Duration
20h Th, 20h Pr, 1d FW, 35h Proj.
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
English language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course describes the mechanisms that control (1) the natural quality and (2) the pollution of (a priori potable) groundwater resources.
The course is declined under the following main compounds:
- General context and issues related to groundwater quality and groundwater protection
- Natural quality of groundwater: hydrochemistry general principles, factors controlling the composition of groundwater
- Groundwater contamination: soil and groundwater contaminants categories and properties, transport processes in the subsurface
- Investigation techniques and methods for groundwater quality and contamination assessment
- Legal and operational framework: Prevention, protection, remediation: legal aspects and decision tools, examples
- Different contexts of groundwater pollution: ponit vs diffuse sources, agricultural contaminants, industrial contaminants, acide mine drainage, waste disposal sites, salt water intrusion...
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
General objective: theoretical and practical knowledge and critical judgement about groundwater quality and contamination problems, in view of an effective management and protection.
More specifically:
- knowledge about the main groundwater contamination issues and the adequacy of optimal protection measures
- knowledge on physicochemical properties governing the fate of contaminants in the subsurface
- basic knowledge for assessing contamination risks and groundwater state evaluation
- to be able to propose an investigation program for assessing the groundwater quality state and for protection/ prevention measures
- a general knowledge of the decision and legal context linked to the groundwater quality management
- Mastery of technical vocabular
This course contributes to the learning outcomes I.1, I.2, I.3, II.1, II.2, II.3, III.2, IV.3, IV.5, V.2, VI.1, VII.2, VII.3, VII.4, VII.5 of the MSc in geological and mining engineering.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
It is better if the student has already followed courses on hydrogeology.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Theoretical courses and seminars based on case studies (where possible with external speakers).
A field day consisting of a visit to a hydrogeological basin, handling field equipment (pump, probes, etc.) and carrying out measurements.
Practical work during the course sessions based on a real case. This work is the subject of intermediate reports which must be submitted by the deadlines announced during the first course. These intermediate reports are subject to a formative evaluation (comments of the supervisor) but are not rated.
The comments must however be taken into account in the preparation of a final report which will be rated. This work is also the subject of an oral presentation (individually) during the examination.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
The course is given in English.
In principle, the course will be completely face-to-face but with possible adaptations taking into account the covid-19 health context and the possible limitation of the number of students in the classroom.
However, the way in which the course will be given will be discussed with the students during the first session.
For example, in order to reduce the amount of time spent in the classroom and to devote a significant part of it to practical work, the PowerPoint presentations used during each session will be made available to students in read-only mode, accompanied by comment pages where an attempt will be made to transcribe all the explanations that will / would be given during the course.
Shorter theoretical sessions, based for example on question-answer sessions based on a prior reading of the day's course by the students, could be envisaged.
Recommended or required readings
Powerpoint presentations used during each session will be made available to students in read-only mode, accompanied by commentary pages (pdf) where an attempt will be made to transcribe all the explanations that will / would be given in the classroom.
Reference books + web resources.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Additional information:
During the semester, 3 reports are due on pre-determined dates.
The reports are proofread and commented on but not assessed.
Comments are to be taken into account for a final report which will be assessed.
A grade will be offered and, if the interim reports have all been handed in within the announced timeframe, the student has the option of retaining this grade as the outcome of the course (exemption from the oral exam) or to pass the oral exam to imrove the result, with a presentation of the work followed by questions on the work and on the material covered in the course.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
1st semester:
Monday 13h30 to 17h30
The course is taught in 10 sessions over 14 weeks of the first term + one afternoon of seminars + one possible session for debriefing the homework before finalizing it.
See also complementary information provided in the section "Mode of delivery".
Contacts
Serge Brouyère Serge.Brouyere@uliege.be