Arctic WASH Online Course

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.