Understanding water quality is crucial in the face of numerous challenges, including climate change, anthropogenic effects on the environment, new-age microbes and chemicals, poor awareness on impact of water on health and inadequate or improper water purification. The objective of this course is to impart knowledge on fundamentals of water quality parameters and standards, theory of water quality measurements, use of appropriate methods and equipment, water quality surveys, and behavioral issues relating to water quality along with hands on measurements in the field with appropriate equipment, leading to building water professionals of tomorrow with a focus on innovation and service.
The course is divided into two parts: theory and practice. The theory classes may be delivered online or offline. The practical component will be completely offline and will involve training and sample collection for the analysis of water across different geographies, generating valuable data on water quality.
Participants will engage in four week-long interactions with citizens to assess their water quality, conducting measurements that contribute to the creation of ‘People’s Water Data’, along with surveys on water quality, to understand cultural, economic, and behavioural aspects affecting water quality. The data collected will be available online for future analysis and evaluation. Water quality kits will be provided to these students and they will be trained in conducting independent analysis, under the supervision of trainers. The data collected will be evaluated independently for their reliability. While this course is designed for anyone interested in the water sector, a background in science may be helpful.
The course will be delivered through lecture modules, assignments, discussions, practical exercises and field measurements over a four-month period. Evaluation will assess the comprehension of theory and the application of understanding through measurements, with assignments and analysis forming part of the evaluation process. Six institutions have collaborated to create this course and the modules will be delivered by eminent water experts and scientists.
Understanding the concepts, data and field realities is expected to kindle an entrepreneurial interest in them.
By the end of the course the learners will be able to:
Identify the major contaminants in drinking water and their impact on health
Understand water quality (WQ) standards across the world and in India
Learn ways of measuring major WQ parameters
Design a field measurement of WQ
Overlap the data with geospatial information
Learn the concept of hydro informatics
Measure WQ parameters in the field
Develop a survey and incorporate the data on online platforms
Model the data generated and assess their use
Profile of the Instructor(s)
Prof. Thalappil Pradeep is an Institute Professor at IITM. He has trained over 300 graduate, masters, and postdoctoral students to do original research and thousands of others in different branches of science and engineering through classroom teaching. He is an author of 7 books, 550 papers, and 120 patents. He has built seven start-up companies. His technologies on clean water have reached 13 million people. He is a fellow of all the science and engineering academies of India, The World Academy of Sciences, the African Academy of Sciences, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has received prestigious recognitions such as the Padma Shri, VinFuture Prize, and Eni Award, among others.
Prof. Hadas Mamamne is a head of the Environmental Engineering Program and the Water-Technology Laboratory at the School of Mechanical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Israel. She specializes in advanced water purification and disinfection. Committed to sustainability, she pioneers point-of-use technologies to provide safe drinking water in low-income areas. As a visiting faculty at IIT Madras, she actively contributes to the development of water treatment technologies. Embracing off-grid solutions, her team explores UV-LED technologies as an innovative alternative to mercury lamps. Furthermore, she conducts smartphone-operated surveys to assess water quality in rural Indian communities.
Prof. Ram Fishman is a Professor of Development Economics at the Department of Public Policy, Tel Aviv University, and directs the Nitsan lab for sustainable development. His focus lies in bridging Israeli innovation with low-income users in developing countries. Specializing in sustainable agriculture, water scarcity, and climate change, he employs field work, experiments, and data analysis. Formerly an assistant professor at George Washington University and a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, Ram holds a Ph.D. in Sustainable Development from Columbia University. His research interests span Sustainable Development, Food, Water, Energy, Climate Change, Agriculture, and Technology Adoption.
Prof. Ligy Philip, IIT Madras Chair Professor, excels in Civil Engineering. A Fellow of the National Academy of Engineers (FNAE) and the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), she holds a Ph.D. from IIT Kanpur. Her research spans industrial effluent treatment, bioremediation, innovative drinking water processes, and sustainable waste management. Recognized globally, her tech solutions benefit industries and NGOs. As a pollution control consultant, she aids global sanitation projects with organizations like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Serving on expert committees for the National Green Tribunal and pollution boards, Prof. Philip executes socially impactful projects, implementing sustainable water and waste management in five villages.
Dr. G. Velmurugan, a Scientist at KMCH Research Foundation, Coimbatore, India, holds a Ph.D. from Madurai Kamaraj University and underwent training at Cologne University (Germany), IIT Madras, & University of Florida (USA). Specializing in the interaction between chemicals and microbes in diverse environments, especially water, he researches into its implications on ecosystems and human health. Recognized with the Young Investigator award from the Association of Microbiologists of India and the International Society for Microbial Ecology, Dr. Velmurugan’s perspective revolves around microbiota. His team aims to leverage microbiota for addressing global challenges, including water pollution, climate change, and human diseases.
Eligibility & Fees
Participants must have background in science at some stage in their academic preparation. Final year B.E./B.Tech., M.E./M.Tech, M.Sc./M.A., Ph.D. and equivalent students may join.
Exempt for IITM students
a. Registration for theory: Rs 1180 (Rs 1000 + 18% GST)
Theory Sessions:Rs.1000 + 18% GST (payable now)
Practicals and Consumables:Rs.4000 + 18% GST (payable later, after 2 months)
Course Essentials
Students should utilize a Gmail account for course registration to streamline the process and enhance their user experience.
While attending lectures and viewing videos can be done on tabs and mobile phones, it is crucial to utilize a laptop or desktop for submitting assignments, quizzes, and the end-semester exam. This ensures accurate submission and entry on your course page.
For the end-semester exam, it is vital to have a reliable power source and uninterrupted power backup. Participants are responsible for ensuring the timely submission of exam answers within the stipulated timeframe to be considered for certification.
Intended Audience
Final year B.E./B.tech, BS/BS-MS/M.E./M/tech., M.Sc., or PhD and equivalent students with a science background.
Certification
To qualify for certification, participants must meet the following criteria: regular attendance, complete all assignments satisfactorily, and achieve a passing grade in the end-semester exam. The overall minimum percentage required for certification is 65%. The final decision regarding certification rests with the course coordinator.
Topics Covered
A. Water quality: Concepts
Water cycle: An introduction
Clean water: A discussion of potable water
Microbial, chemical, heavy metals, radiological and particulate matter pollution
Measurements and units
Accuracy and precision
Sampling and guidelines
B. Water quality: Parameters
Water quality parameters: Common parameters such as temperature, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, oxidation-reduction potential, turbidity and their implications
Microbial contamination in drinking water and its implications
Common chemical contaminants such as ammonia, nitrate, chloride, BOD and TOC, in drinking water
Pesticides, weedicides, and specific examples
Emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, personnel care products, PFAS, etc.Ligy Philip,
Heavy metals in drinking water and implications
Arsenic in water as an example
Turbidity and its implications
Radiological parameters
Limits of contaminants in water: Guidelines and their origin
Enforcement agencies and their role: Legal guidelines
Microbial diversity in water and antimicrobial resistance
C. Water quality measurements
Measuring water quality: Instrumentation for common WQ parameters
Calibration, validation of accuracy, quality control of sensors and kits, use of standards
Physical and chemical disinfection: Measurement methods
Heavy metals: Measurement methods
Turbidity measurements
Ultra-trace measurement of water quality
Risks of wastewater contamination in WQ
D. Water quality survey (source and household)
Field test kits (FTKs)
Geo-spatial coordinates, their detection and incorporation in data
Survey research: An introduction
Statistical analysis of water data
Common water purification methods and technologies at the household level and in rural communities
Field measurements: Guidelines to the specific techniques being used
Hydroinformatics: An introduction
E. Measurement, behavior and impact
Water related practices in the household
Behavioral obstacles to improving water quality
The role of measurement and information in changing behavior
F. Work in the field Instructors
Training, data and analysis with FTKs and equipment
Analysis of data
Innovations using water quality data: A discussion
Course Schedule
Last day of registration: 17th January, 2025
Course Duration: Commencing January 27 – Ending April, 2025
Session Days : Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Session Timing : 05:00 p.m. – 05:50 p.m. (IST)
Contact for Support
For any queries related to the course, you may please write to:
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