Water Management

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

Freshwater is one of the most important resources for humanity, yet its availability on Earth is limited. Water is unevenly distributed across both time and space, leading to situations where some regions have excess water while others face scarcity. Additionally, human activities significantly impact water quantity and quality. Through various local and regional interventions (e.g., changes in land use and vegetation cover, river flow alterations, dam construction, groundwater extraction, and irrigation), humans are strongly modifying global hydrology. Managing chemical pollution, for example, through wastewater treatment, is often essential to preserving this vital resource.

This course explores key aspects of the hydrological cycle and water management in regions with varying water availability, from humid to arid environments. It examines the importance of water for ecosystems, landscapes, and human societies. Throughout the course, you will engage in exercises to analyze different components of the hydrological cycle and assess the effects of climate and human activities on water systems in the Netherlands, Europe, and other parts of the world.

The course is divided into two parts. Part 1 consists of lectures on hydrological processes and human-water interactions. Part 2 involves a computer modelling exercise, where you will learn to apply a model to a specific water catchment: the Rhine watershed.

Study materials

Literature

• J. Holden: Water Resources - An Integrated Approach; We will read several of the books chapter (same book as for Challenges for the Blue Planet).

   

  Additional reading materials will be provided through Canvas.

Practical training material

• It will be provided during the course

Software

• R

  Aquacrop

Objectives

• Has obtained knowledge of hydrology, water resources and the hydrological cycle and components, including the behaviour of water in the soil.
• Understands the physical principles behind hydrological processes and the function of these processes in landscapes.
• Understands how these processes can be applied in water management applications in a societal context.
• Is able to apply the principles of water resources in selected case studies.
• Understands the main emission sources of pollutants to surface waters.
• Is able to apply conceptual and computer models to  study examples in water management and hydrological response at various environmental conditions and scales (soil, landscape and large catchment).
• Understands the extent of human alterations to local and global hydrology, how the human impact on water systems has evolved throughout history and what the consequences are today.
• Is familiar with the basics of urban water management systems
• Is able to analyse the consequences of climate change and human interventions into hydrology.
• Understands the health consequences emerging from water and from water mis-management.

Teaching methods

• Computer lab session/practical training
• Presentation/symposium
• Lecture
• Fieldwork/excursion
• Working independently on e.g. a project or thesis
• Supervision/feedback meeting

The course employs diverse teaching methods to enhance learning and facilitate a comprehensive understanding of hydrology and water management. Lectures provide foundational knowledge on hydrological processes and human-water interactions. Pen-and-paper and computer exercises and excursions reinforce concepts discussed in class through problem-solving and modelling of real-world applications, helping develop analytical skills and critical thinking. The independent preparation of materials develops learning skills and deepens understanding, while group work and presentations enhance communication, collaboration, and the ability to synthesize complex concepts.

Learning activities

Attendance

Programme's requirements concerning attendance (OER-B):

• Participation in fieldwork is compulsory and cannot be replaced by assignments or other courses.
• In case of practical sessions, the student is obliged to attend at least of 90% of the sessions and to prepare himself adequately, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. In case the student attends less than 90%, the practical sessions should be redone entirely.
• In case of tutorials/seminars with assignments, the student is obliged to attend at least 7 out of 8 seminars and to prepare thoroughly for these meetings, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. If the course has more than 8 seminars, the student can miss up to 1 extra meeting for every (part of) 8 tutorials/seminars. If the students attends less than the mandatory tutorials/seminars, the course cannot be completed.

Additional requirements for this course:

All sessions of this course are mandatory.  

If you miss more than 1  class unexcused* (for each of part 1 or 2) you will fail for that part.

The exam and presentation are also mandatory. If you miss these then you will fail for that part.

For the second part the assignments is done in small groups of 3 persons. Each group should contain (at least) two students who did the BSc course Programming in R, and one who did not this course.

*If you cannot join a session of this course, you must email the coordinator BEFORE the beginning of the class. Excuses received after the class count as 'missed unexcused'.

Assessment

There will be an exam on the lectures, materials and practicals of Part 1. There will be a written report and a presentation on your project to be completed as a group for part 2.

Students will complete exercises/assignments given during the practicals and the teachers will inform them about what needs to be uploaded to Canvas. Review of these materials based on an answer sheet.

If students do not pass (the final mark is less than 5.5), there is a re-take. If deadlines for assignments are not met then the mark will be -5 for that assessment. Any missed assignments will be marked as 0.

Assessment diagram

Students that were enrolled in the course in previous years

If students passed last year's Part 2 (computer practical) and failed the exam, it is possible to keep last year's mark for Part 2 and take only the exam this year (on May 16).

If students failed both parts, they can take the retake exam (on July 4) as it will cover both Part 1's materials and Part 2's computer practicals.

Assignments

There will be reading assignments in preparation for the classes and exercises to be completed during and/or after the class (assessed). Feedback on exercises will be given through Canvas material and also in the form of in-class discussions. 

The assignment of part 2 will be described in a separate document, published on Canvas.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Additional information

Knowledge of R is strongly recommended, e.g. obtained from the course Programming in R.

If you don't have knowledge of R, completion of the R primer, available on Canvas, should be completed

R should be installed and running on your computer prior to the start of the course

• Downloading Software: you can download software from datanose.nl/byod.
• Support for software installation and other Bring Your Own Device questions
  • Contac: laptops-fnwi@uva.nl
  • Software support: Tuesday and Thursday from 12.00 – 13.00 hrs at B1.16 (right from the library desk)
  • Borrow a laptop: FNWI students can rent a laptop at the library desk for €5,- per day. The laptops include MS Office and Adobe Acrobat and can be rented between 9.00 and 20.00 hrs. You are allowed to install your own software on the device. The laptop comes with a laptop bag, charger, mouse, lock and HMDI-cable. Documents and software are deleted after return.
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It is important that everyone feels safe at the UvA and Future Planet Studies. We are committed to provide social safety and we offer various forms of support for people experiencing inappropriate or unsafe situations. Consult the UvA website or Future Planet Studies Canvas page for more information and contact info.

Last year's student feedback

In order to provide students some insight how we use the feedback of student evaluations to enhance the quality of education, we decided to include the table below in all course guides.

Contact information

Coordinator

• A. Carles Brangarí

Staff

• dr. L.H. Cammeraat
• Donya Danesh
• Walter van Dijk