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 to have previously followed an advanced course on hydrogeology (e.g. ULiège course GEOL0013 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
Further 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.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Platform(s) used for course materials:
- eCampus
- MyULiège
Further information:
PDF versions of the PowerPoint presentations used during each lesson are made available to students. When available, comment pages for the PowerPoint presentations are also provided, transcribing as closely as possible the explanations given during the lessons.
Reference books + web resources.
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
During the semester, a bibliographical reading assessment must be completed by the students to get familiar with the case study. Subsequently, two reports must be submitted on dates established in advance.
The two intermediate reports are proofread and commented on but not assessed. Comments are to be taken into account for a final report which will be assessed.
Details will be provided during the course regarding the content expected for the interim reports and the final report.
Based on the assessment of the final report, a grade will be proposed. If the grade is equal to or higher than 14/20, and the interim reports have all been handed in on time, the student has the option of keeping this grade as the result of the course (exemption from the oral exam).
In all other cases, an oral examination is compulsory, consisting of a presentation of the work (in Powerpoint format or equivalent), followed by questions on it and on the theoretical and practical material covered in the course.
For the September exam session, the oral exam is compulsory, but the report must be submitted in by a deadline to be agreed after the June deliberations in order to be eligible for the oral exam.
The teacher will be particularly attentive to any attempt at fraud, such as plagiarism, paraphrasing or use of AI, both in the reports (interim and final) and in the presentation given at the oral examination. The sanctions provided for in such cases will be strictly applied.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
1st semester:
Monday 13h30 to 17h30
The course is taught in 10 sessions over 14 weeks of the first term + one day of field trip (attendance is compulsory in order to be eligible to present the exam) one possible session for debriefing the homework before finalizing it.
If the opportunity arises, seminars may be organised with external speakers (attendance compulsory if organised during class time, optional otherwise).
See also complementary information provided in the section "Mode of delivery".
Contacts
Serge Brouyère Serge.Brouyere@uliege.be