EUROPEAN STUDY TOUR - 2021/2

Module Overview

This module provides opportunities of visiting and critically reviewing technical and operational features of natural water sources, water treatment and supply systems and wastewater treatment systems, in either or both Germany and The Netherlands. Students taking this module will normally travel to German and/or Dutch sites, and be accommodated in hostel/hotel accommodation. The group accommodation offers the opportunity to discuss and critically assess features associated with water sources (Lakes, natural springs and other water intake points), water and wastewater treatment facilities, and few laboratories and organisations in Germany and/or Netherlands. Professionals working in water sector will host the site visits and present or discuss the relevant technical or operational features. The primary JBM threads for this module include: Design, Sustainability and Health and Safety Risk Management; and this module covers Professionalism and Ethics as contributory thread.

Module provider

Sustainability, Civil & Env Engineering

Module Leader

SAROJ Devendra (Civl Env Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Normally the knowledge and learning outcomes provided by modules ENGM034, ENGM035 and ENGM036, or the basic knowledge of environmental health, and water/wastewater treatment, demonstrated through modules completed at undergraduate level.

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• One week study tour: visit to drinking water sources, water treatment works and wastewater treatment plants in Germany and/or The Netherlands.


• Field record and field work: the collection of technical information and interactive discussion with professionals.

• Stadtwerke Karlsruhe (Germany): the water company that guides thorough the sites of water abstraction from the River Rhine gravels and water treatment facility.


• Lake Constance (Germany): water intake, advanced water treatment units (ozonation, filtration etc) and water quality laboratory.


• Karsruhe Water works (Germany): Water and municipal wastewater treatment plants in Karlsruhe.


• University of applied sciences, Karlsruhe: Hydraulic and civil engineering laboratory   


• Spring water source and water supply in Baden-Baden (Germany).


• Evides Biesbosch Reservoir system (The Netherlands)


• Waternet Amsterdam (The Netherlands): Sand dunes for water treatment; water supply without disinfection.


• Rotterdam Storm Surge Barrier (The Netherlands)


• Vitens Sneek: Groundwater abstraction and treatment.   

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Coursework 2: Coursework related to the integrated water resource management and urban water cycle.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• Knowledge and understanding of the European river basin/regional water management and related practices (LO’s 1 and 2) is assessed through a coursework (Coursework-1).


• Critical evaluation of and application of knowledge obtained through exposure to European water cycle management practices (LO’s 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5).  This is assessed through a detailed technical report (Coursework-2).


• Knowledge and understanding of water abstraction methods and full scale water/wastewater treatment plants, gained through field work (LO’s 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5). This is assessed through two pieces of coursework ( Coursework-1 and 2).

• Coursework 1 on the integrated water resource management urban water cycle [Learning outcomes assessed 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5] (17 hours) {20%}


• Coursework 2 on the critical assessment of integrated water resource management in a European river basin or region [Learning outcomes assessed 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5] (35 hours) {80%}

• Formative assessment will be through a range of questions during interactive discussions during the travel and the study tour.


• Students will receive feedback from European water professionals during the study tour. 

Module aims

• Provide a systematic understanding and critical evaluation of special approaches by Dutch or German organisations to water resources management, water abstraction and treatment for drinking water supply, and wastewater treatment.
• Provide a systematic understanding and critical awareness of a range of approaches to evaluate the interactions within the water cycle of integrated water resource management.
• Provide the ability to appraise the usability of systems and processes for water intake, supply and water/wastewater treatment.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

This module provides applied knowledge that is required to serve the drinking water supply and wastewater management industry and environmental protection agencies. The knowledge gained in this module, related to, European water cycle management practices, is important for advanced and professional understanding of the water cycle in a holistic way.

The module is with the help of European water professionals and industry experts.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• European study tour: orientation and risk assessment (3 hours)


• Study tour (50 hours)


• Coursework on integrated water resource management and urban water cycle (47 hours)


• Independent study of the field work and relevant literature on water cycle (50 hours)

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ENGM046

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.