Water resources management

CIVIL-466 / 3 credits

Teacher(s): Bieri Martin Peter, Leite Ribeiro Marcelo, Perona Paolo

Language: English

Summary

Water is one of the fundamental earth resources that sustains all life forms. Despite being abundant as chemical compound, its accessibility and use depend on its physical status and quality. The analysis of resources availability, user needs and optimal allocation will be taught and discussed.

Content

1   Concepts and Definitions
1.1     Introduction
1.2     Context of water resources management (natural, environmental, social)
1.3     Definition of Integrated Management
1.4     Presentation of the course project

2   Water resources
2.1     Hydrological cycle, water balance and renewal time
2.2     Surface waters
2.3     Groundwater
2.4     Water quality
2.5     Quantification of water resources
2.6     Climate change
2.7     Data availability and uncertainty: statistical properties and related modelling approaches
3   Water uses, demand and protection
3.1     Water uses: classification and definitions
3.2     Urban use
3.3     Industrial use (e.g., hydropower, irrigation, thermal, etc.)
3.4     Environmental use and impact assessment
3.5     Flood protection
3.6     Management, integrated management and sustainability
3.7     Multipurpose scheme
4        Water allocation
4.1     Balancing demand and supply
4.2     Conflict of interests
4.3     International river basins
4.4     Environmental, social and governance
4.5     Case study
5        Water economics and financing
5.1     Definitions
5.2     Discounted cash-flow model
5.3     Sponsor's vs. lender's perspective
5.4     Risk management
5.5     Case study
6        Optimisation and decision making
6.1     Performance criteria
6.2     Optimization techniques
6.3     Decision making
6.4     Case study
7        Round table
7.1    Presentations and discussion

Keywords

Water cycle, water resources, water use, water allocation, optimization, management, sustainability

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

  • Assess / Evaluate and model water resources a vailability at different scales
  • Calculate different water needs
  • Formulate an integrated and sustainable water management concept
  • Perform a basic economic analysis and assess the economic value of water projects
  • Distinguish between project development with or without profitability goal
  • Assess / Evaluate the internal rate of return and the net present value - Optimise the regulation of a watercourse
  • Assess / Evaluate he water issue in the current economic context

Teaching methods

Ex cathedra, with audiovisual means and board integrative explanations/derivations

 

Expected student activities

The students will be divided in small groups and perform a course project, which will be presented to the students at the end of the first block of lectures. The methodology and tool for advancing with the project will be provided in parallel with the lecture blocks. Students will thus allocate the time they need to accomplish the required calculations and refer to the instructors for suggestions. In block 7, each group will present their project and discuss the results together with the instructors.

Assessment methods

30% project course

70% oral exam

Supervision

Office hours Yes
Others

Resources

Moodle Link

In the programs

  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: Oral (summer session)
  • Subject examined: Water resources management
  • Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: Oral (summer session)
  • Subject examined: Water resources management
  • Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: Oral (summer session)
  • Subject examined: Water resources management
  • Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional
  • Semester: Spring
  • Exam form: Oral (summer session)
  • Subject examined: Water resources management
  • Lecture: 2 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Exercises: 1 Hour(s) per week x 14 weeks
  • Type: optional

Reference week

Related courses

Results from graphsearch.epfl.ch.