The course is organized into seven units:

• Weeks 1-2: Pre-reading phase with two introductory units that provide fundamental background into humanitarian response and the role of WASH and public health.
• Weeks 3-10: Intensive phase with five technical units that explore the key issues in safe water supply.

Units A & B are delivered mainly through curated readings during the first two weeks of the course. Units 1-5 represent the main technical content of the course, delivered through a mix of readings, lectures, and group problem-based learning activities.

The total course time commitment is approximately 70 hours over 12 weeks. Participants should be ready to commit  around 6 hours per week over the course of the 12 weeks.

Content may be subject to change.

Unit A: Humanitarian principles, Standards, and Structures

• Human rights, international law, and the humanitarian principles.
• Humanitarian standards: Sphere and The Core Humanitarian Standard.
• Technical standards relevant to water supply systems in emergencies.
• Overview of the Cluster Approach, humanitarian coordination structures and mechanisms.
• Accountability, feedback, and community engagement.

Unit B: WASH and Public Health

• Water supply-related infectious diseases, transmission pathways and risk factors.
• Key concepts in epidemiology.
• Chemical water quality and human health.
• The role of WASH interventions in addressing environmental health risks.

Unit 1: Water Quality Characterization and Risk Assessment

• Biological, chemical, and physical dimensions of water quality.
• Linking water quality to acute and chronic health risks.
• Aesthetic aspects of water quality.
• Laboratory- and field-based methods for biological, chemical, and physical water quality testing,
• Water quality monitoring in humanitarian settings.
• Raw water quality impacts on water treatment processes.
• Water Safety Planning, risk assessment and management.

Unit 2: Water Source Development in Emergencies

• Quantifying water needs.
• Water supply initial assessments.
• Basic hydrological model, catchment scale analysis.
• Evolution of water supplies from acute to stabilized contexts.
• Developing and protecting ground and surface water sources.

Unit 3: Water Treatment in Emergencies

• Multiple-barrier concept of water treatment.
• Key treatment principles: coagulation and flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and chemical disinfection.
• Typical treatment plant configurations for surface and groundwater sources.
• Advanced processes for specific ion and mineral removal (e.g. reverse osmosis).
• The role of household and decentralized treatment options.
• Water chlorination for residual protection and monitoring.

Unit 4: Distribution and Safe Water Chain

• Manual and powered groundwater abstraction options.
• Pump and power sizing concepts, including solar power.
• Water trucking in emergency water supply operations.
• Water network design considerations and practicalities.
• Basic hydraulic principles in pumped and gravity flow systems.
• Maintaining the safe water chain.
• Role of community engagement in designing equitable and appropriate water supply systems.
• Water supply operations and maintenance.

Unit 5: Outbreak Preparedness and Response

• Water-related components of outbreak preparedness and response planing.
• Water supplies for healthcare facilities.
• Maintaining effective safe water supplies as a component of outbreak response.
• Multi-sector coordination in outbreak response settings.