Homework guidelines
Expected prerequisite knowledge includes basic differential equations, physical, chemical and biological properties of water, materials balance, introduction to aqueous chemistry and microbiology.
For each topic in the tentative schedule below, I will post an outline of the topic by the afternoon prior to the first lecture in the topic.  I will also post a copy of my lecture notes after we complete each topic.
In order to practice some of the concepts presented, I will periodically ask you to work problems during class.  A number of these problems require numerical calculations, so please bring a calculator (and your notes) to class.
You are welcome to work together on the homework, but you should contribute intellectual effort in solving the problems.  The homework is intended to reinforce your understanding of the material discussed in class, so if you can’t do those problems, you are likely to have difficulty with the exams.
Homework grades almost never affect final grades.  As such, I will only check off your homework.  It is your responsibility to compare your homework to the posted solutions to understand any misconceptions.  
The final exam is not specifically cumulative, but the material does not lend itself well to complete separation (e.g. it is impossible to describe contaminant fate in groundwater without including reaction kinetics).
With regard to the previous two bullets, if you start having difficulty, PLEASE let me know.  Because the topics build on each other, an early misunderstanding can lead to major trouble later on.
Again, because of the nature of the course, the homework tends to get more involved as the semester progresses.  Students should expect to spend more time on a homework set due in 2 weeks than a homework due in 1 week.
Finally, while the concepts in this class are truly interesting, some of the material can get rather dry.  I’ll do my best to keep things interesting, which may involve your participation—don’t be shy!  I’ll also survey you periodically to see what sorts of things I can do better, so keep that in mind as the semester goes on.