Urban Water and Sanitation Planning for Developing Cities

Rapidly expanding cities face unprecedented challenges in providing safe, reliable water and sanitation services. Understanding how to design, fund, and manage these critical infrastructure systems is essential for sustainable urban development. This course provides a comprehensive foundation in urban service planning, focusing on the unique socio-economic and technical realities of developing regions. You will transition from understanding basic infrastructure concepts to analyzing complex delivery networks and policy frameworks. Through structured written lessons, you will explore real-world planning methodologies, modern decentralized sanitation solutions, and financial sustainability models. What you'll learn: - Understand the core principles of urban water distribution and sanitation planning. - Analyze service delivery challenges in high-density, informal settlements. - Evaluate modern decentralized and climate-resilient infrastructure options. - Apply financial planning and cost-recovery models for municipal utilities. - Formulate community-engaged policy frameworks to improve service equity. The course begins with fundamental concepts of municipal water cycles and infrastructure governance before moving into technical planning parameters, financing strategies, and modern sustainable practices. It is designed for beginners, aspiring urban planners, and development enthusiasts, with no prior engineering or municipal planning experience required. Start building the knowledge needed to solve critical urban utility challenges today.