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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.
Syllabus
WEEK 1: Introduction to Household Water Treatment and
Safe Storage
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 fecal contamination of drinking water are followed by an introduction to
the concept of HWTS and the principal technologies. We discuss the global
relevance of HWTS with focus on the post-2015 development agenda.
WEEK 2&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 2 focuses on
sedimentation and different kinds of filtration. Week 3 focuses on heat, ultraviolet
radiation, chemical disinfection. Specific modules are provided to cover safe
storage and combined methods of water treatment.
WEEK 4: Implementation strategies for HWTS
During
week 4 we analyze 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.
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.
Instructors
Rick Johnston
Dr.
Joint Monitoring Programme / WHO
Sara Marks
Dr.
Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development / Eawag
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The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL, English: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne) is a research university in Lausanne, Switzerland, that specialises in physical sciences and engineering.
One of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, the school was founded by the Swiss Federal Government with the stated mission to:
Educate engineers and scientists to the highest international standing
Be a national center of excellence in science and technology
Provide a hub for interaction between the scientific community and the industry
EPFL is considered one of the most prestigious universities in the world for engineering and sciences, ranking 17th overall and 10th in engineering in the 2015 QS World University Rankings; 34th overall and 12th in engineering in the 2015 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
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