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Postgraduate Diploma in Economic Assessment and Regulation of Alternative Water

Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Economic Assessment and Regulation of Alternative Water. 8 modules covering Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive, cost recovery), Royal Legislative Decree 1/2001 (consolidated Water Act) and advanced Excel. Assigned tutor and enrolment open.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Apply the principles of water economics to the analysis of non-conventional resources.

02

Assess the financial viability of regeneration and desalination projects.

03

Carry out cost-benefit and multi-criteria analysis of supply alternatives.

04

Interpret the European and Spanish regulatory framework for alternative water.

05

Design tariff structures that comply with the cost recovery principle.

06

Compare financing and public procurement models for water infrastructure.

07

Prepare an economic assessment report for an alternative water project.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Water economist looking to specialise in Economic Assessment and Regulation of Alternative Water.
  • Water services regulation analyst looking to specialise in Economic Assessment and Regulation of Alternative Water.
  • Hydraulic infrastructure financing consultant looking to specialise in Economic Assessment and Regulation of Alternative Water.
  • Hydrological planning technician looking to specialise in Economic Assessment and Regulation of Alternative Water.
  • Water tariff manager looking to specialise in Economic Assessment and Regulation of Alternative Water.
  • Alternative water project analyst looking to specialise in Economic Assessment and Regulation of Alternative Water.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to join river basin authorities.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive, cost recovery)
  • Royal Legislative Decree 1/2001 (consolidated Water Act)
  • Regulation (EU) 2020/741 (water reuse)
  • Royal Decree 907/2007 (Hydrological Planning Regulation)
  • Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts
  • Regulation (EU) 2020/852 (taxonomy of sustainable activities)
  • ISO 24510 (water services: assessment of service to users)
Syllabus

8 modules · 800 h

  1. 1.1Economic value of water and scarcity
  2. 1.2Total cost: investment, operation and replacement
  3. 1.3Environmental externalities and resource cost
  4. 1.4Demand elasticity
  5. 1.5Cost recovery in the Water Framework Directive
  6. 1.6Unit cost per cubic metre
  7. 1.7Transfers, desalination, reuse and savings compared
  8. 1.8Supply cost curves
  9. 1.9Value of water reliability and security
  10. 1.10Practice: marginal supply curve of a river basin
  1. 2.1Cash flows and evaluation horizon
  2. 2.2NPV, IRR and payback period
  3. 2.3Discount rate and cost of capital
  4. 2.4Levelised cost of water (LCOW)
  5. 2.5Sensitivity to energy prices
  6. 2.6Monte Carlo simulation
  7. 2.7Residual value and equipment replacement
  8. 2.8Scenario analysis
  9. 2.9Financial models in spreadsheets
  10. 2.10Workshop: LCOW of a desalination plant and a regeneration plant
  1. 3.1Social cost-benefit analysis
  2. 3.2Contingent valuation and hedonic pricing
  3. 3.3Benefits of ecosystem services
  4. 3.4Cost-effectiveness analysis of measures
  5. 3.5Multi-criteria analysis with AHP
  6. 3.6Carbon and water footprints
  7. 3.7Life cycle assessment according to ISO 14040
  8. 3.8European Commission guide to cost-benefit analysis of projects
  9. 3.9Distribution of benefits and equity
  10. 3.10Case study: cost-benefit analysis of an agricultural reuse plan
  1. 4.1Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC
  2. 4.2Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on drinking water
  3. 4.3Regulation (EU) 2020/741 on reuse
  4. 4.4Directive (EU) 2024/3019 on urban wastewater
  5. 4.5Consolidated text of the Water Act
  6. 4.6Royal Decree 1085/2024 on reuse
  7. 4.7Concessions and administrative authorisations
  8. 4.8River basin hydrological plans
  9. 4.9State, regional and local competences
  10. 4.10Practice: regulatory map of a desalination project
  1. 5.1Tariff structure: fixed and variable charges
  2. 5.2Increasing block tariffs
  3. 5.3Price of reclaimed water compared with potable water
  4. 5.4Levies and regulatory fees
  5. 5.5Cross-subsidies and affordability
  6. 5.6Social tariff and water poverty
  7. 5.7Price signals to encourage reuse
  8. 5.8Economic regulation of operators
  9. 5.9International tariff comparison
  10. 5.10Workshop: designing a reclaimed water tariff
  1. 6.1Public financing and European funds
  2. 6.2Public-private partnerships and concessions
  3. 6.3DBO and BOT contracts
  4. 6.4Allocation of contractual risks
  5. 6.5Green bonds and climate finance
  6. 6.6Multilateral development banks
  7. 6.7Long-term water purchase agreements
  8. 6.8Law 9/2017 on Public Sector Contracts
  9. 6.9Bankability and technical due diligence
  10. 6.10Case study: financial structure of a desalination plant
  1. 7.1Responsibilities of the producer and the user
  2. 7.2Health control of alternative water
  3. 7.3River basin authority and discharge control
  4. 7.4Transparency and public participation
  5. 7.5Social acceptance of reuse
  6. 7.6Regulatory performance indicators
  7. 7.7Water markets and exchange centres
  8. 7.8Resolution of conflicts between users
  9. 7.9Experiences in Australia, Israel and California
  10. 7.10Practice: analysis of an allocation conflict
  1. 8.1Definition of supply alternatives
  2. 8.2Estimation of investment and operating costs
  3. 8.3Calculation of the levelised cost of water
  4. 8.4Social cost-benefit analysis
  5. 8.5Risk and uncertainty analysis
  6. 8.6Regulatory and concession fit
  7. 8.7Tariff and financing proposal
  8. 8.8Recommendation of an alternative
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is advanced Excel, R, Python (pandas), @RISK, QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The tests are based on real procedures from economic and financial feasibility studies of water projects, analysis of municipal tariff structures and multi-criteria assessments with local stakeholders. Assessment is continuous across each module, plus the final integrative project.

Accredited laboratories(EN ISO/IEC 17025) with a rotor test rig, EMC/Lightning pre-compliance, HIL/SIL, vibration/acoustics.
Evidence-oriented Master's Thesis:safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operating limits.
Industry mentoring:lecturers with a track record in training, , eVTOL/UAM and flight test.
Flexible format(hybrid/online), international cohorts and support from SEIUM Career Services.
Ethics and safety:safety-by-design approach, cyber-OT, DIH and compliance as core pillars.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Definition of supply alternatives

Apply the principles of water economics to the analysis of non-conventional resources.

Estimation of investment and operating costs

Assess the financial viability of regeneration and desalination projects.

Calculation of the levelised cost of water

Carry out cost-benefit and multi-criteria analysis of supply alternatives.

Social cost-benefit analysis

Interpret the European and Spanish regulatory framework for alternative water.

Risk and uncertainty analysis

Design tariff structures that comply with the cost recovery principle.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Water economistWater services regulation analystHydraulic infrastructure financing consultantHydrological planning technicianWater services tariff managerAlternative water project analyst
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
  • Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme comprises 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.

The programme uses advanced Excel, R, Python (pandas), @RISK and QGIS. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

An own diploma from SEIUM upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. This is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or diploma in the same area can be credited towards the advanced programme. Please check the credit recognition policy when you enrol.

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