Master’s in Sanitation and Wastewater Treatment Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in sanitation and wastewater treatment engineering: 12 modules covering wastewater characterisation, sewer networks, preliminary and primary treatment, aerobic biological processes, biofilm technologies, small-community treatment, sludge treatment, tertiary treatment and reuse, WWTP operation, energy-neutral plants and industrial wastewater, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Characterise urban and industrial wastewater.
Design sewer networks and their rehabilitation.
Size water lines with advanced biological processes.
Select technologies for small communities.
Design sludge lines with energy recovery.
Design tertiary treatment for water reuse.
Operate treatment plants with efficiency and neutrality criteria.
Who it's for
- Wastewater process engineers designing and optimising treatment lines.
- WWTP plant managers responsible for daily operation.
- Sanitation infrastructure designers working on networks and plants.
- Water reuse technicians developing reclamation schemes.
- Industrial wastewater consultants advising manufacturing and food companies.
- Discharge control officers at utilities and water authorities.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter the water and sanitation sector.
What you'll work with
- Directive (EU) 2024/3019 (urban wastewater treatment)
- Royal Decree 509/1996 (Spanish rules on urban wastewater treatment)
- Regulation (EU) 2020/741 (minimum requirements for water reuse)
- Royal Decree 1085/2024 (Spanish water reuse regulation)
- Royal Decree 1310/1990 (use of sewage sludge in agriculture)
- EN 12255 series (wastewater treatment plants)
- Directive 2010/75/EU (industrial emissions)
- Royal Decree 849/1986 (Public Water Domain Regulation)
- GPS-X
- BioWin
- EPA SWMM
- AutoCAD
- Python
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1Origin and composition of urban wastewater1.2BOD5, COD and suspended solids parameters1.3Nitrogen, phosphorus and COD fractionation1.4Design flows and variations1.5Population equivalent and loads1.6Industrial wastewater and pretreatment at source1.7Sampling and laboratory analysis1.8New requirements of Directive (EU) 2024/30191.9Micropollutants and pharmaceuticals1.10Case study: characterisation of a coastal municipality
2.1Hydraulic design of foul sewers2.2Velocities and sedimentation in sewers2.3Septicity and H2S formation2.4Corrosion of concrete sewers2.5Wastewater pumping and rising mains2.6Infiltration and extraneous water2.7CCTV and robotic inspection2.8Rehabilitation of existing sewers2.9Industrial discharges to the network2.10Lab: model of a foul sewer network
3.1Screening and fine screens3.2Grit and grease removal3.3Flow equalisation3.4Conventional primary settling3.5Physico-chemical treatment with coagulants3.6Dissolved air flotation3.7Design of settling tanks3.8Management of pretreatment waste3.9Odours at the inlet works3.10Practical exercise: sizing a primary settling tank
4.1Microbial kinetics and the ASM1 model4.2Completely mixed and plug-flow reactors4.3Sludge age and food-to-microorganism ratio4.4Diffused aeration systems4.5Nitrification and denitrification4.6Biological phosphorus removal4.7Secondary settling and bulking4.8Sequencing batch reactors (SBR)4.9Membrane bioreactors (MBR)4.10Lab: simulation of a WWTP in GPS-X
5.1Trickling filters5.2Rotating biological contactors5.3Moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBR)5.4Submerged upflow biofilters5.5Nereda aerobic granular sludge5.6Nitrogen removal by anammox5.7Comparison of intensive technologies5.8Technology selection criteria5.9Implementation and operating costs5.10Case study: upgrading a WWTP with MBBR
6.1Subsurface flow constructed wetlands6.2Lagoon systems and their variants6.3Green filters and land application6.4Septic tanks and Imhoff tanks6.5Intermittent sand filters6.6Prefabricated package plants6.7Technology selection for small settlements6.8Maintenance with limited resources6.9Performance and discharge compliance6.10Workshop: constructed wetland for 500 inhabitants
7.1Gravity and flotation thickening7.2Mesophilic anaerobic digestion7.3Biogas production and use7.4Dewatering with centrifuges7.5Thermal and solar drying7.6Composting of sewage sludge7.7Agricultural application under RD 1310/19907.8Thermal hydrolysis of sludge7.9Phosphorus recovery as struvite7.10Practical exercise: biogas balance of a WWTP
8.1Tertiary sand and disc filtration8.2Ultraviolet disinfection8.3Chlorination and by-products8.4Ozonation for micropollutants8.5Activated carbon adsorption8.6Ultrafiltration and reverse osmosis8.7Regulation (EU) 2020/741 on water reuse8.8Royal Decree 1085/2024 on water reuse8.9Risk management plans for reclaimed water8.10Lab: reclamation train for agricultural irrigation
9.1Process control and oxygen loops9.2SCADA systems in treatment plants9.3Energy efficiency of aeration9.4Chemical management9.5Odour control and biofilters9.6Occupational safety in WWTPs9.7Maintenance of electromechanical equipment9.8Process control laboratory9.9WWTP operating indicators9.10Case study: reducing the energy consumption of a WWTP
10.1Energy neutrality of treatment plants10.2Carbon footprint of wastewater treatment10.3Nitrous oxide emissions10.4Resource recovery from wastewater10.5The water resource recovery facility concept10.6Extended producer responsibility for pharmaceutical manufacturers10.7Digital twins of treatment plants10.8Wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance10.9Roadmap towards neutrality10.10Workshop: energy neutrality plan for a WWTP
11.1Characterisation of industrial effluents11.2Food and beverage industry effluents11.3Chemical and pharmaceutical effluents11.4Textile industry effluents11.5Landfill leachate treatment11.6High-rate UASB anaerobic digestion11.7Advanced oxidation processes11.8Zero liquid discharge strategies11.9Integrated environmental authorisation and discharges11.10Practical exercise: treatment of winery effluent
12.1Definition of the urban agglomeration12.2Characterisation of flows and loads12.3Discharge and reuse requirements12.4Selection of the water line12.5Sizing of the sludge line12.6Simulation of the treatment process12.7Energy and carbon balance12.8Budget and operating costs12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, making it compatible with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is GPS-X, BioWin, EPA SWMM, AutoCAD and Python, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: simulation of treatment processes, laboratory analysis of wastewater and energy audits of treatment plants. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: Directive (EU) 2024/3019, Royal Decree 509/1996, Regulation (EU) 2020/741, Royal Decree 1085/2024, Royal Decree 1310/1990, EN 12255 series, Directive 2010/75/EU, Royal Decree 849/1986 (Public Water Domain Regulation).
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with GPS-X, BioWin, EPA SWMM, AutoCAD and Python, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the Master's Thesis. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
A university degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent professional experience, plus a suitable computer and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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