Photo: Lars Skov Andersen

Danish water experts advise students 

Two of COWI's environmental specialists are among the authors of a new international textbook on Water Supply and Wastewater Management in the Tropics.

Tomorrow's environmental engineers do not study theoretical compendia, they learn from real-life projects conducted in developing countries, too.

In the new textbook being used at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), two of COWI's specialists contribute knowledge gained through countless water supply and sanitation projects performed in Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia.

Gather experience

The book gathers experience from more than 30 years of Danish developmental assistance and research, and is being used at DTU's international M.Sc. course in Environmental Management.

While two thirds of the students participate in lectures at DTU, the remaining third – who live as far apart as Malaysia in the east to Nicaragua in the west – can follow the lectures live over the Internet.

Integrated environmental projects

"It is important that the students understand how to implement an integrated environmental project. They must obtain an overview of the technical aspects such as controlling leaks on distribution systems and introducing water-saving taps and toilets, but they also need to become familiar with all the peripheral aspects of a project," says Lars Skov Andersen, geologist at COWI, co-author of the book and guest lecturer at DTU.
Photo: Lars Skov Andersen


"The students must learn how to set prices and tariffs for water and wastewater that encourage the population to use enough water to maintain acceptable levels of hygiene, but at the same time penalise over-consumption and provide sufficient earnings for the water companies to operate. This is a delicate balance."

Generous portions of experience

Lars Skov Andersen has, among other things, been a team leader of three major projects in China and Vietnam, where he helped to set up Danida’s water sector program, for which he later became chief technical advisor.

In the book, Lars Skov Andersen explains how to improve existing clean water and wastewater systems, how to train local managers, employees and consultants and how to run information campaigns.

Michael Jacobsen, Senior Economist in COWI, describes the financial tools and how to make sure that a project remains within its budget.

"The book is arriving at a time when there is increasing international focus on water supply and sanitation," says Lars Skov Andersen.

Improved living conditions

"The UN has set eight Millennium Development Goals for improved living conditions in developing countries. One of these is to reduce the number of people in the world who do not have access to clean water or hygienic sanitation by 50 per cent. before 2015. In the future this will lead to greater international awareness and more financial support for environmental projects."

By Christina Tækker, cht@cowi.com  
Published: 22.11.2005