Historically, the central aim of water industry engineering was for the purpose of water transfer in aqueducts such as the aqueducts built by the Romans. The Bible even described, as part of the Israelites journey through the Sinai Desert, water purification and desalination. However, modern developments in effluent treatment, improvement in surface water quality, purification and desalination have only appeared over the last few decades through rapid scientific development. A modern desalination facility, at any scale, capable of supplying water to an entire city is an enormous automatic process, operating independently with the assistance of sophisticated control systems. Essential modifications are made with the assistance of customized software and the role of the operator is to manage the different water systems, as necessary.
The program provides graduates with a cutting-edge theoretical and practical foundation in the water industry engineering field, acclimatizing to diverse research and professional applications. Graduates leave the program with an in-depth understanding of theoretical content along with the ability to read and understand scientific research rooted in applied research. The program equips graduates with a toolkit, expertise and skills that prepare them to become experts on various technologies related to the water industry, to define, analyze and introduce technologies and solutions for varies types of water transport and water purification systems as well as define and analyze theoretical and practical challenges. To develop innovative treatment processes, participate in planning teams at new facilities, offer solutions to challenges in existing facilities, manage, in many cases, the water studies program in various organizations, propose solutions to managers and policy-makers to establish their expertise and capability in professional and scientific forums.
Graduates who stay locally, have the opportunity to integrate into and influence the Israeli water industry. Graduates who return to their home country begin to impact their own region with Israeli water expertise acquired through their studies, which in turn transfers on Israeli solutions to various countries and organizations globally.
The Department of Water Industry Engineering develops industry relationships through student projects, student activities, the establishment of an on-campus activity center, industry tours and participation in workshops and industry conferences. Students in the program are exposed to ongoing collaborations on a regular basis and take an active part in their activities. The goal is clear: Students must be exposed to an industry culture environment, both at the consciousness and applied levels. Graduates of the Master’s program are engineers, who continue into industry throughout the program and then enter the work force ready and capable of developing quality professional careers. Graduates entering industry are also expected to demonstrate initiative, problem-solving, time management, effective teamwork and even managerial skills. Graduates of the program, many of whom come from the field of water, apply both the expertise and research tools they previously acquired in their professional life and continue on to existing industry as well as start-up organizations.