Sustainable Water Resources Management

Water is the foundation of all life on earth and wise management of water resources is a critical issue for the sustenance of human society and the development of major economic activities (agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, food production). This course is designed for environmental studies majors and aims to give them a more thorough understanding of issues related to water resources, from their occurrence and use to their management and conservation. The course examines world water resources and their major threats such as the increasing demand for water, overuse and depletion of freshwater resources, changes to the hydrologic cycle and water pollution. It also discusses current legislation on water and sustainable management of water resources. Students acquire the skills to research and analyze case studies of water resources management and propose sustainable solutions. The world demand for water, water conflicts and future perspectives are also discussed. The course prepares environmental studies majors for careers as environmental managers or consultants in the public, the private sector or in nongovernmental organizations.