COURSES
Please note that courses in this depository are open access and free of charge. They are designed for self-study, without guidance, assessments, exams, credits, or certificates. For those interested in short courses with certificates, please click here.
MOOC Series ConCad Part #1 – Key concepts and tools for urban diagnostics
This online course is part of the ConCaD initiative and covers all aspects of citywide inclusive sanitation (CWIS). It is aimed at the private sector and sanitation professionals. The ConCaD initiative aims to develop skills in planning, designing and implementing inclusive urban sanitation services. It also offers a face-to-face training workshop to complement this course, in partnership with training institutes in Africa and Asia. The objective is to increase the skills of consultants and improve the delivery and sustainability of inclusive sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)
MOOC Series ConCad Part #2 – Implementing CWIS in practice
This online course is part of the ConCaD initiative and covers all aspects of citywide inclusive sanitation (CWIS). It is aimed at the private sector and sanitation professionals. The ConCaD initiative aims to develop skills in planning, designing and implementing inclusive urban sanitation services. It also offers a face-to-face training workshop to complement this course, in partnership with training institutes in Africa and Asia. The objective is to increase the skills of consultants and improve the delivery and sustainability of inclusive sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)
MOOC Series ConCad Part #3 – Selecting the right technologies
This online course is part of the ConCaD initiative and covers all aspects of citywide inclusive sanitation (CWIS). It is aimed at the private sector and sanitation professionals. The ConCaD initiative aims to develop skills in planning, designing and implementing inclusive urban sanitation services. It also offers a face-to-face training workshop to complement this course, in partnership with training institutes in Africa and Asia. The objective is to increase the skills of consultants and improve the delivery and sustainability of inclusive sanitation services in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag)
MOOC Series on CWIS: Course #1 – Sanitation and Public Health
This course will provide you with an in-depth understanding of the relationship between sanitation and public health, and how we can control diseases and improve human health. By the end of this course, you will be able to identify a range of health hazards associated with human excreta in communities, identify disease and transmission routes, and evaluate the control and prevention of health hazards. You will look at case studies of sanitation intervention trials and learn about the latest risk evaluation technologies. You will embrace the critical role that sanitation plays in promoting public health, and you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to design and implement sanitation systems that protect and promote the health of communities.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on CWIS: Course #2 – Analysis of Sanitation Flows
Our course is designed to enable you to distinguish between different sanitation flows or streams through their physicochemical and microbiological characteristics. We will cover waste and sanitation, make a comparison of sanitation flows, look at faecal sludge characteristics, and learn why it is important to measure the characteristics of sanitation flows. After this course you will be able to compare the characteristics of different sanitation flows and assess their potential pollution and health impacts, and evaluate the results gained from laboratory tests to identify samples taken from various sanitation flows. You will have a deep understanding of the critical elements of analysing sanitation flows, and you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to apply them in your own work.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on CWIS: Course #3 – Sanitation Systems and Services
In this course we will learn how to apply the systems approach to urban sanitation at different scales, what CWIS is and how this approach influences frameworks and concepts for urban sanitation systems and services. We will look at CWIS case studies, stakeholder involvement, and propose and apply strategies for different urban contexts, and also use the Compendium of Sanitation Systems and Technologies to solve urban sanitation challenges. By the end of the course, you will have a good understanding of the different tools used for data collection and assessment, urban sanitation diagnostic tools and stakeholder analysis. Whether you are a sanitation professional looking to improve access to sanitation services in your community, or a policy maker looking to create more effective sanitation systems, this course will give you the knowledge and skills to succeed.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on CWIS: Course #4 – Sanitation Technology
The UN Sustainable Development Goals have highlighted that at current rates, by 2030 more than 2.8 billion people will lack safely managed sanitation and they will mostly rely on non-sewered, onsite sanitation solutions. This course follows the holistic CWIS approach focusing on both sewered and non-sewered sanitation provision. You will conceptualise and critically assess technological options in sanitation. To do so, interesting videos, presentations and reading materials have been prepared for you by internationally renowned experts in sanitation technology. By the end of the course, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the technical fundamentals of the technological components of the sanitation infrastructure and their role in a wider CWIS context, and you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to apply them effectively in your own work.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on CWIS: Course #5 – Gender and Sanitation
Gender and onsite sanitation are intrinsically linked. This course introduces the current concepts of onsite (non-sewered) sanitation and gender, and explores how these two topics intercept through a series of current case studies and activities. By the end of the course you will have a in-depth understanding of gender and sanitation systems, and you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to apply them in your own work. You will be able to analyse case studies and develop a case study on gender and onsite sanitation. Whether you are a sanitation professional looking to improve gender equity or a policymaker looking to create more inclusive and sustainable sanitation systems, this course will give you the tools you need to succeed.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on CWIS: Course #6 – Behavioural Change and Advocacy
In this course we will highlight the significance of behavioural change and advocacy across the sanitation service chain. You will learn about behavioural theories and advocacy methods from prominent sanitation professionals who have designed and implemented impactful interventions in Africa, Asia and Latin America. You will learn about behavioural change and advocacy concepts and models in practice; how to apply knowledge from interdisciplinary case examples to result in actual sanitation behavioural change and advocacy; and how to develop non-sewered sanitation behavioural change and advocacy intervention strategies for a diverse range of populations and contexts. By the end of the course you will understand the concepts of behavioural change, and recognize different approaches and you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to apply them in your own work.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on CWIS: Course #7 – Leadership
This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead in the field of water and sanitation management. During the course you will identify and develop your self-awareness and communication skills, examine the concepts of leader, leadership, and management, choose from various communication skills; and consider your current and desired capacity as leader. We will also cover communication skills and self-reflection, and topics such as building and maintaining trust, active listening, giving and receiving feedback, conflict management and negotiation. You will carry out a self-assessment in order to prepare an individual leadership development plan. Whether you are an experienced sanitation professional looking to develop your leadership skills or starting out, this course is perfect for you. By the end of it you will have the knowledge, skills and confidence to lead in the sanitation sector and make a positive impact in the sector.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on CWIS: Course #8 – Sanitation Governance
Sanitation governance is about the policies, regulations, and institutions that govern how urban sanitation systems are managed and operated. This course explores developments in equity, inclusivity and justice, and what they mean for allocating infrastructure and distributing waste. We will also discuss the key concepts of techno-managerial, political and interpretative understandings of sanitation governance and learn about their influence on governance processes. By the end of the course you will have a good understanding of the key elements of effective sanitation governance, and you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to apply them in your own work. Whether you are a sanitation professional looking to improve governance in your organization or a policymaker looking to create more effective governance structures, this course will give you the tools you need to succeed.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on CWIS: Course #9 – Sanitation Finance
This course will teach you about the current trends and needs in sanitation financing within the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework. You will also learn about issues related to financing, as well as novel and innovative financing approaches including private-public partnerships. We will explore and learn how to develop business models with the entire sanitation value chain. You will also gain practical knowledge to develop the costing and financing of a financially viable project and you will be able to outline key aspects of sustainability and different financing models. By the end of the course you will have a deep understanding of the critical elements of sustainable financing for sanitation systems, and you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills you need to apply them in your own work.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on CWIS: Course #10 – Project Management
This course covers everything from the basics of project planning to the role of stakeholder engagement and risk management in ensuring successful projects. You will learn how to develop a comprehensive sanitation project proposal, a project implementation plan and a Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning plan. You will also learn about the project management cycle and various approaches and frameworks used for result-based project management. In addition, you will develop a sanitation project proposal and implementation plan based on a real case study. By the end of the course you will have hands-on experience in developing a sanitation project proposal and implementing a project. You will be well-equipped to lead teams, engage stakeholders and ensure that your projects make lasting impacts on the communities they serve.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #1 – Wastewater Treatment Development
This introductory course is made of several carefully selected keynotes prepared by professors who made significant contribution to wastewater treatment developments during the last decades. The lectures cover developments in the wider context of urban water management, focusing on a special role that sanitation, sanitary engineering, and biological wastewater treatment play in it, from the past, present, and future perspectives.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #2 – Microbiology and Metabolism
Microorganisms are central to biological wastewater treatment. This contemporary course covers basic topics of wastewater microbiology by questioning: “what are microorganisms and how do they grow?”. It progresses from descriptions of microbial cells and physiology, metabolic diversity and trophic groups, and niche establishment along environmental gradients, to formulations of stoichiometry, thermodynamics, and kinetics of microbial growth useful for modelling. It further addresses microbial ecology and ecophysiology methods to track microorganisms and functionalities in sludge. The course scope and coverage are expanded with examples and exercises that will enrich your experience in this exciting field. Several videos deal with experimental aspects of modern microbiology and molecular methods applied in wastewater treatment (see also courses 18.5 and 18.6), and with simple mathematical models of microbial interactions in communities. By the end of the course, you will be able to approach microbial processes involved in nutrient removal with confidence.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #3 – Wastewater Characteristics
Wastewater characterization is essential for any wastewater study or a project, be at laboratory-, bench-, pilot- or full-scale. This interesting course explains characteristics of flows in both sewered and non-sewered sanitation. After completion of this course you will understand wastewater types and their characteristics, physical and chemical occurrence of its components, microorganisms present in the sewage, and characteristics of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, including their fractionation. You will learn about population equivalent, importance of ratios between various components in wastewater, domestic and non-domestic sewage components, various domestic sewage sub-streams, and internal loads at wastewater treatment plant. You will become familiar with non-sewered (onsite) sanitation flows and basic definitions of terms. Finally, the course will enable you to understand the fundamental principles of wastewater and sludge sampling and of the design of a sampling program within the wider urban context.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #4 – Organic Matter Removal
Removal of organic matter is the most common requirement in wastewater treatment. This course contains fundamentals of organic matter fractionation and fate of its components in the biological reactor, it explains activated sludge system constraints, deals with steady-state and dynamic-simulation models, provides a detailed design example with focus on calculations, mass balances, reactor sizing, and essential considerations as concentrations in the reactor, carbonaceous oxygen demand, excess sludge production, food-to-microorganism ratio and load factor, capacity of the system, system design and control, role of hydraulic retention time, and the selection of sludge age. By the end of the course you will be able to engage with the scientific and bioprocess engineering principles and experimentation of organic matter removal with deeper insight, advanced knowledge and greater confidence.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #5 – Nitrogen Removal
Nitrogen removal is the process most extensively studied in the history of wastewater treatment. This course covers fundamental, design and experimental aspects of nitrification and denitrification processes, including biological and process kinetics, factors influencing processes, nitrification and denitrification rates and potential and other relevant aspects. A complete design example is included with detailed development and demonstration of design procedure, sizing of the system, calculation of oxygen demand and other process requirements. You will also become familiar with nitrogen cycle, impact of side-stream processes, and novel nitrogen removal processes such as nitrite-based nitrogen removal, and anaerobic ammonia oxidation, including SHARON®, ANAMMOX®, and CANON® processes, and you will benefit from several interesting case studies of application of novel nitrogen removal technologies in practice.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #6 – Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal
This state-of-the-art course presents various aspects of enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) such as fundamental principles, microbiology and mechanisms involved, factors affecting EBPR performances, process configurations, and models for EBPR. In addition, you will get familiar with EBPR design procedures and you will understand the influence of operational factors on full-scale EBPR plants and integration of EBPR and biological nitrogen removal. You will be able to expand and test your knowledge by using carefully prepared examples and exercises. The course also includes case studies and videos demonstrating experimental procedures involving mixed cultures of activated sludge and enriched cultures with Phosphate Accumulating Organisms (PAOs). By the end of the course you will be equipped with the latest knowledge and essential skills to help you carry on practical and academic tasks with increased confidence.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #7 – Sulphur-based Wastewater Treatment
This novel course on sulphur-based conversions in wastewater treatment deals with the fundamentals of sulphate-reducing bioprocesses, microbiology, factors affecting conversions, etc. Particular focus is on sulphur-driven autotrophic denitrification and SANI® process development, modelling, and application. Sulphur conversion-based resource recovery is part of this course too. You will get familiar with design procedures, practical examples of real-life applications, and experimental methods on sulphur-based conversions in activated sludge systems. Completing this course will enable you to apply advanced knowledge of sulphur-based wastewater treatment in both practical and research settings and learn about future perspectives in this exciting field.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #8 – Wastewater Disinfection
This course presents a comprehensive summary of the topic of wastewater disinfection, starting with a description of the concept of indicator organisms. The physical chemistry of halogens (chlorine) and peracids (peracetic acid) are presented, as well as the fundamental principles of photochemistry that underpin the use of ultraviolet (UV) radiation as a disinfectant. Students will gain an understanding of models used to simulate disinfection kinetics, a comparison of disinfection kinetics among common disinfectants, as well as the incorporation of these kinetic models into overall process models. Furthermore, students will become familiar with deterministic and probabilistic process models, the range of contemporary disinfection applications in wastewater treatment (and with other media), and future directions in the field. The course also includes practical examples of applications of disinfection in wastewater treatment. By the end of the course, students will be able to deal with the subject of wastewater disinfection with increased confidence.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #9 – Aeration and Mixing
This motivating course covers various aspects of aeration and mixing in activated sludge wastewater treatment. Aeration fundamentals and technology aspects include oxygen transfer in clean and process water, and mysterious alpha factor, fine and coarse bubbles and droplets, bubble and mechanical aeration, centrifugal and high purity oxygen air blowers. You will also learn about factors (sludge retention time, role of selectors, airflow rate, diffuser density, fouling scaling and cleaning, reactor depth, mixed-liquor concentration, temperature and pressure, impact of hydrodynamic, daily dynamic and alpha factor) affecting oxygen transfer. Design algorithms, aeration and energy and sustainable aeration practices are also part of this practical curriculum. Many examples and exercises complement the course as well as case studies and most common experimental methods. By the end of the course you will gain new insights about aeration and mixing.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #10 – Bulking Sludge
Bulking sludge is a phenomenon in wastewater treatment that continuously attracts the attention of wastewater treatment practitioners and scientists. In this interesting course, you will learn about the relationship between morphology and ecopsychology following the microbiological and morphological-ecological approaches. You will familiarize yourself with the filamentous bacteria identification and characterization, general theories to explain bulking sludge (diffusion-based selection, kinetic selection, and storage selection). Remedial actions such as aerobic, non-aerated, anoxic and anaerobic selectors are also part of the course. Finally, you will understand the basic principles of mathematical modelling of filamentous bulking and you will have the opportunity to embark on examples and exercises complemented with selected case studies. By the end of the course, you will have an in-depth understanding of the bulking sludge phenomenon in activated sludge systems.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #11 – Aerobic Granular Sludge
Aerobic granular sludge is an emerging technology with higher sludge concentration and higher efficiency compared with conventional activated sludge systems. This state-of-the-art course covers important considerations for selecting aerobic granular sludge, kinetics of aerobic granular sludge, process control, design considerations, and resource recovery aspects. Case studies, including the Nereda® technology are also part of the course materials, as well as examples and exercises to expand and check your knowledge on the subject. After completion of this course you will understand the basic principles of aerobic granulation and technology, and its applicability to modern wastewater treatment practice.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #12 – Final Settling
Final settling is the most common way of solid-liquid separation in conventional activated sludge systems. The first part of this course deals with functions of secondary settling tanks (clarification, thickening, and storage), different settling tank configurations in practice including most common operational problems, and measurements of sludge settleability. You will also get familiar with the flux theory for the estimation of settling tank capacity and other methods for the design and operation of secondary settling tanks such as empirical design, WRC design, ATV design, and STOWA design. At the end of the course, you will be able to compare settlers designed using different methods. Modelling approaches to secondary settlers are also included as well as examples and exercises to test and broaden your knowledge. Case studies and standard experimental methods for the evaluation of sludge settling properties are also part of this informative curriculum.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #13 – Membrane Bioreactors
Filtration of activated sludge by membranes is an emerging technology in wastewater treatment substituting traditional settling tanks for solid-liquid separation. This innovative course covers the fundamental principles of membrane separation and provides an overview of membrane reactors. You will also learn about the performance and effluent quality of membrane bioreactors (MBR), membrane fouling and control, cleaning procedures of fouled membranes, and other fouling control methods. Part of the curriculum deals with MBR plant design, operation and maintenance, and practical applications, including case studies. The course also explains the future trends in MBR technology and includes a myriad of examples and exercises. By the end of this course, you will have advanced knowledge about MBR systems that will enable you to approach this technology with increased confidence based on stronger competence.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #14 – Modelling Activated Sludge Processes
This interesting course is designed for those who wish to learn about the modelling of activated sludge processes, and it includes modelling basics, aim and scope, model building and general set-up, stoichiometry, kinetics, transport and matrix notation. You will also get deep insight into the stepwise development of the biokinetic model ASM1 and the fundamentals of other activated sludge models (ASM). The ASM toolbox is introduced as well as modelling challenges and future trends. The course covers a variety of modelling case studies and a couple of examples of integrated modelling of sewer systems, wastewater treatment plants, and receiving waters using different models and modelling simulators. By the end of the course, you will be ready to embark on modelling studies.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #15 – Process Control
This interesting course deals with process control and automation in wastewater treatment. It explains the driving forces and motivation for control, disturbances in wastewater treatment systems, the role of control and automation, instrumentation and monitoring equipment and many other operational aspects. You will learn about the importance of dynamics, manipulated variables and actuators (e.g. hydraulic variables, chemical and carbon addition, and air or oxygen supply), and basic control concepts. Examples of feedback in wastewater treatment systems are also included, as well as integration and plant-wide control and implication of process control on costs. The course is rich in practical examples and is invaluable for those who want to deepen their insight in this important area of wastewater treatment.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #16 – Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment
The course entails the definition and environmental benefits of anaerobic wastewater treatment processes, microbiology of anaerobic conversions (e.g. hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, methanogenesis), prediction of methane production, impacts of alternative electron acceptors, working with COD balances, immobilization and sludge granulation, etc. You will also get insight into various anaerobic reactor systems, and in particular upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors, and anaerobic process kinetics. Anaerobic treatment of domestic and municipal sewage and black water in new sanitation systems is also part of the course. Finally, you will test and expand your knowledge by studying examples and exercises and you will enjoy a variety of international case studies specially prepared for this course.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
MOOC Series on Biological Wastewater Treatment: Course #17 – Biofilm Modelling and Reactors
This novel course teaches about biofilm modelling and reactors in wastewater treatment. It starts with the definition of biofilms, motivation for modelling and modelling approaches for a biofilm, and deals with in-depth insights in modelling components and steps in the process. It provides explanation of biofilm reactor modelling in practice, derived and model parameters, and available modelling tools. The second part of the course deals with various biofilm reactors (trickling filters, rotating biological contactors, submerged fixed-bed biofilm reactors, fluidized and expanded-bed reactors, granular sludge reactors, moving-bed biofilm reactors, hybrid biofilm/activated sludge reactors, and membrane-attached biofilm rectors). You will also learn about design parameters and how to determine maximum design fluxes and loading rates, and several other design considerations. In addition, several examples and exercises are included in the course.
IHE Delft Institute for Water Education