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Desalination as a Source of Fresh Water
American Geosciences Institute
Course Number
AGI003-
Classes Start
Estimated Effort
1 hour-
Classes End
About This Course
Fresh water is an increasingly scarce resource in an increasingly populous and water-intensive world. Maintaining an adequate supply of fresh water both nationally and globally will be one of the largest challenges of the 21st century. Desalination of salty water – from both the ocean and the ground – represents a huge potential source of fresh water. The development of this resource requires a combination of geoscience, engineering, waste management, policy, and community outreach and participation.
This course will focus on current and potential future desalination technologies, desalination of seawater in coastal areas, desalination of salty groundwater in inland regions, and how these efforts are shaped by policy and community engagement.
This course is based on the AGI Critical Issues webinar “Desalination as a Source of Fresh Water” that was co-sponsored by the National Ground Water Association, Association of Environmental & Engineering Geologists, and the International Association of Hydrogeologists: United States National Chapter.
Course Objectives
Students are expected to learn the following when they take this course:
- Why desalination is being considered as a source of freshwater for public supply.
- How desalination is being used as a resource for different industries, including public water supply.
- Costs and benefits of different desalination technologies, and options for disposal of brine concentrate.
- Regulatory and legal issues that impact the production and use of brackish groundwater in Texas.
Course Format
This is an asynchronous short-course that contains videos, resources for learning more, and a set of questions in each section to help facilitate learning. An asynchronous course is a course that can be done on your own time. Feel free to pause, take a break, and come back to your saved progress to continue with the course. There is no deadline for completion of this course.
Note: For tips on taking this course via the edX mobile app, please visit the edX Learner’s Guide, and read the section on using the edX mobile app for the most up-to-date information.
Obtaining Continuing Education Units
If your course grade is at least 70%, you may apply for 0.1 CEU credit. There is an administrative fee for the issuance of the CEU, and you can view the fee structure here. You can check your final grade by clicking on the Progress menu item in the course navigation menu at the top of the page.
Requirements
There are no pre-requisites for this course.
Course Staff
American Geosciences Institute staff serve as the facilitators for this course. If you have questions at any time during this course, you can email your questions to learning@americangeosciences.org.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I take the course using the edX mobile app?
For tips on taking the course via the edX mobile app, please visit the edX Learner’s Guide, and read the section on using the edX mobile app for the most up-to-date information.
Do I have to take this course all at one time to pass it?
No, in fact that's the advantage of offering asynchronous online courses. You can go through the course at your own pace, pause when you wish, save your progress, and resume the course when it’s convenient for you to do so.
Do I have to pay a registration fee for the course?
There is no registration fee for the course. You may view the entire course, and complete all the assessments, assignments, and exams at no cost.
Are Continuing Education Units available for this course?
If you would like to receive credit for the course and obtain CEUs, you will need to pass the course with a minimum of a 70%, fill out a form to register for the CEUs, and pay an administrative fee. The administrative fee for CEUs varies for each course. Please see details in the “How to Obtain CEUs” section at the end of each course.