The module aims to provide students with fundamental skills for effective and professional communication (written and verbal) in the workplace. It also deals with the effective us of Information Technology in the implementation of these skills. It will cover the use of software packages for word processing, spreadsheet creation and the production of presentations. The students will be also be given an introduction to Computer Systems. The meaning of plagiarism and peer reviewed information will be explained to students. The importance of teamwork, leadership and conflict management will be discussed.

1. Identify the main component parts and peripheral devices of a standard computer system
2. Create documentation using Word processing software incorporating a range of data management and editing techniques including a business letter, email and a short technical report.
3. Compile and edit data sets using Spreadsheet software including the use of functions and formulae, chart construction and object linking.
4. Participate as part of a team to create and deliver a professional oral presentation using relevant software.
5. Explain the meaning of peer reviewed information, plagiarism and the Harvard Referencing System.

This module deals with selected aspects of Water and Wastewater Science that are relevant to Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants. This module will introduce the importance of water, it sources, its uses, the quality of water, the sources and types of water pollution, how it is measured and how these measurements are interpreted. It forms the foundation module for all modules in 2nd, 3rd and 4th semester modules.

1. Name, explain and apply the various basic concepts of Water and Wastewater .

2. Distinguish sources, uses and quality of Water and Wastewater.

3. Identify sources and types of pollution.

4. Interpret scientific measurements and results.

This module will give treatment plant operator students a foundation in occupational safety and health, including an introduction to: health and safety legislation; hazard identification and risk assessment; common workplace and job specific hazards & control measures; safe systems of work; site safety inductions; accident and incident reporting; emergency planning; training; and personal protective equipment.

1. Identify the main pieces of Irish health & safety legislation and describe important components within (e.g. Employers Duties and Employees Duties).
2. Conduct a hazard identification & risk assessment of a specific workplace activity.
3. Identify a variety of common workplace hazards (e.g. fire; electricity; machinery; chemicals; biological agents; manual handling; work at heights; noise; occupational health hazards; psychosocial hazards; etc) and job specific hazards (e.g. lone working; drowning; confined space entry; explosive atmospheres;aerosols; flocculants; chlorine; asbestos;pressurevessels;road works;livestock; Weils disease; Hepatitis A; etc) and the appropriate workplace control measures to be applied.

4. Outline Safe Systems of Work (e.g. Method Statements; Permit to Work Systems, Lock Out/Tag Out, Traffic Management Plans, etc) to be applied within the workplace.

5. Identify specific workplace requirements for Site Safety Inductions; Accident & Incident reporting; Emergency Planning; Training; and Personal Protective Equipment.

This module will familiarise students with the fundamentals of thermal, electrical, chemical and mechanical energy systems and how energy transitions between these systems. The module will then explore the various ways of metering and recording these energy transfers and their associated metric, US and imperial units.

As motors & pumping systems are particularly relevant – the operation and management of these will be explored in detail along the principles of power factor and power factor correction.

The principles of energy management and energy management systems will be examined, particularly in the context of Irish Water.

1. Quantify different energy types in appropriate units
2. Describe the various forms of energy (mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical etc) and common conversion processes between them (kinetic to electric, etc).
3. Describe the operation of an AC induction motor and a simple pumping system and perform calculations based on the Affinity laws of pumping systems.
4. Discuss the hierarchical principles of energy management.
5. Conduct a brief energy survey highlighting potential for improved energy management in a practical scenario.
6. Write report in relation to this survey suggesting improved future practice based on the principles of energy management.

This introduction to law and legislative approaches provides the basic framework in which participants can understand the application of environmental law within Ireland. The role of the European Union and the Irish legislature in the formation of national environmental legislation is examined, as is the role and responsibilities of environmental enforcement agencies. The aim is to provide a sense of how the overall regulatory system operates and might affect an organisation, and how it can be used to protect the environment. The importance of environmental compliance is also explored. A contextual overview of existing Irish environmental legislation is provided with more detailed attention to more salient instruments.

1. Give an overview the Irish and EU legislative system, sources of legislation and list and explain key terms and definitions associated with environmental regulation
2. Outline the environmental legal and regulatory framework and functions of the key bodies and identify the role(s) that the public can have
3. List the main pertinent Irish environmental statutes and outline the main provisions of each
4. Explain the practical implications of Irish environmental legislation on operations in an organisation
5. Communicate information regarding environmental regulation and compliance in a manner appropriate to an audience of peers

This module introduces flow concepts used for the design of water supply and drainage systems. The module will also examine issues relating to the maintenance and management of waste water drainage systems and water distribution networks.

1. Define and manipulate the theoretical concepts which underline basic fluid properties.
2. Identify and understand the components of water supply systems and foul water drainage networks.

3. Understand the concepts and techniques associated with water supply system maintenance and management.

4. Understand the concepts and techniques associated with foul and mixed sewer drainage systems maintenance and management.

5. Complete a case study project on improving a waste water drainage network or water supply network in your care.