School of Physical and Geographical Sciences  
 
 
ESC-30020 Water Resources  
Co-ordinator: Dr Zoe Robinson    Room: WSF24, Tel:34303  
Teaching Team:  
Level: 3 Credits: 15 Study Hours: 150  
School Office:
 
 
 
Programme/Approved Electives for
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this module

Barred Combinations
Not applicable

Description

Water is a vital resource to life on Earth. Pressures on water resources in many regions are growing due to increasing population, decreasing quality of water and anticipated climate change. In order to effectively manage water resources it is important to understand hydrological processes and both problems and potential solutions surrounding both water quantity and water quality, and the requirements of the human and ecological water users.
Aims
This module aims:

(1) To enable students to develop an understanding of hydrological and hydrogeological processes essential to an appreciation of water resource issues

(2) To enable students to develop an understanding and appreciation of the problems surrounding water resources and the conflict between potential water users

(3) Enable students to assess the environmental, economic and social impacts of potential solutions to water resource problems

(4) To enable students to evaluate approaches to the management of water resources
Intended Learning Outcomes

  • To be able to demonstrate a systematic knowledge and understanding of the nature and causes of water resource problems and conflicts.

  • To be able to evaluate potential solutions to water resource problems and their environmental and social effects based on a knowledge and understanding of research at the forefront of the discipline.

  • To be able to make an informed judgement on water resource availability and the risk to water resources from proposed developments based on knowledge and understanding of hydrological, hydrogeological and geochemical processes.

  • To be able to present information and analysis of information in a clear and coherent form appropriate to the conventions and standards of scientific communication in Physical Geography and related disciplines and to be able to present information and analysis of information in a form appropriate for reporting assessments of water resource issues.

  • To illustrate and discuss the contested and incomplete nature of knowledge and understanding in the context of water resources.



Study hours

  • 20 hours lectures/seminars

  • 20 hours lecture preparation

  • 50 hours coursework preparation (1 technical report, 1 essay)

  • 60 hours independent study




Description of Module Assessment
1: Research Report weighted 50%
water resource risk assessment and technical report
2: 2 Hour Unseen Exam weighted 50%
2 hour unseen exam
Version: (1.04S) Created: 04/Jun/2010

This document is the definitive current source of information about this module and supersedes any other information.