2019-2020 / 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 
 Master in environmental science and management (60 ECTS)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Serge Brouyère, Philippe Orban

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

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)

face-to-face

Recommended or required readings

pdf copies of the presentations given at the courses + reference books + web resources

Assessment methods and criteria

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)

Organizational remarks

Second quadrimestre

Contacts

Serge Brouyere serge.brouyere@ulg.ac.be  - Ph. Orban p.orban@ulg.ac.be Assistants: Julie Gesels (groundwater chemistry) Julie.Gesels@ulg.ac.be Pierre Jamin (groundwater pollution) Pierre.Jamin@ulg.ac.be

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the May-June 2020 session

Teaching methods implemented : distance-learning

The course will be given according to the schedule.
During the first course session (April 20, 2020), a virtual meeting (via lifesize) will be organized to introduce the different speakers, the course content/program and explain the evaluation methods of this course.
Before each session, the powerpoint of the course as well as the written comments of the slides will be sent to you via the e-campus platform. Each student will thus be required to read the material during the day in question.
A virtual question-and-answer session will be organized at the end of each day of the course to answer questions related to the material presented in the powerpoints. 

Assessment subjects

The material seen during the course will be used to support the writing of the report that will be used to evaluate the course. The exercises performed during the course will also feed into this report.

Assessment methods

The course will be evaluated on the basis of a report which will be used as a basis for a virtual discussion between the student and the teachers on the day of the oral exam. The report given individually by each student (at the latest on a date to be defined during the first class session) will describe the hydrogeological context of the Hesbaye chalk aquifer (Geer basin chalk) and discuss, with a critical eye, its quantitative and qualitative status. Feedback on the report will be given to each student by the teachers before the virtual discussion. 

Contacts

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

Adaptation of teaching commitments following the COVID-19 pandemic for the Aug-Sept 2020 session

Assessment subjects

The evaluation will cover all the material and exercises seen in the course. The material seen during the course will be used in particular as a support for the writing of the report that will be used for the evaluation of the course. The exercises carried out during the course will also feed into this report.

Assessment methods

The course will be evaluated on the basis of a report and an oral exam, via the lifesize platform. This oral exam will cover questions on the report but also on the theory seen during the course.
The report will be given individually by each student (at least 5 days before the exam). This report will describe the hydrogeological context of the Hesbaye chalk aquifer (Geer basin) and discuss, with a critical eye, its quantitative and qualitative state. This report may consist of an update of the report of the first session, taking into account the remarks made on this version.

Contacts

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