Water and Sanitation Infrastructure Planning in Developing Countries

Access to clean water and safe sanitation is one of the most critical challenges facing rapidly growing cities in developing nations. Planning these essential systems requires a deep understanding of engineering, public policy, and local community needs. This text-only course provides a comprehensive introduction to the planning, design, and implementation of sustainable water and sanitation infrastructure under resource-constrained conditions. You will start with core concepts, learning the fundamental definitions, global standards, and public health principles that guide modern infrastructure planning. From there, you will explore practical frameworks for assessing community needs, evaluating technology options, and designing resilient systems. What you will learn: Understand the foundational principles of water supply, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure; Analyze the socio-economic and environmental factors that influence infrastructure planning in developing countries; Evaluate decentralized and centralized sanitation technologies for urban and peri-urban contexts; Apply financial planning, cost-recovery models, and governance frameworks to ensure project sustainability; Integrate climate resilience and modern water resource management principles into infrastructure designs. The course begins with foundational terminology and policy frameworks before moving into practical planning methodologies, financial modeling, and real-world case studies. This course is designed for beginners, aspiring urban planners, development practitioners, and civil engineering students with no prior experience in infrastructure planning. Start reading today to build the skills needed to design clean, resilient, and equitable water systems for communities that need them most.