Module Identifier EAM1820  
Module Title WATER QUALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIOLOGY  
Academic Year 2004/2005  
Co-ordinator Professor David Kay  
Semester Semester 2  
Course delivery Lecture   20 Hours  
  Seminars / Tutorials   10 Hours  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment Coursework Unit on one case study (5000 words)80%
Semester Assessment Group Presentation and role play20%
Supplementary Assessment Resubmission of failed elements of coursework 

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Describe and evaluate the epidemiological and other evidence bases for the establishment of microbiological and chemical standards for water quality.

2. Describe the methods of disease burden assessment at the exposed population and global levels used by WHO.

3. Examine the political process leading to standards which filters epidemiology, via WHO expert committees, thence via the political process in organizations such as the EU.

Brief description

Structures around 10 2 hour sessions involving lectures, seminars, student presentations and role playing exercises.

Content

  1. Basic epidemiological concepts, study design, and critique
  2. Statistics used in epidemiology, relative risk. odds ratio
  3. Case study of microbiological standards development (Directive 76/160/EEC)
  4. Case study of microbiological standards development (Directive 76/160/EEC)
  5. Case study of chemical standards development and animal models used in standards design (the copper case study)
  6. Case study of chemical standards development and animal models used in standards design (the copper case study)
  7. International agencies, their roles, power and limitations WHO/EU
  8. National Government responsibilities
  9. The new management paradigm, from numerical compliance to HACCP for water safety planning and sanitary risk control

Reading Lists

Journals
** Recommended Text
Kay et al., (In press) The scientific basis of the new WHO Guidelines for recreational waters. Water Research

Technical Reports
(2003) Guidelines for safe recreational water environments Vol I. WHO Geneva
(2002) EU Draft Bathing Water Directive. COM 22.10.03
(2003) WHO Water safety plans. WHO Geneva.
(2004) WHO Guidelines for drinking water quality. WHO Geneva.
(2004) Guidelines for safe recreational water environments Vol II. WHO Geneva

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7