3744 - Urban Water Issues

Course Description

The 10-module course examines a wide range of water issues in the urban environment, including water supply challenges, unsafe drinking water, water pollution, overconsumption of water resources, inadequate wastewater treatment, and degradation of urban streams and rivers. Course content covers conventional approaches to urban water management, along with new thinking and emerging approaches to address pressing water-related issues.

Sustainable strategies, based on the view of urban water infrastructure and services as a socio-technical system and the goal of a circular water economy, are emphasized. The need to transition towards sustainable urban water management is vital and pressing due to environmental concerns, social equity, increasing urbanization, and climate change. The context of the course is primarily North America, with additional material and perspectives drawn from other parts of the world. Course format consists of weekly readings, videos, asynchronous online discussions, synchronous webinars, and written assignments to explore key topics.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course you’ll be able to:

• Understand the importance of the circular water economy and related strategies known as the 4 Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle and recover) that enable sustainable use of water resources.
• Appreciate the options for increasing water supply where needed by means of alternative water sources and know constructive measures to protect and maintain drinking water quality
• Grasp the potential for reuse and recovery of useful resources from wastewater, such as nutrients and energy.
• Recognize that water demand management can effectively reduce excessive water consumption, and know various strategies and tools that fall under this approach.
• Understand the role of green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, green roofs and permeable pavements, in reducing urban runoff and mitigating flooding.
• Know general strategies and techniques for restoration of degraded streams and rivers in urban areas.
• Be familiar with examples of cities worldwide that are making progress towards sustainable urban water management and develop an action plan for a North American city.

This course may be applied towards the SCS Certificate(s) in

• Sustainable Water Management : Required Courses