About this course: It is well known that water treatment at the household level can lead to dramatic improvements in drinking water quality. But does Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage (HWTS) also have global relevance? What are the potential treatment solutions and how do they function? Is there a standard strategy for successful HWTS implementation, or can we identify key components which make programs more likely to succeed? In this course you will learn about the most important water treatment methods at household level, successful implementation strategies and about assessing the impact of HWTS. MOOC SERIES “SANITATION, WATER AND SOLID WASTE FOR DEVELOPMENT” : This course is one of four in the series “Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development". FRANçAIS: Dans ce MOOC, vous allez apprendre les plus importantes méthodes de traitement de l'eau au niveau des ménages, les stratégies pour une mise en œuvre réussie et l’évaluation de l’impact du traitement et stockage sûr de l'eau à domicile. ESPAñOL: Aprende acerca de los métodos más importantes de tratamiento de agua a nivel domiciliario, de estrategias de implementación eficientes y de la evaluación del impacto del tratamiento doméstico y almacenamiento seguro del agua.
Who is this class for: This course is an introduction – the only course requirement is an interest in drinking water quality.
Created by: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Taught by: Rick Johnston, Dr.
Joint Monitoring Programme / WHO
Taught by: Sara Marks, Dr.
Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development / Eawag
| Level | Intermediate |
| Commitment | 5 weeks of study, 4-6 hours/week |
| Language | English, Subtitles: French, Spanish |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction to HWTS
The course begins with a review of the public health impacts of unsafe drinking water. We define physical, chemical, and microbial aspects of drinking water quality and present the major classes of pathogens. Information about pathways for faecal contamination of drinking water are followed by an introduction to the concept of HWTS and the principal technologies.
8 videos, 5 readings
- Video: Trailer
- Reading: About the course
- Reading: Further reading
- Reading: How to use the forum
- Video: 1.1 Introduction to the course
- Video: 1.2 Global burden of disease
- Video: 1.3 Water-borne pathogens
- Video: 1.4 How does drinking water become unsafe?
- Video: 1.5 What is HWTS?
- Reading: 1.6 Sustainable Development Goals
- Video: 1.7 WHO/UNICEF International Network on HWTS - Guest Lecturer: B. Majuru
- Video: 1.8 Key messages - Week 1
- Reading: Slides - Week 1
Graded: Week 1
WEEK 2
HWTS treatment options
During week 2 and 3 we focus on potential treatment methods. We refer first to the standards of safe drinking water and improved drinking water. Week 2 focuses on sedimentation and different kinds of filtration.
6 videos, 2 readings
- Video: 2.1 A Framework for Water Safety
- Video: 2.2 Sedimentation
- Video: 2.3 Filtration : Synthetic membranes
- Video: 2.4 Filtration : Ceramic filters
- Video: 2.5 Biological filtration
- Video: 2.6 Key messages - Week 2
- Reading: Slides - Week 2
- Reading: Bonus reading - Logarithms
Graded: Week 2
WEEK 3
HWTS treatment options
During week 2 and 3 we focus on potential treatment methods. We refer first to the standards of safe drinking water and improved drinking water. Week 3 focuses on heat, ultraviolet radiation, chemical disinfection. Specific modules are provided to cover safe storage and combined methods of water treatment.
6 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 3.1 Heat
- Video: 3.2 Ultraviolet radiation
- Video: 3.3 Chemical disinfection
- Video: 3.4 Safe storage
- Video: 3.5 Combinations
- Video: 3.6 Key messages - Week 3
- Reading: Slides - Week 3
Graded: Week 3
WEEK 4
Implementation strategies for HWTS
During week 4 we analyse different approaches that have been successfully applied. We highlight key components which make programs more likely to succeed. We ask the questions, what is required that the most vulnerable populations use HWTS correctly and consistently over the long-term? In separate modules we consider the special case of HWTS in emergency response and provide information about the role of government bodies.
5 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 4.1 Implementation models - Guest Lecturer: H. Gebauer
- Video: 4.2 Targeted approaches
- Video: 4.3 HWTS in emergencies - Guest Lecturer: D. Lantagne
- Video: 4.4 Roles of government bodies
- Video: 4.5 Key messages - Week 4
- Reading: Slides - Week 4
Graded: Week 4
WEEK 5
Monitoring and Evaluating HWTS
During the last week, we present different approaches for monitoring and evaluating HWTS. Case studies and guest lecturers, we highlight several key challenges, including the need for consistent use and field-robust measurements. The course ends with a wrap-up module, which serves as preparation for the final exam.
9 videos, 1 reading
- Video: 5.1a Evaluation and validation of household water treatment technologies - Guest Lecturer: M. Montgomery
- Video: 5.1b WHO International Scheme to Evaluate Household Water Treatment Technologies - Guest Lecturer: B. Majuru
- Video: 5.2 Effective and consistent use
- Video: 5.3 Health impact assessment - Guest lecturer: S. Boisson
- Video: 5.4 Economic analysis of HWTS
- Video: 5.5 HWTS selection
- Video: 5.6 Testing for E. coli in the field
- Video: 5.7 Case Study: Water Quality Monitoring in Nepal
- Video: 5.8 Conclusion
- Reading: Slides - Week 5
Graded: Final exam
FAQs
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Ratings and Reviews
Informative
Very interesting course with a lot of examples of studies. I believe this course should be taken by everyone to understand the importance of water treatment. It is sure to be useful for people involved in humanitarian actions
Excellent course content, to the point and useful
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jl
All information is clear, the professor in each topic he makes a example, real examples to allow that students can understand the topics, additionally, is important to know the processes and technologies that we have to do good water treatment and access for everyone. I strongly recommend this course.