Appropriate Engineering Technology for Improving Sanitation in Developing Communities

Instructors:  Bill Fleenor and Mimi Jenkins, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering

Description: This class will explore the global challenge posed by the 2.4 billion people who lack basic sanitation in their homes and solutions that can help address this development problem.  The course will present the student with the concept of the need to design and use technologies appropriate to the community being served.  The material will include the need for considering cultural, economic, and institutional contexts as well as the concept and need for the technology implemented to be sustainable within the community.  The course will address public health dimensions of improving sanitation at the household level, alternative on-site sanitation technologies, their operation and performance, consumer behavior and preferences, and excreta management and implementation concepts for developing on-site sanitation systems and projects in a developing community.

The objective of the class is not only to contribute to new and ongoing development projects in an effective way, but also to expand the dimensions of experience for emerging engineers.  It is our vision that this is a primary path to achieving a more sustainable world, without suffering the consequences of engineering projects that are socially, culturally, or economically inappropriate.

Format: The seminar will meet once each week for 2 hours.  The time will be divided between informal lectures by the instructors and other practicing engineers with development experience as well as discussion of various reading materials supplied to the students.  Data gathering and analysis exercises in and outside class will provide opportunities to gain practical insight into on-site sanitation design concepts.  There is no text for the class.  Grading: Students will be required to write a technology evaluation report and present it in class, accounting for (1/2) of their grade.  The balance of the grade will be based on quality and frequency of class participation (1/2).