Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Not available for those students who have taken module ESC-30020 Water Resources at Level-6.
Water is a vital resource to life on Earth. Pressures on water resources are growing due to increasing population, decreasing quality of water and climate change. In order to effectively manage water resources it is important to understand hydrological and hydrogeological processes and both problems and potential solutions surrounding both water quantity and water quality, and the requirements of the human and ecological water users. This module explores the area of sustainable water management, from issues of dam developments, and transboundary water problems, to innovative new management approaches and concepts such as water footprints and virtual water. Students develop a wide range of skills including the use of hydrological and hydrogeological data to understand the risk to water resources from a proposed development, as well as developing an understanding of the problems and potential solutions associated with the sustainable management of water across the world and in different environments.
Aims
To enable students to develop an understanding and appreciation of the problems surrounding water resources and the conflict between potential water users, to assess the environmental, economic and social impacts of potential solutions to water resource problems, and to enable students to evaluate approaches to develop more sustainable management of water resources.
Talis Aspire Reading ListAny reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/esc-40019/lists
Intended Learning Outcomes
describe, explain and critique the nature and causes of water resource problems and conflicts: 1,3make an informed judgement on the risk to water resources from a proposed development based on knowledge and understanding of hydrological, hydrogeological and geochemical processes: 1illustrate and discuss the contested and incomplete nature of knowledge and understanding in the context of water resources: 3review the major impacts of landfill leachate on water resources: 2evaluate 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: 3
20 hours content20 hours independent weekly preparation80 hours coursework preparation30 hours independent study
Description of Module Assessment
1: Report weighted 50%ReportA 2250 word report covering a qualitative assessment to the risk to water resources from a proposed development
2: Literature Review weighted 20%Literature review on the impacts of landfill leachate1250 word literature review on the impacts of landfill leachate on water resources
3: Review weighted 30%Professional body journal article2000 word article for a Professional Body journal (ie. Environmental Scientist) choosing a water resource issue and reviewing problems with past approaches and evaluating more sustainable solutions.