New online course: Sanitation-related urban groundwater pollution

Participants complete the course in part-time, distance learning mode over a period of 16 weeks with a total workload of 140 hours (equivalent to 3 weeks full-time).

They spend about 8 hours per week on this course by reading, listening to voice recordings, watching video clips, participating in asynchronous discussions, obtaining advice or guidance from the teacher and working on assignments.

Background

Many urban planners in developing countries are turning to their (urban) groundwater resources as a water supply source because the available surface water is very polluted, and groundwater is seen as a reliable and easily accessible substitute.

However, whilst groundwater sources are being tapped for water supply, the soil is at the same time used as a filtering medium for excreta and greywater disposal, without a thorough understanding of the relevant soil-groundwater interactions.

Especially in the case of civil or sanitary engineers, little is being taught about groundwater pollution aspects in their university degree, despite the fact that on-site wastewater disposal is extremely common in developing countries.

Other causes for urban groundwater pollution are also being neglected in many cases. If a town planner, water supply engineer or sanitary engineer wants to know more about groundwater or hydrogeology, one option would be to take a university degree in that subject.

What this online course offers instead is the basic hydrogeology knowledge tailor-made to the needs of those involved in providing water supply or sanitation in urban areas in developing countries.