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Arctic WASH Online Course

Arctic Wash

Are you a student or a practitioner interested in WASH knowledge for arctic climates? Then you should have a look at our newly developed Online Course “Arctic Water Sanitation and Health (Arctic WASH)”! 

This knowledge platform aims at fostering interactive and practical learning and makes relevant knowledge accessible for users around the world. The Arctic WASH Online Course helps you to apply scientific and administrative knowledge to develop solutions under the harsh climate conditions of the Arctic. Here you will find background information as well as solutions for decentralized water treatment technologies.

The Arctic is the coldest and one of the least populated regions in the world. This creates specific challenges for sustainable sanitation and water management. Today, drinking- and wastewater treatment systems in Arctic regions are under serious pressure. The wastewater treatment ranges from the application of mechanical treatment plants to passive treatment systems consisting of waste stabilization ponds (WSPs), natural or engineered wetlands, and composting or bucket toilets. In many of the poorer communities’ human excreta/wastewater receives no treatment at all. Melting permafrost zones add increasing vulnerability to physical structures and community-based water services. These poor sanitary conditions, often combined with inadequate water supply, give rise to different health problems that compound with Arctic environmental health issues.

Discharge of wastewater into the vulnerable ecosystems in the Arctic may also require different technologies or system designs than those used in warmer climates. Currently, limited information exists about water handling facilities in the Arctic, resulting in considerable uncertainties about the performance and environmental sustainability of existing or potentially different future systems. Changing paradigms aspiring to closed-loop systems and economies also need to be considered for water and sanitation services, such as resource recovery for energy, nutrients and water – yet many institutional and governance barriers inhibit this change.

By following this course, you will get sector specific insights and hands-on knowledge from experts from Arctic universities around the world. The course is structured into 5 modules. In each of the modules you will find short video lectures, as well as literature references, extensive audiotaped lectures, quizzes and useful web links. 

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arctic wash

The "Arctic WASH" Online Course was developed by the SSWM team in collaboration with the Norwegian University of Lifesciences (NMBU), the University of Alberta (UsA-Can), Canada; the University of Alaska (UoA-US),USA; the Technical University of Denmark (DTU); the Northern State Medical University (NSMU), Russia and the International Joint Research Centre for Arctic Ecosystem and Environment (IJRC-EAA) at the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) in China.

It is based on the training course “Sustainable Water Sanitation and Health in the Arctic”, but it is useful for a larger audience learning or teaching in higher-education institutions or for WASH practitioners all over the world involved or interested in sustainable Arctic WASH solutions.

This course material is part of the project "Network for capacity building in water sanitation and health in the Arctic (NorCan)" funded by the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Education (SiU) and coordinated by the Norwegian university of Life Sciences (NMBU) and the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.   

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Main Contributors:  

Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU)
http://www.nmbu.no

Logo UMB

University of Alberta (UsA-Can)
https://www.ualberta.ca/

UA Logo
University of Alaska (UoA-US)
https://www.uaa.alaska.edu/

 

UAA Logo

 

The Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
www.dtu.dk/

DTU logo

 

Northern State Medical University (NSMU)
www.nsmu.ru

NSMU Logo

 

Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT)
en.hit.edu.cn/

HIT Logo

 

Created by:  

seecon gmbh

Responsible for video production:
Sarah Märki

General Coordination:
Celia Schmidt

seecon Logo

The first Module of the Online Course evolves around the introduction to Arctic WASH, including the relevance of the topic, key challenges and solutions related to ongoing developments.

The Arctic is undergoing dramatic changes in its climate that will make the region increasingly accessible for economic development, including resource extraction, tourism, and new transportation corridors through the region. Existing infrastructure in the Arctic region will be challenged to deal with increasing water use and waste generated from these developments, in addition to the treatment of municipal drinking water and wastewater (sewage) from its growing communities. It is urgent that strategies are developed to meet relevant environmental effluent regulations and safeguard/restore and improve the health of Arctic communities and the environment.

This module provides insights about “Environment, Pollution levels and Implications”. A general overview of wastewater constituents is given. Wastewater as concept, its origin, characteristics and terminology will be introduced. Furthermore, an introductory overview on present strategies for handling of wastewater in the circumpolar Arctic is given. In the further reading material, more resources are available that cover the evidence on levels and trends in raw wastewater and linked to contamination sources and water bodies into which it is discharged. Fate and environmental effects of constituents such as organics, nutrients, metals, medical residues and health care products are discussed in terms of the Arctic context and referred to local, regional and global environmental challenges. An introduction to the microbiota including pathogenic and antibiotic resistant bacteria and virus of raw wastewater as well as recipients in the Arctic is given.

This module will introduce and explore several of the human health dimensions of rural sanitation in the arctic, including, but not limited to, the importance of the active engagement of community members with scientists and professionals in the development of a shared understanding of the nature of the challenges and potential solutions, and the possible applications of technology and engineering to solve identified problems. A systematic multi-disciplinary, public health approach recognizes the value of the experience, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of the community-based user along with excreta and wastewater collection methods, transportation or conveyance of waste, treatment, and technical approaches to disposal and possible reuse.

Module 3 Icon

Module 4 contains information on the Technology. The lectures will cover centralized water and wastewater treatment in colder climates, water supply in cold climates, considerations for water and wastewater utilities in cold regions, the history of places and projects associated with water and sanitation in Canada as well as wastewater regulation harmonization for the Canadian north.

Current wastewater treatment systems (WWTS) in Arctic regions range from use of mechanical treatment plants or passive treatment systems as waste stabilization ponds (WSPs), natural or engineered wetlands, to composting or bucket toilets and surface discharge of greywater. In many of the poorer communities human excreta/wastewater receives no treatment. ”Honey buckets” are often used for excreta collection prior to disposal directly into the receiving environment and greywater is discharged without any treatment. Melting permafrost zones add increasing vulnerability to physical structures and community based water services, which compounds problems resulting from sociological changes in the High-North. Limited information exists about WWTS in the Arctic, resulting in considerable uncertainties about the performance and environmental sustainability of existing or potentially different future systems. Discharge of wastewater into the vulnerable ecosystems in the Arctic may also require different technologies or system designs than those used in warmer climates and the high cost of infrastructure for transport of water may call for more decentralized systems.

To better understand trade-offs with alternative options for water supply and wastewater handling in the Arctic, tools for systems analyses will be described (based on life-cycle assessments), along with ones specifically addressing pathogen risks. For the latter, quantitative microbial risk assessment is now used by agencies like WHO and U.S. EPA to establish treatment requirements and inform management strategies, as used in water and sanitation safety plans. The rationale for these tools will be covered, along with application and how they can inform WASH decisions for circumpolar communities.

Modul 5 will give a synthesis and perspectives on Arctic Wash. Water management is a vital part of our day-to-day needs regardless of national, political, cultural and societal structures. However, today in the northern and arctic communities, across all nationalities, water accessibility and waste water treatment are considered an even larger challenge compared with the available standards developed for middle latitude communities. Small arctic settlements are largely scattered over a vast area and are often isolated, preventing them of communicating with other locations during large parts of the year. Transportation of goods is limited and very expensive, leading to high subsistence costs compared to the more densely populated regions of our globe. Generally, all required infrastructures and technological solutions in the settlements need to be established and maintained throughout the year. Thus, technological solutions in isolated Arctic communities are often not state-of-the art and usually require strong individual involvement on a household-to-household level. The lack of automated supply systems both for clean water accessibility, as well as suitable treatment of used water (sewage and brown water), is often associated with potential hygienic and other health associated consequences on both an individual and a community level in the north. Therefore, new sanitation strategies adapted to the environmental and local needs of Arctic communities must be developed and applied.

Image M5

Module 1: Introduction

The first Module of the Online Course evolves around the introduction to Arctic WASH, including the relevance of the topic, key challenges and solutions related to ongoing developments.

The Arctic is undergoing dramatic changes in its climate that will make the region increasingly accessible for economic development, including resource extraction, tourism, and new transportation corridors through the region. Existing infrastructure in the Arctic region will be challenged to deal with increasing water use and waste generated from these developments, in addition to the treatment of municipal drinking water and wastewater (sewage) from its growing communities. It is urgent that strategies are developed to meet relevant environmental effluent regulations and safeguard/restore and improve the health of Arctic communities and the environment.

Module 2: Environment, Pollution Levels & Implications

This module provides insights about “Environment, Pollution levels and Implications”. A general overview of wastewater constituents is given. Wastewater as concept, its origin, characteristics and terminology will be introduced. Furthermore, an introductory overview on present strategies for handling of wastewater in the circumpolar Arctic is given. In the further reading material, more resources are available that cover the evidence on levels and trends in raw wastewater and linked to contamination sources and water bodies into which it is discharged. Fate and environmental effects of constituents such as organics, nutrients, metals, medical residues and health care products are discussed in terms of the Arctic context and referred to local, regional and global environmental challenges. An introduction to the microbiota including pathogenic and antibiotic resistant bacteria and virus of raw wastewater as well as recipients in the Arctic is given.

Module 3: Health & Risk Assessment

This module will introduce and explore several of the human health dimensions of rural sanitation in the arctic, including, but not limited to, the importance of the active engagement of community members with scientists and professionals in the development of a shared understanding of the nature of the challenges and potential solutions, and the possible applications of technology and engineering to solve identified problems. A systematic multi-disciplinary, public health approach recognizes the value of the experience, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of the community-based user along with excreta and wastewater collection methods, transportation or conveyance of waste, treatment, and technical approaches to disposal and possible reuse.

Module 4: Technology

Module 4 contains information on the Technology. The lectures will cover centralized water and wastewater treatment in colder climates, water supply in cold climates, considerations for water and wastewater utilities in cold regions, the history of places and projects associated with water and sanitation in Canada as well as wastewater regulation harmonization for the Canadian north.

Current wastewater treatment systems (WWTS) in Arctic regions range from use of mechanical treatment plants or passive treatment systems as waste stabilization ponds (WSPs), natural or engineered wetlands, to composting or bucket toilets and surface discharge of greywater. In many of the poorer communities human excreta/wastewater receives no treatment. ”Honey buckets” are often used for excreta collection prior to disposal directly into the receiving environment and greywater is discharged without any treatment. Melting permafrost zones add increasing vulnerability to physical structures and community based water services, which compounds problems resulting from sociological changes in the High-North. Limited information exists about WWTS in the Arctic, resulting in considerable uncertainties about the performance and environmental sustainability of existing or potentially different future systems. Discharge of wastewater into the vulnerable ecosystems in the Arctic may also require different technologies or system designs than those used in warmer climates and the high cost of infrastructure for transport of water may call for more decentralized systems.

To better understand trade-offs with alternative options for water supply and wastewater handling in the Arctic, tools for systems analyses will be described (based on life-cycle assessments), along with ones specifically addressing pathogen risks. For the latter, quantitative microbial risk assessment is now used by agencies like WHO and U.S. EPA to establish treatment requirements and inform management strategies, as used in water and sanitation safety plans. The rationale for these tools will be covered, along with application and how they can inform WASH decisions for circumpolar communities.

Module 5: Synthesis and Perspectives

Modul 5 will give a synthesis and perspectives on Arctic Wash. Water management is a vital part of our day-to-day needs regardless of national, political, cultural and societal structures. However, today in the northern and arctic communities, across all nationalities, water accessibility and waste water treatment are considered an even larger challenge compared with the available standards developed for middle latitude communities. Small arctic settlements are largely scattered over a vast area and are often isolated, preventing them of communicating with other locations during large parts of the year. Transportation of goods is limited and very expensive, leading to high subsistence costs compared to the more densely populated regions of our globe. Generally, all required infrastructures and technological solutions in the settlements need to be established and maintained throughout the year. Thus, technological solutions in isolated Arctic communities are often not state-of-the art and usually require strong individual involvement on a household-to-household level. The lack of automated supply systems both for clean water accessibility, as well as suitable treatment of used water (sewage and brown water), is often associated with potential hygienic and other health associated consequences on both an individual and a community level in the north. Therefore, new sanitation strategies adapted to the environmental and local needs of Arctic communities must be developed and applied.

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M3: Further Material

Factsheet Block Title
Case Study
Factsheet Block Title
Test your knowledge with this quiz!

M5 – Lecture 1: Water management in Arctic communities

Author/Compiled by
Roland Kallenborn, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) &University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS)
Executive Summary

Water management is a vital part of our day-to-day needs regardless of national, political, cultural and societal structures. However, today in the northern and arctic communities, across all nationalities, water accessibility and waste water treatment are considered an even larger challenge compared with the available standards developed for middle latitude communities. Small arctic settlements are largely scattered over a vast area and are often isolated, preventing them of communicating with other locations during large parts of the year. Transportation of goods is limited and very expensive, leading to high subsistence costs compared to the more densely populated regions of our globe. Generally, all required infrastructures and technological solutions in the settlements need to be established and maintained throughout the year. Thus, technological solutions in isolated Arctic communities are often not state-of-the art and usually require strong individual involvement on a household-to-household level. The lack of automated supply systems both for clean water accessibility, as well as suitable treatment of used water (sewage and brown water), is often associated with potential hygienic and other health associated consequences on both an individual and a community level in the north. Therefore, new sanitation strategies adapted to the environmental and local needs of Arctic communities must be developed and applied.

Factsheet Block Title
Background Information
Factsheet Block Body

The Arctic region, stretching over 14 million square kilometers, is only inhabited by approximately 4 Million people. The human populations of the north, regardless of national and traditional identity, are mainly found in near-coast settlements and roughly half of the entire Arctic population are settled in the Russian Arctic. The scattered distribution of the settlements pose considerable challenges for the establishing of modern water management. Drinking water supply as well as waste water handling in Arctic settlements is characterised by decentralised infrastructures and minimal cleaning technologies for drinking water and sewage.

Although all circum-Arctic nations have established national guidelines for water quality and supply as well as sanitation and waste water handling, the conventional technological solutions and requirements are often not applicable in Arctic conditions. The lack of standardized and state-of-the art water supply and treatment technologies in Arctic communities is today considered a major reason for the documented spreading of various waterborne and respiratory diseases in the north.  The documented water scarcity often leads to reduced hygiene practices, reuse of water and the use of untreated water for daily activities. Thus, adjusted and balanced community strategies for water conservation and supply, coordinated with advancements in the development of adopted technological solutions, are needed to cope with the current water supply shortage and lack of sewage and water treatment. This includes training of individuals (and households) in order avoid potential health consequences. Therefore, community based participatory research for solutions is considered the best way forward in the search for the optimal solutions.

Factsheet Block Title
Learning objectives
Factsheet Block Body

Upon completing the lecture, the students will know that:

  • The current water management strategies in Arctic communities consist of solutions for water supply, as well as sanitation strategies (sewage, brown water)
  • Water management in the Arctic has a complex structure consisting of local tradition, societal context, technological solutions and economic frameworks.
  • Appropriate solutions for these complex challenges can only be found through integrated collaboration between local communities and the scientists and engineers involved in providing suitable technological platforms.
Library References

Water Supply and Sanitation in Chukotka and Yakutia, Russian Arctic

The present report was aimed at evaluating the water supply and sanitation in two Far Eastern regions of Russian Arctic – the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and Yakutia (Sakha) Republic. This report will review information regarding water accessibility, types of service water to households, use of water pretreatment, availability of sewerage, and use of sewage treatment in these two regions. This report will highlight the public health challenges for WASH service in these regions.

DUDAREV, A. A. (2018): Water Supply and Sanitation in Chukotka and Yakutia, Russian Arctic. In: International Journal of Circumpolar Health: Volume 77 URL [Accessed: 07.06.2018] PDF

Greenlandic water and sanitation - a context oriented analysis of system challenges towards local sustainable development

HENDRIKSEN, K. HOFFMANN, B. (2018): Greenlandic water and sanitation - a context oriented analysis of system challenges towards local sustainable development. In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research: Volume 25 Issue 33, 33014–33024. URL [Accessed: 25.01.2019]

Improving health in the Arctic region through safe and affordable access to household running water and sewer services

In this review, the authors highlight relevant data and describe an initiative through the Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group to characterize the extent of WASH services in Arctic nations, the related health indicators and climate-related vulnerabilities to WASH services. With this as a baseline, efforts to build collaborations across the Arctic will be undertaken to promote innovations that can extend the benefits of water and sanitation services to all residents.

HENNESSY, T.W. and BRESSLER, J.M. (2016): Improving health in the Arctic region through safe and affordable access to household running water and sewer services. an Arctic Council initiative. International Journal of Circumpolar Health URL [Accessed: 02.08.2018] PDF

Food and water security issues in Russia II: water security in general population of Russian Arctic, Siberia and Far East

DUDAREV, A.A. DUSHKINA, E.V. SLADKOVA, Y.N. ALLOYAROV, P.R. CHUPAKHIN, V.S. DOROFEYEV, V.M. KOLESNIKOVA, T.A. FRIDMAN, K.B. EVENGARD, B. NILSSON, L.M. (2013): Food and water security issues in Russia II: water security in general population of Russian Arctic, Siberia and Far East. In: International Journal of Circumpolar Health : Issue 72, 22646. URL [Accessed: 25.01.2019] PDF

Food and water security issues in Russia III: food- and waterborne diseases in the Russian Arctic, Siberia and the Far East

DUDAREV, A.A. DOROFEYEV, V.M. DUSHKINA, E.V. ALLOYAROV, P.R. CHUPAKHIN, V.S. SLADKOVA, Y.N. KOLESNIKOVA, T.A. FRIDMAN, K.B. NILSSON, L.M. EVENGARD, B. (2013): Food and water security issues in Russia III: food- and waterborne diseases in the Russian Arctic, Siberia and the Far East. In: International journal of circumpolar health: Issue 72, 21856. URL [Accessed: 25.01.2019] PDF