3 ECTS credits
80 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4023101FNR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (F) Master - specialised level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Taught in
English
Partnership Agreement
Under interuniversity agreement for degree program
Faculty
Faculty of Sciences and Bioengineering Sciences
Department
Biology
Educational team
Marc Elskens (course titular)
Steven Eisenreich
Activities and contact hours

18 contact hours Lecture
Course Content

Module 1      

  • Introduction to WQA – Topics, Scoring basis, Expectations on Case Study Presentations, Final Exam. (0.5 hr).
  • Principles of Water Quality, Parameters and Standards (1 hr)
  • Phosphorus cycle: Lakes/Rivers, sources, occurrence, eutrophication and limits, biogeochemical cycle and dynamics, P analysis. (1.5 hr).

 

Module 2

  • Nitrogen cycle: Nitrate Directive, sources, occurrence, eutrophication, biogeochemical cycle, freshwater and marine, N analysis.(3 hr.)          

 

Module 3      

  • Water quality paradigm for Europe, Water Framework Directive (WFD) Directive, implementation, measurements and monitoring, scientific challenges, global WQ guidelines, Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs), PS & PHS. (2 hr)
  • EU Groundwater Directive, GQ quality. Monitoring, standards (1 hr).

 

Module 4      

  • Inorganic micro-pollutants (trace elements) in aquatic systems. Metal transport and fate in aquatic systems, EQSs, modelling metal speciation and adsorption on particles. (3 hr.)

 

Module 5       

  • Organic micro-pollutants (POPs – non-polar and polar organic pollutants, P/C properties, aquatic processes/fate, environmental quality standards, sampling and analysis, selected case studies – emerging contaminants. (3 hr).

 

Module 6      

  • Drinking Water and Chemical/Biological Water Quality Parameters and Standards (3 hrs).
Additional info

This course is a light version of the Water Quality Assessment course (5 ECTS) taught in the master IUPWARE from IR. It would normally be taught in the second semester on Tuesday from 1 to 4 pm.

Learning Outcomes

General Competences

  • To achieve key insights into the major issues affecting water quality. e.g., in the EU and beyond, for freshwater and coastal seawater including water quality parameters, standards and characterization, nutrients (P and N), inorganic (metal) and organic pollution/impact on natural waters
  • To examine key scientific/technical challenges & implementation status in EU WQ related Directives (e.g., WFD).
  • To acquaint students to water (quality) resources management and water pollution control.
  • To critically evaluate and integrate multidisciplinary scientific information on sources, sinks, and impacts of discharges to water from urban (wastewater, runoff, industry) and agricultural activities (runoff of nutrients, pesticides, etc…

 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Other Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Other Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Other exam with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

Final exam:

  1. 40%: written - comphrehensive covering all course material
  2. 20%: Review 1-page key findings in a scientific publication on WQ selected by student
  3. 40% Presentation 12-minute Formal oral presentation of selected Case Study performed by two students collaborating on project followed by Q&A. Specified format in PowerPoint or Pdf
Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Master of Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management: Standaard traject
Master of Chemistry: Analytical and Environmental Chemistry