Water and Wastewater Treatment: Physical and Chemical Processes

Clean water is one of our planet's most critical resources, yet treating municipal and industrial wastewater requires a complex balance of science and engineering. Understanding the core mechanisms behind water purification is essential for anyone looking to enter the environmental science, engineering, or utility sectors. This comprehensive text-based course guides you through the essential physical and chemical processes used to treat water and wastewater today. You will transition from learning basic terminology to understanding how modern treatment facilities remove contaminants, disinfect water, and protect public health and ecosystems. What you'll learn: Understand the foundational chemical principles of water quality, including pH, alkalinity, and aqueous chemistry. Master physical treatment methods such as sedimentation, filtration, and modern membrane technologies. Apply chemical treatment concepts including coagulation, flocculation, precipitation, and disinfection. Analyze advanced oxidation processes and modern techniques for removing emerging contaminants like PFAS. Evaluate water reuse strategies and the principles of a circular water economy. You will begin with foundational definitions of water chemistry and quality standards before exploring step-by-step physical separation techniques and chemical treatment applications. The material concludes with an overview of modern sustainable practices and emerging contaminant mitigation. This course is designed for beginners, environmental science students, utility operators, or anyone interested in water resource management, with no prior engineering background required. Start reading today to build a practical foundation in water treatment engineering.