Introduction to Household Water Treatment and Safe Storage

Instructors: Rick Johnston

31,721 already enrolled

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,147 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

1,147 reviews

Intermediate level

Some related experience required

Flexible schedule

1 week at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

Details to know

Assessments

5 assignments

Taught in English

97%

Most learners liked this course

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There are 5 modules in 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, and how these fit within the broader water supply chain — from source to consumer. You will explore how different technologies can be combined along this chain, and how functional groups help structure and compare water system designs. 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".

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.

What's included

6 videos7 readings1 assignment

6 videosTotal 61 minutes

1.1 Introduction to the course1 minute
1.2 Global burden of disease15 minutes
1.3 Water-borne pathogens12 minutes
1.4 How does drinking water become unsafe?13 minutes
1.5 What is HWTS?7 minutes
1.6 SDG Baselines: Drinking Water Services14 minutes

7 readingsTotal 70 minutes

Important information to succeed in this course10 minutes
How to give feedback to the course team?10 minutes
All Readings10 minutes
1.1b Structure of the course10 minutes
Connect with your peers10 minutes
HWTS in practice10 minutes
Slides & Readings - Week 110 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 45 minutes

Week 1 Quiz45 minutes

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.

What's included

5 videos2 readings1 assignment

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.

What's included

5 videos1 reading1 assignment

During Week 4, we broaden the perspective from individual household water treatment options to complete water supply systems. You will learn how different technologies are combined along the water chain — from source to consumer — and how functional groups help structure and compare water system designs.

What's included

6 videos1 reading1 assignment

During the last week, we focus on HWTS in practice, including governance, economic and user perspectives. The course ends with an instructional training for microbial water quality testing, as well as a visual summary of the course.

What's included

5 videos2 readings1 assignment

5 videosTotal 78 minutes

5.1 Roles of government bodies15 minutes
5.2 HWTS selection17 minutes
5.3 Economic Analysis of HWTS12 minutes
5.4 Effective and consistent use16 minutes
5.5 Testing for E. coli in the field19 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Slides & Readings - Week 510 minutes
Visual summary of the course10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 60 minutes

Final exam 60 minutes

Instructors

Instructor ratings

(271 ratings)

Rick Johnston

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

1 Course31,721 learners

Sara Marks

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

1 Course31,721 learners

Offered by

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

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5.0

Reviewed on Feb 8, 2018

A very well organised course. Dr. Rick Johnston is an excellent mentor to have! Wish him all the best. Highly recommended for Civil Engineering/ Environmental Study backgrounds.

5.0

Reviewed on Jun 23, 2021

Great intro course with renown professional in their respective fields. The interdisciplinary approach makes this course attractive and inspiring especially when you live in developing countries.

5.0

Reviewed on Mar 20, 2021

very educative course on household water treatment and safe storage technologies........All in all, the suite of courses from Ecole Polytechnique have been most informative.........

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