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Water Treatment

Delivered by Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology

Overview

Enhance your expertise in water management with UQ's comprehensive microcredential in Water Treatment. Our specialised courses focus on 2 critical areas: wastewater treatment and drinking water treatment.

Developed and taught by experienced water trainers and professionals, these practical courses offer in-depth training for engineers and professionals working in urban water management, a sector facing increasing challenges from population growth and environmental changes. The curriculum addresses the industry's increasing need for specialists who can handle complex water treatment systems and technologies.

Through these courses, you'll gain specialised knowledge and practical skills needed to manage complex water treatment systems, ensure water quality and implement sustainable solutions for modern urban environments.

This microcredential is a formal qualification and industry-specific introduction to water engineering. It provides formal credit for future enrolment in UQ postgraduate programs.

Upcoming courses

Delivery mode
online, online classroom
Date
23 February–20 June 2026
Time commitment
130 hours
Delivery mode
online, online classroom
Date
27 July–30 October 2026
Time commitment
130 hours

Who should attend

This course is designed for engineers and professionals seeking to advance their careers in urban water engineering and management or enter the water industry.

Entry requirements

You must have an undergraduate degree in a STEM discipline (Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics). 

A basic understanding of chemistry is recommended.

Technology requirements

To complete this online course, you will need:

  • a personal computer with adequate internet access, and sufficient software and bandwidth to support web conferencing
  • an operating system with a web browser compatible with Zoom.

How to enrol 

To enrol, register for UQ applications and start an application for non-award study. You'll then be able to select specific courses and when you want to start.

What you'll learn

Course 1: Wastewater Treatment

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • assess the treatment requirements of wastewater streams, based on physicochemical and biological characterisation parameters as derived from quantitative characterisation methods
  • describe the scientific and engineering working principles of wastewater and biosolids treatment unit operations using physics, chemistry and biology concepts to underpin engineering solutions
  • characterise the size and composition of waste sludge streams, including chemical characterisation, and identify the potential resource value as well as the hazard levels
  • assess the sustainability aspects of wastewater management using environmental, social and economic criteria
  • conceptually design, troubleshoot and retrofit wastewater treatment processes using scientific and engineering principles.

Course 2: Drinking Water Treatment

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

  • acquire the understanding of effective risk management and apply the framework for management of drinking water quality
  • conceptually design specific drinking water treatment processes, taking into account the influent quality, effluent requirements, energy consideration and economic constraints
  • identify non-conventional sources of drinking water, their risks, treatments, feasibility/viability and public perception
  • conceptually design distributions systems to deliver safe drinking water to customers' taps using engineering skills (for example, hydraulic volumes, chemical dose rates)
  • apply preventive measures, operational procedures and process control for drinking water management
  • utilise broad expertise and skill sets from various engineering and science disciplines to develop necessary understanding and knowledge to address complex challenges.

Time commitment

This is an online course that will require roughly 130 hours to complete.

  • 40 hours of contact time (video lectures, optional weekly online Q&A sessions held during the study period)
  • Plus self-paced study and problem-solving using online learning resources
  • Problem portfolio assignments and quizzes have specific deadlines throughout the study period

Course curriculum

Assessment

You will be required to complete formative assessment tasks covering the learning material, including:

  • problem portfolio exercises 
  • online quizzes
  • an online final exam.

Certification and accreditation

If you successfully complete this course you'll receive:

  • a Certificate of Completion and Digital Badge to verify your skills and achievements
  • credit towards selected postgraduate programs.

Facilitators

A headshot of Dr Bernardino Virdis. He is smiling and wears a light cloured shirt and a blue suit jacket.
Dr Bernardino Virdis
Senior Research Fellow, Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology
A headshot of Associate Professor Gilda Carvhalho. She is smiling and wears red glasses.
Associate Professor Gilda Carvalho
Associate Professor, Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology & School of Chemical Engineering
A headshot of Professor Damien Batstone. He wears red glasses, a dark shirt and a blue suit jacket.
Professor Damien Batstone
Director, Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology

Cost

Applicant Price
Student A$1,000

A$1,000 per course (special introductory pricing for a limited time only)

GST is included in the cost for participants in Australia. If you are participating from outside Australia, GST is excluded.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Contact

Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology

Contact the Program Coordinator, Dr Bernardino Virdis: