Planning & Design of Sanitation Systems and Technologies

Instructor: Christoph Lüthi

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,208 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

99%

Most learners liked this course

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,208 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

99%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Assessments

3 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 5 modules in this course

Do you want to learn how to plan affordable and context-specific sanitation solutions? Be up-to-date on the newest developments in urban sanitation planning and programming? Get to know best practice examples of urban sanitation systems in low- and middle-income countries? If yes, this course is for you!

This course provides you with an introduction to integrated sanitation planning, both on a citywide scale and for specific contexts such as informal settlements. You will become familiar with different sanitation planning frameworks as well as different systems and technologies relevant along the sanitation value chain. You will learn why systems’ thinking is crucial for urban environmental sanitation, and how to apply key terminology and important concepts. This course is one of four in the series “Sanitation, Water and Solid Waste for Development". www.eawag.ch/mooc

In the first week of this course, we provide background on why sanitation, despite being one of the most important basic services due to its impact on public health and productivity, is often one of the least prioritised in low- and middle-income countries. We introduce the basics of urban sanitation planning and the crucial role of safely managed sanitation in urban development. You will become familiar with different sanitation planning approaches at citywide and neighbourhood level.

What's included

12 videos7 readings

12 videosTotal 75 minutes

1.1 Course Overview3 minutes
1.2 Sanitation within Urban Challenges6 minutes
1.3 Introduction to CWIS11 minutes
1.4 Local Level Sanitation Planning [1]7 minutes
1.5 Local Level Sanitation Planning [2]4 minutes
1.6 Case study: Towards CWIS - Kampala, Uganda6 minutes
1.7 Case study: Towards CWIS - Lusaka, Zambia6 minutes
1.8 Case study: Towards CWIS - Kathmandu, Nepal6 minutes
1.9 Case study: Towards CWIS - Dhaka, Bangladesh6 minutes
1.10 Case study: Towards CWIS - Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire6 minutes
1.11 Spotlight video - A Sanitation Journey 3 minutes
1.12 SDG Baselines - Sanitation Services12 minutes

7 readingsTotal 235 minutes

Important information to succeed in this course10 minutes
Key Course Resources10 minutes
Hands-On Challenge I - Sanitation planning in YOUR community120 minutes
City Sanitation Planning & Sanitation 2160 minutes
Summary Week 115 minutes
Slides & Resources10 minutes
What is a bonus module?10 minutes

After getting to know different sanitation planning planning approaches in the first week of this course, you will learn about the key terminology and concepts used in the systems approach to environmental sanitation. We will also explore why systems thinking is crucial for urban environmental sanitation and start with a deep dive into the technical aspects of different sanitation systems, starting with the functional groups.

What's included

12 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

12 videosTotal 101 minutes

2.1 Introduction to the Compendium3 minutes
2.2 Sanitation Products10 minutes
2.3 Functional Groups7 minutes
2.4 User Interface Technologies17 minutes
2.5 Collection and Storage/Treatment - Single Pit Technologies9 minutes
2.6 Collection and Storage/Treatment - Double Pit Technologies12 minutes
2.7 Collection and Storage/Treatment - Anaerobic Technologies8 minutes
2.8 Conveyance - Container-based Technologies10 minutes
2.9a Conveyance - Sewer-based Technologies7 minutes
2.9b Conveyance - Condominial Sewerage Systems15 minutes
2.10 Summary Week 23 minutes
2.11 Spotlight Video - Advancements in and Integration of Water, Sanitation and Solid Waste2 minutes

2 readingsTotal 130 minutes

Hands-On Challenge II – Let’s get visual: Draw YOUR sanitation reality120 minutes
Slides & Resources10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Week 1& 230 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Conveyance system(s) in YOUR community10 minutes

During week 3, you will continue exploring the technical aspects of different sanitation systems, from simple single pit system to more complex centralized or semi-centralised treatment systems.

What's included

11 videos3 readings1 assignment

11 videosTotal 83 minutes

3.1 [Semi] Centralized Treatment - Treatment stages6 minutes
3.2 [Semi] Centralized Treatment - Anaerobic Technologies12 minutes
3.3 [Semi] Centralized Treatment - Aerobic Technologies12 minutes
3.4 [Semi] Centralized Treatment - Technologies for Sludge Treatment10 minutes
3.5 Use and/or Disposal - Agricultural Use as Fertilizer and Soil Conditioner7 minutes
3.6 Use and/or Disposal - Effluent and other Products8 minutes
3.7 Introduction to Sanitation Systems11 minutes
3.8 Waterless Pit-based Systems6 minutes
3.9 Decentralized Water-based Systems5 minutes
3.10 Black Water Transport Systems5 minutes
3.11 Spotlight Video - Comparative Analysis of Sanitation Systems for Resource Recovery1 minute

3 readingsTotal 55 minutes

Summary Week 315 minutes
Slides & Resources10 minutes
Solution: Complete the Sanitation System Design30 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 120 minutes

(Ungraded) Complete the Sanitation System Design120 minutes

In this week, we contextualise what you have learned in the previous weeks about existing planning frameworks and sanitation systems and technologies. We introduce the project management cycle and selected sanitation planning tools currently used in sanitation planning.

What's included

5 videos8 readings1 discussion prompt

5 videosTotal 45 minutes

4.1 Introduction to Cross-cutting Topics and Sanitation Tools1 minute
4.2 Project and Planning Cycles9 minutes
4.3 Institutional and Financial Options for Sanitation Service Delivery14 minutes
4.4 Shit Flow Diagrams11 minutes
4.5 Introduction to Sanitation Safety Planning9 minutes

8 readingsTotal 185 minutes

Gender30 minutes
Behaviour Change30 minutes
Stakeholder Engagement30 minutes
Data Collection30 minutes
Assessment Tools30 minutes
Summary Week 415 minutes
Solution: Increasing safely managed fecal sludge in Worlu Town10 minutes
Slides & Resources10 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 30 minutes

Increasing safely managed fecal sludge in Worlu Town30 minutes

Finally, in week 5 we present examples of urban sanitation best practice and failed cases from around the world. We present selected case studies in which different sanitation solutions from neighbourhood to national scale are trialed or already fully established.

What's included

5 videos7 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

5 videosTotal 43 minutes

5.1 Introduction to Global Case Studies2 minutes
5.2 Nala, Nepal - Implementing CLUES14 minutes
5.3a Erdos, China - An Eco-town Pilot Project [1]9 minutes
5.3b Erdos, China - An Eco-town Pilot Project [2]5 minutes
5.4 Lusaka, Zambia - Sanitation Service Delivery through Fecal Sludge Management12 minutes

7 readingsTotal 100 minutes

Brasília, Brazil - Condominial Sewers15 minutes
Warangal, India - The Model Sanitation City15 minutes
Devanahalli, India - Fecal Sludge Treatment Plant15 minutes
Tamil Nadu, India - The Keepers of our Cities15 minutes
Kenya & Haiti - Citywide Inclusive Sanitation 15 minutes
Summary Week 515 minutes
Slides & Resources10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 120 minutes

Final exam120 minutes

1 discussion promptTotal 10 minutes

Your thoughts on our case studies10 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(241 ratings)

Christoph Lüthi

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

3 Courses52,729 learners

Offered by

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

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Reviewed on Dec 31, 2016

The course is well documented and interesting to learn the intricacies of several sanitation system and its relevant technologies, with several case studies all around the world.

Reviewed on Nov 19, 2016

An eye opener to inclusive sanitation planning. The course content was very well delivered not to mention the choice of case studies of failed and successful urban sanitation projects. Keep it up!!!

Reviewed on Sep 13, 2022

Very informative, good selection of case studies and invaueble resourse materials! The course really helped me to start my new job in sanitation research. Thank you!

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