Course Catalogue

Module Code and Title: ENM202 Water Resources Management

Programme(s): BSc Environmental Management

Credit Value: 12

Module Tutor(s): Jesse Montes (Coordinator)

GP Sharma

Deki Phuntsho Yonten

General objective(s) of the module:

This module covers water as one of Bhutan’s principal natural resources. The module first presents learners with wide basic coverage of hydrological concepts, then goes on to provide students with a grounding in integrated water resources management principles and strategies. The module should prepare students to critically analyse the global and local water situation and be able to select appropriate approaches to water resource issues and concerns. Water resources depletion and water pollution are highlighted as key challenges.

Learning outcomes – Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

· Describe the fundamental scientific concepts and properties of water and its dynamics.

Discuss the types of natural and human-induced variations of hydrological systems.
Given a particular sample or actual water resources system, describe its main hydrological characteristics and processes
Explain how the major water dynamic processes are linked with aquatic ecosystems as well as with human activities such as land and water use and pollution.
Discuss the importance of integrated watershed management.
Debate the pros and cons of hydropower from technical, environmental, and socioeconomic points of view.
Critically evaluate the state of water resources in Bhutan, their importance, major issues, and approaches to managing them.
Conduct simple tests for water quality.
Identify major types of point and non-point sources of water pollution.
Discuss potential measures for protecting surface and groundwater sources of freshwater from depletion and pollution.
Integrate local views into an analysis of a watershed.

Learning and teaching approaches used:

The module will be conducted over 15 teaching weeks as follows:

· 3 hrs/wk lecture & discussions.

· 1 hr/wk alternatively for presentations/discussions, and the field/practical components (measuring water quality using testing kits; data collection on water in urban and rural areas).

· 4 hrs/wk outside of class, on average, for independent study.

· One field visit to a watershed area (e.g. Wochu in Paro or Lingmetechu in Bajo) and a visit to a hydropower project as part of the block-week field trip shared with other modules in this semester.

Assessment:

Semester-End Examination (SE):40%

Continuous Assessment (CA): 60%

CA Assessment	Weight	Assessment Detail
Individual Assignment (case study)	15%	Case-study on a local or global water resources issue, approx. 1500 words plus additional data as necessary.
Presentation on case study	10%	Individual 10 min presentation with 2-5 min Q&A.
Class tests (2 x 5%)	10%	Individual written tests of 60 min duration each, covering approximately 4 weeks of subject matter.
Class Participation	5%
Field Report	5%	Report (1000 words) on field observations from block-week and block-day trips.
Midterm Exam	15%

Pre-requisite knowledge: ENV101 Introduction to the Environment

Subject matter:

I. Overview of water resources

a. Earth’s water resources and their renewability

b. Science of water: water basics, properties of water

c. Hydrologic cycle

i. Evaporation/transpiration; condensation; precipitation; infiltration; gravitational flow

ii. Human impacts on the cycle, including climate change

d. Surface water and groundwater

II. Water uses

a. Human consumption; drinking water

b. Irrigation for agriculture

c. Other uses

d. Worldwide usage patterns; water scarcity and water stress

e. Withdrawal and consumption: Off-stream and in-stream uses; Consumptive and non-consumptive uses

III. Water management

a. Water supplies; municipal water management

b. Surface water management

i. Dynamics and renewability

ii. Dams and reservoirs, their benefits and environmental impacts

iii. Impacts of diversion and depletion of surface waters

iv. Flooding and flood management

c. Groundwater management

i. Dynamics and renewability

ii. Water tables

iii. Depletion of groundwater

d. Maintaining and increasing freshwater supplies

e. Sanitation and hygiene

f. Water conservation and sustainable water use

i. Strategies

ii. Water balance / allocation

iii. Payment for eco-services related to water

g. Water quality and water pollution

i. Water quality properties

ii. Point and non-point sources of pollution; major pollutants and their sources

iii. Surface and groundwater quality and pollution

iv. Options for reducing water pollution

h. Watershed management: integrated approaches

i. Establishing integrated water resources management in basins

ii. Stakeholders, resources allocation and sharing, financing

iii. Community-based action planning, implementation, and monitoring

IV. Hydropower

a. Basic principles, use for electricity generation without emissions

b. Hydropower potential

c. Types of hydropower, their history, uses, and challenges

V. Water resources management in Bhutan

a. Overview of Bhutan’s water resources

b. Principles and polices for water resources management in Bhutan

c. Challenges, including climate change, and adaptation measures

d. Transboundary issues in water resources management: Bhutan, and globally

Essential Readings:

1. Botkin, D.B. & Keller, E.A. (2011). Environmental Science, 8th Ed. John Wiley & Sons.

2. Chhopel, G.K. (2011). Water resources management in Bhutan. Presentation at Sixth Sharing & Learning Seminar on Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into River Basin Planning and Development, Bangkok. Asia Pacific Adaptation Network. Retrieved from http://www.asiapacificadapt.net/sites/default/files/pdfs/seminars/6th-sharing-learning-seminar/water-resources-management-bhutan.pdf

3. Enger, E.D. and Smith, B.F. (2010). Environmental Science, 12th Ed. McGraw-Hill.

4. GWP / INBO. (2005). The Handbook for Integrated Water Resources Management in Basins. The International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP). Retrieved from http://www.gwp.org/Global/ToolBox/References/A%20Handbook%20for%20Integrated%20Water%20Resources%20Management%20in%20Basins%20(INBO,%20GWP,%202009)%20ENGLISH.pdf

5. Miller, G.T., and Spoolman, S.E. (2014). Environmental Science 14th Ed. Belmont: Brooks/Cole. (Primary textbook, also available as eBook)

6. US Geological Survey. (2014). The USGS Water Science School. US Department of the Interior. Retrieved from http://water.usgs.gov/edu/

Additional Readings:

1. Berg, L., Hager M., Hassenzahl, D. (2011). Visualizing Environmental Science 3rd Ed. John Wiley & Sons.

2. Biswas, A.K., Varis,O. & Tortajada, C. (Eds.). (2005). Integrated Water Resources Management in South and Southeast Asia. New Delhi : Oxford University Press.

3. Cunningham, W.P., and Cunningham, M.A. (2012). Environmental Science: A Global Concern, 12th Ed. McGraw Hill.

4. GWP / INBO. (2012). The Handbook for Integrated Water Resources Management in Transboundary Basins of Rivers, Lakes, and Aquifers. The International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) and the Global Water Partnership (GWP). Retrieved from http://www.gwp.org/Global/About%20GWP/Publications/INBO-GWP%20Transboundary%20Handbook/MGIREB-UK-2012_Web.pdf

5. MIT Mission. (2012). Clean Water. Problem: Agriculture. Retrieved from http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2012/finalwebsite/problem/agriculture.shtml

6. National Environment Commission. (1998). The Middle Path, National Environment Strategy for Bhutan. Royal Government of Bhutan

7. National Environment Commission Secretariat. (2012). Bhutan Environment Outlook. National Environment Commission, RGOB. Retrieved from http://www.nec.gov.bt/nec1/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/BEO-2012-Zero-Draft-working-file_PK_2_Jan.docx

8. Rahaman, M.M. & Varis, O. (2005). Integrated water resources management: evolution, prospects and future challenges. Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy 1(1):15-21. Retrieved from http://sspp.proquest.com/archives/vol1iss1/0407-03.rahaman.html. Published online April 12, 2005.

9. RGoB. (2011). Water Act. NEC. http://www.nec.gov.bt/nec1/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/zero-draft-water-regulation.pdf

10. UN. (n.d.). Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). International Decade for Action ‘Water for life’. Retrieved from http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/iwrm.shtml

11. USGS. (2013). Aquifers. http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/earthgwaquifer.html

12. World Bank. (2014). Water Resources Management. Retrieved from http://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/waterresourcesmanagement

13. World Business Council for Sustainable Development. (2009). Water Facts and Trends. http://www.unwater.org/downloads/Water_facts_and_trends.pdf

14. WWF. (n.d.) Dam Problems – Social Impacts. http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/water/dams_initiative/problems/social/

Date last updated: May 30, 2015