2023-2024 / GEOL1031-1

Management of groundwater quantity and quality

Duration

24h Th, 24h Pr, 1d FW

Number of credits

 Master in environmental science and management (120 ECTS)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course covers fondamental concepts related to investigations on groundwater quantity and quality for efficient groundwater management.
The main topics that are adressed are: general context of groundwater quantity and quality management, reminder on fondamental concepts in hydrogeology (water budget, piezometry, hydrodynamic parameters ...), field techniques (drilling, piezometric measurements...), performance and interpretation of slug tests and pumping tests, field investigations on groundwater - surface water interactions, groundwater quantity and quality indicators, general introduction on groundwater quality and pollution issues, factors controlling the natural quality of groundwater, pollutant properties and soil/groundwater pollution mechanisms, methods for investigating, controlling and mitigating groundwater pollution problems, Legal and technical aspects of groundwater management

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

General objective : to have theoretical and practical knowledge and a critical mind concerning groundwater quantity and quality management issues, in order to implement optimal protection measures for groundwater.
More specifically: to know and be able to master the main challenges related to groundwater management and protection, to understand and master the main properties and mechanisms that govern groundwater flow and contaminant transport processes in the subsurface, to be able to propose a field investigation programme aiming at quantifying hydrodynamic and transport properties in the subsurface, and to have a general knowledge of the legal and decisional framework related to groundwater management.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

It is required to have followed the course "natural ressources (water, energy) and anthropogenic pressures - Partim 2: groundwater, or any equivalent course on hydrogeology

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Theoretical course and seminars based on case studies. Exercises based on the study of an aquifer and the redaction of a characterisation report for this aquifer.
One day of field trip in a hydrogeological basin  for demonstration and use of field equipment and devices (pumps, probes) + measurement exercises.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

face-to-face

Recommended or required readings

read-only copies of the presentations given at the courses + reference books + web resources

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

oral exam

Written work / report

Continuous assessment


Additional information:

Oral exam based on (1) a presentation, with an electronic support, of the characterisation report buid during the exercices and (2) questions related to the course.
 

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Second quadrimester
Covid-19 : in principle the course will be given in face to face mode on the Arlon campus. However, depending on the evolution of the sanitary context, it is possible that all or part of the course may be given in videoconference mode or in reverse class: provision of projection material with commentary pages detailing everything that would be said in the classroom, accompanied by question-and-answer sessions.

Contacts

Quantity : Philippe Orban: p.orban@uliege.be
Quality : Serge Brouyère: serge.brouyere@uliege.be  -

Association of one or more MOOCs