Civil & Environmental Engrg 597B - PotableWater/Small&DisadvComms

Access to and the provision of safe drinking water is essential for human life, yet provision of such services is challenging, even within the USA. In this course, we examine the physical, technical, political, economic, and social factors that affect the provision of water in rural and disadvantaged communities. Interdisciplinary teams of students will work together over the semester to study, visit, and make recommendations as to how to address problems from a specific nearby public water system (i.e., the "study site" or "field site"). The study site(s) will be selected by the course instructors in consultation with the New England state water administrators. The instructors will then work with each of the student teams to begin addressing the problems at the assigned study sites. This will include: (1) documenting the system and its challenges based on existing records at the state offices and community files; (2) identification of the key stakeholders, (3) on-site or video meetings with those key stakeholders; (4) development of a preliminary report on the system needs, problems, and solutions already proposed by the stakeholders; (5) development of a plan and report including proposals for new, alternative solutions to the identified problems. In addition to the problem-based learning activities, students will hear from practitioners in the field, including learn about case studies of innovations and actions taken by entities such as the Res-Eau Community Circle program and (e.g., Community Engineering Corps) to address the challenge of public supply in the USA.

Open to Undergraduate Seniors & Juniors, who have maintained at least a 3.0 GPA. Pre Req: CE-ENGIN 370 Permission from the instructor is needed to enroll in this course