UFAZ Students Participated in the Field Trip at ASWRA's Main Water Facilities in Mingachevir

Students of the Master's program in Water Resources and Management at the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) participated in a three-day field trip at the main water facilities of the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency (ASWRA) located in the Mingachevir city. Within the framework of the visit, the students studied on-site the operational principles of the Mingachevir Reservoir – one of the country's largest water management and hydro-technical complexes – as well as water treatment plants, an underground drinking water reservoir, pumping stations, and sewage infrastructure.

On the first day of the visit, students were briefed on the structure and hydraulic function of the reservoir, as well as the operation of a 10,000 m³ underground water reservoir integrated into the city's water distribution network. It was noted that the underground reservoir is fully monitored by a SCADA system, and water is not permitted to be stored for more than 72 hours.

On the second day, students observed the multi-stage filtration, chlorination, and pressure control processes at the Mingachevir Water Treatment Plant. Seven groups of “Culligan” sand filters operate at the treatment facility, and each filter processes 82 m³ of water per hour. The total daily capacity is 55,000 m³, and chlorination is conducted safely via vacuum regulators.

On the third day of the visit, students familiarized themselves with the sewerage and wastewater management system of Mingachevir city. In the existing pumping stations, four automated pumps are activated sequentially to transfer wastewater to treatment areas.

The field trip provided students with the opportunity to directly observe real processes such as hydraulic engineering, water treatment, distribution, SCADA-based management, alternative water supply in emergencies, and wastewater treatment together with specialists. This experience has further enhanced the professional preparation of the students by strengthening the application of theoretical knowledge from the Water Resources and Management specialization on real infrastructure.