Postgraduate Course: Water Resource Management (PGGE11018)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | The course aims to provide an insight to the breadth of challenges and processes involved in water management. It will enhance understanding of the multiple, multi-scale interconnections between water management, environmental and socioeconomic issues. In particular, it considers multidisciplinary approaches to water management problems. Examples and case studies will be used to illustrate the issues surrounding water management, drawing on perspectives from both the natural and social sciences. |
| Course description |
The following topics will be covered in the course:
1. Water resource issues
2. Integrated Water Resource Management
3. Catchments and hydrology
4. Water strategy, planning and delivery - The Water Framework Directive
5. Water regulation and permitting - How to ensure water quality outcomes
6. Water quality monitoring and measurement
7. Water and climate
8. Flood risk management in Scotland
9. Catchment management
10. Governance of water
11. Natural flood management - Field visit to Eddleston Water Project
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2019/20, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 60 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Learning and Teaching Activities |
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
The course is assessed by an essay (50%) and group project work (50%):
1. Essay of 2,500 words (50% of course mark):
"Examine, making use of water-related examples and case studies, the implementation of regulatory frameworks (e.g. EU Water Framework Directive) or scientific-technological approaches (e.g. equipment or decision-making tools) for water management. Your essay should clearly describe the purpose, the rationale, the results and the difficulties faced (e.g. from socioeconomic, environmental, technical and/or institutional perspectives)."
2. Project work in groups of 3 or 4 students; assessment by group presentation to class (25% of course mark) and individual 1,500-word essay (25% of course mark):
Discuss achievements and failures of water data management (qualitative and quantitative data) and/or of the introduction of specific water management practices (social, economic, environmental or interdisciplinary) in a river basin of your choice.
Formative outline of Main Essay (optional): Friday of Week 5
Main Essay: Friday of Week 09
Group Presentation: In-class, Week 11
Individual Essay: Friday of Week 12
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| Feedback |
Formative feedback will be provided on an outline (maximum of 500 words) of the 2,500-word essay. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the theory and practice of water management at international, national and local scales, and its multiple connections with environmental issues
- Understand hydrological, socioeconomic and environmental aspects of water management
- Apply critical thinking to case studies related to water management and development in Northern and Southern countries
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Reading List
There is no textbook that covers the whole course and guest speakers recommend their own texts. However, the following provides a good overview of water resource management from a range of perspectives:
Grigg, N. 2016. Integrated water Resource Management: An Interdisciplinary Approach. Springer, London.
This book makes the argument that lack of access is a result of poor management, rather than just scarcity of water resources. This is an assumption of the course, but the book presents some interesting arguments and solutions:
Barbier, E. 2019. The Water Paradox. Yale University Press.
More specific reading sources will be provided each week. Wherever possible, readings will be made available to students online, via the web-based virtual learning environment, Learn. |
Additional Information
| Course URL |
http://www.drps.ed.ac.uk/19-20/dpt/cxpgge11018.htm |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
1. Presentation skills
2. Group working skills
3. Interdisciplinary thinking |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
4 hour(s) per week for 11 week(s). |
| Keywords | hydrology,water supply,water demand,regulation,case studies,integrated catchment management |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Carly Maynard
Tel: (0131 5)35 4064
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Elspeth Martin
Tel: 0131 535 4198
Email: |
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