121-220 Water Resources

Note

All BSc students, except those enrolled in the BA/BSc combined course and the BASc course, can only receive 12.5 points science credit at the 200-level for this subject.

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

25 points of Geography or Environmental Studies subjects or approved equivalent.

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

Water management has become a major issue for most countries in recent years as population growth, industrial development and agricultural intensification have combined to place increasing pressure on a limited resource. This subject examines water availability at global, national and local levels, and considers both the options for expanding supply, and for reducing demand. It also looks at the environmental implications of increasing regulation of rivers and diversion of water for off-stream uses. Practical classes introduce a number of techniques which enable quantitative analysis of the water resource base and actual or potential uses. Specific issues examined in lectures and tutorials include Australian material, such as the environmental consequences of irrigation schemes and the restructuring of the water industry. International aspects of water management are also reviewed, ranging from small scale water supply for rural aid programmes to cooperative arrangements for international river basins such as the Euphrates and the Danube.

Assessment

Practical class exercises and field trip report and an individual assignment together totalling not more than 3000 words; and a final 2-hour examination. Weighting of assessment items will be announced at the beginning of the semester.