Water & Wastewater Treatment Course | IIT Roorkee | Prof. Bhanu Prakash Vellanki
Course Details
| Exam Registration | 714 |
|---|---|
| Course Status | Ongoing |
| Course Type | Core |
| Language | English |
| Duration | 12 weeks |
| Categories | Civil Engineering, Energy, Climate and Sustainability, Environment |
| Credit Points | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Start Date | 19 Jan 2026 |
| End Date | 10 Apr 2026 |
| Enrollment Ends | 02 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Registration Ends | 20 Feb 2026 |
| Exam Date | 19 Apr 2026 IST |
| NCrF Level | 4.5 — 8.0 |
Mastering Water and Wastewater Treatment: A Comprehensive 12-Week IIT Roorkee Course Guide
Access to clean water and effective wastewater management are cornerstones of public health, environmental protection, and sustainable development. For aspiring civil and environmental engineers, mastering these complex systems is not just an academic pursuit—it's a critical responsibility. A new, in-depth course offered by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee provides the perfect foundation. This 12-week undergraduate program, led by an expert in the field, offers a rigorous journey from fundamental concepts to advanced treatment design.
Meet Your Instructor: Prof. Bhanu Prakash Vellanki
The course is guided by Prof. Bhanu Prakash Vellanki, an Assistant Professor at IIT Roorkee. Prof. Vellanki brings exceptional expertise to the classroom, holding a PhD in Civil Engineering with a specialization in Environmental Engineering from Texas A&M University. His doctoral research was groundbreaking, leading to the development of a new class of treatment technologies known as Advanced Reduction Processes (ARPs). His research interests, which include Advanced Redox Processes, industrial waste treatment, and emerging contaminants, ensure the course content is both foundational and forward-looking, touching on the latest innovations in the field.
Course Overview and Objectives
This comprehensive course is meticulously structured to cover the entire spectrum of water and wastewater engineering. The wastewater treatment syllabus traces the journey from the initial headworks all the way through to final disinfection and disinfectant removal, with detailed design considerations at each stage. The water treatment portion delves into the intricacies of purification processes and critical post-treatment aspects like residual management.
The primary goal is to equip students with a rock-solid understanding of basic principles and core concepts. This clarity is essential for anyone pursuing further specialized study or a career in environmental engineering, civil infrastructure, or sustainability consulting. The course is ideally suited for Undergraduate students in Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering or Science.
Detailed 12-Week Course Layout
The course unfolds over 12 intensive weeks, building knowledge systematically from the ground up.
Weeks 1-2: Foundations and Wastewater Introduction
The journey begins with an overview of integrated urban water systems and treatment plants. Weeks 1 and 2 are crucial for reviewing fundamental engineering principles like material flows, mass balances, and their application. The wastewater treatment module starts here, covering general conditions, quantities, quality parameters, and treatment objectives. Students are introduced to the initial stages of treatment at the headworks, including pump stations, flow measurement, bar racks, screens, and grit removal.
Weeks 3-5: Core Wastewater Treatment Processes
This block dives into the heart of wastewater treatment. Week 3 focuses on primary sedimentation, exploring flocculent sedimentation and design variables. It also introduces the cornerstone of modern treatment: biological processes and the Activated Sludge Process. Week 4 is dedicated to a deep dive into the analysis and design of the Activated Sludge Process, its variations, and nutrient removal. It also covers attached growth systems like Trickling Filters and Rotating Biological Contactors. Week 5 concludes wastewater treatment with disinfection methods (chlorine and UV) and disinfectant removal, alongside an overview of other tertiary processes.
Weeks 6-9: Principles of Water Treatment
The focus shifts to making water safe for consumption. Week 6 outlines the general considerations for water treatment plants and covers preliminary treatment, followed by the critical processes of coagulation and flocculation. Weeks 7 and 8 detail sedimentation and filtration, before addressing the vital final step of disinfection and the challenge of managing disinfection by-products. Week 9 explores specific treatment needs through lime softening and ion exchange softening.
Weeks 10-12: Advanced Treatment and Residual Management
The final segment addresses advanced challenges. Week 10 covers sophisticated technologies like nanofiltration and desalination. It then introduces a critical, often overlooked aspect of treatment plants: residual management—handling the waste generated from the treatment processes themselves. Weeks 11 and 12 provide a detailed look at the residual management train, including concentration, stabilization, conditioning, and dewatering processes.
Essential Reference Books
The course curriculum is supported by seminal textbooks in environmental engineering, ensuring students learn from established industry standards and cutting-edge research.
- Davis, Mackenzie L., Water and Wastewater Engineering: Design Principles and Practice, 2nd Edition.
- Metcalf and Eddy, Wastewater Engineering: Treatment and Resource Recovery, Fifth Edition.
- Tchobanoglous, G., et al., Wastewater Engineering: Treatment, Disposal, and Reuse, Fifth Edition.
- Crittenden, J.C., et al., Water Treatment Principles and Design, 2nd Ed.
- Reynolds, T.D., Richards, P.A., Unit Operations and Processes in Environmental Engineering.
Why This Course is Essential for Future Engineers
In an era defined by climate change, water scarcity, and evolving environmental regulations, the skills taught in this course are in high demand. Prof. Vellanki's course does more than teach formulas; it provides a systems-thinking approach to one of society's most vital infrastructures. From understanding the chemistry of coagulation to designing an activated sludge system and managing its residuals, students gain a holistic, practical, and design-oriented education. This 12-week program is a powerful step toward becoming an engineer capable of designing solutions that protect public health and preserve our planet's precious water resources.
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