University of Galway

Course Module Information

Course Modules

Semester 2 | Credits: 5

The health of the Earth's surface waters is vitally important to humans as we use them for many different purposes including water supply, recreation, disposal of wastewaters, irrigation and energy generation. In addition, they are home to a large proportion of the Earth's plants and animals, many of which are important food sources for humans. The aim of this module is to provide students with knowledge of the factors affecting water quality, including natural and man-made stressors, transport and mixing processes, and the bio-geo-chemical interactions of the water quality cycle. In addition, students will learn the fundamental theory of water quality modelling and gain experience in the use of water quality models so that they will be able to use such models in a sensible manner. The module addresses SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitisation as it provides students with knowledge and tools to tackle the challenge of reducing water pollution.
(Language of instruction: English)

Learning Outcomes
  1. understand the impact of soil type and agricultural practices on losses from agricultural land.
  2. utilise state-of-the-art measurement and analysis techniques to quantify losses of nutrients and suspended solids from catchments.
  3. understand the primary processes of mixing in rivers, including advection, diffusion and dispersion.
  4. derive the transport equations for diffusion and advection (separately) and the 1D advection-diffusion and advection-dispersion equations.
  5. describe and express mathematically the coefficients of diffusion and dispersion.
  6. apply a number of mathematical approaches (ideal reactors and control volume) to model transport of materials in incompletely mixed (i..e distributed) systems.
  7. understand the physical, chemical and biological processes that play a role in water quality, i.e. the water quality cycle.
  8. develop mathematical formulations of the chemical and biological processes described within the water quality cycle.
  9. develop a 1D water quality model of a case study site using the industry-standard modelling software HECRAS, and conduct some scenario modelling.
  10. appreciate the sensitivity of a water quality model to the prescription of the rates and constants used to describe various physical, chemical and biological processes.
Assessments
  • Written Assessment (80%)
  • Continuous Assessment (20%)
Teachers
The above information outlines module CE6107: "Water Quality" and is valid from 2022 onwards.
Note: Module offerings and details may be subject to change.