Course ID: | CRSS 3050. 4 hours. |
Course Title: | Introduction to Water Quality |
Course Description: | Provides basic information on the physical, chemical, biological,
and anthropogenic factors affecting water quality, fate, and
transport of contaminants in water, and approaches for water
quality assessment and management. |
Oasis Title: | WATER QUALITY |
Duplicate Credit: | Not open to students with credit in APTC 3050-3050L |
Prerequisite: | (CHEM 1211 and CHEM 1211L) and [(BIOL 1103 and BIOL 1103L) or BIOL 1107-1107L or (PBIO 1210 and PBIO 1210L)] |
Semester Course Offered: | Offered spring semester every year. |
Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
|
Course Objectives: | 1) To provide students with an overview of physical,
chemical, and biological aspect of water quality.
2) To help students understand the impact of natural
processes and anthropogenic activities on water quality.
3) To help students understand the environmental fate and
impact of contaminants in water.
4) To introduce students to common water quality standards,
approaches of risk assessment, and basic management strategies. |
Topical Outline: | Chapter 1 – Introduction to water quality
1.1 Physical and chemical properties of water
1.2 Chemistry review
1.3 Biology review
1.4 Definitions related to water quality
1.5 Water quality problems and indicators
Chapter 2 – Characterization of water bodies
2.1 Hydrologic cycle
2.2 Water measurement
2.3 Factors affecting water quality
Chapter 3 – Physical and chemical indicators
3.1 Temperature, dissolved solids, particulate matter,
turbidity, color, and odor
3.2 Dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, and redox
potential
3.3 pH, carbon dioxide, and alkalinity
3.4 total hardness
3.5 Nutrients and eutrophication
3.6 Inorganic and organic contaminants
Chapter 4 – Biological indicators
4.1 Bacteria activity
4.2 Phytoplankton growth
4.3 Harmful algae
4.4 Human pathogens
Chapter 5 – Natural environmental processes and water quality
5.1 Ecological succession
5.2 Dynamics of organic carbon
5.3 Dissolved oxygen system
Chapter 6 – Anthropogenic activities and water quality
6.1 Point sources and non-point sources
6.2 Agricultural impact
6.3 Industrial impact
6.4 Urban impact
Chapter 7 - Water quality standards, risk assessment, and
management approaches
7.1 Water use classification and water quality standards
7.2 Risk assessment and water quality standards
7.3 Water quality control and remediation measures |