GEOG1001 Water Resources and Society

2014

4.5

2 x 50-minute lectures weekly
1 x 2-hour workshop weekly
1 x 3-hour practical fortnightly
5 x 1-hour supervised studies per semester
10 x 1-hour on-line exercises per semester

Practical, Practical Worksheet, Wetland Practical and Short Paper, Major Assignment, Practical and Worksheet, Examination, and In class quizzes.

This topic examines water as an essential resource. It starts with a look at the problems associated with water use and growing shortages on a global scale. It then narrows the focus to water resource issues across Australia and finally looks at issues relating to water supply in an urban context.

The former part of the topic deals with some of the causes of declining water availability, including the impact of the El Nino-Southern Oscillation effect and global warming on rainfall patterns; the impactof dams and salinisation and eutrophication of surface water bodies. Small groups of students will participate in a 'hands-on' field practical at a local river to gain experience in water sampling. Effective strategies aimed at curtailing deterioration in water quality are presented. The latter part of the topic concentrates on water provision options, i.e more efficient ways of using water, and the means to meet water demands in the context of limited resources. References to Australian and International examples flow throughout the topic.

Water Resources and Society is designed to introduce first year students to some of the pertinent water issues in Australia at present.

At the completion of the topic, students are expected to be able to:

1. Identify some of the current global and Australian water resource issues and describe their causes and envisaged management options in a concise written form
2. Recognise the role of rainfall in sustaining water resources and describe and compare rainfall characteristics, patterns and trends in a written and graphic form
3. Outline the processes required to render water and wastewater suitable for various beneficial uses
4. Conduct in-situ water sampling and measurements and provide a basic appraisal of the useability of the water
5. Evaluate the feasability of a range of water management options