Water Systems of the Future
This course will familiarize students with the complex infrastructure used to meet human water demands; competing uses and demands; water and wastewater infrastructure; technologies to enable recovery of water, energy, and other resources from wastewater; supply planning; trends and forecasting; costs, pricing and financing; environmental justice; methods to assess sustainability; regulatory, policy and institutional challenges; and water's contribution to other sectors (e.g., energy, food, buildings). Innovation, both barriers and opportunities, will be highlighted. California and the U.S. will be emphasized but global challenges will be discussed. Students will study, critique, and recommend improvements for a real-world system.
Topics
- Provide overview of the complex infrastructure systems that supply and manage water and wastewater. Introduce the technologies that are currently in use for treating and managing water and wastewater, as well as innovations that have the potential to dramatically change water infrastructure. Explore the innovation ecosystem in the water sector, its opportunities and challenges, and analyze case studies Provide overview and examples of concepts and methods for analyzing the sustainability of water systems Consider costs and tradeoffs in water supply planning under uncertainty for real-world water systems Critically evaluate water planning and innovation potential for real-world utilities given future uncertainties and competing priorities.
- Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering. MODERATE Ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs. MODERATE Ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams. EXTENSIVE Ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems. MODERATE Understanding of professional and ethical responsibility. EXTENSIVE Ability to communicate effectively. EXTENSIVE Understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context. EXTENSIVE Recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning. EXTENSIVE Knowledge of contemporary issues. EXTENSIVE Ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice. MODERATE
Official catalogue course objectives and student learning outcomes
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026-2027