works now addressing unique pollution treatment requirements of specific industries and locations where a “one size fits all” approach to treatment of effluents no longer exists. With even the most difficult to address pollutants, such as boron, now subject to economically attainable treatment processes, treatment industry norms are being expanded more rapidly than ever thought possible. New strategies for advanced recycling of gray water wastes, as well as innovative uses of black water and industrial effluents will be explored. Students will have an opportunity to visit field locations where new oilfield and industrial directed technologies are being used.