
About Course
💧 Course Title: Water Resources Management: Design & Sustainability in Hydraulic Systems
Code: 4027-CIV
📘 Course Description:
This advanced course equips civil and environmental engineers with comprehensive knowledge in water resources planning, design, and sustainable management. Participants will learn to design water supply and drainage networks, apply hydraulic and hydrologic principles, and use modern software tools like WaterGEMS to simulate water systems.
🎯 Objectives:
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Understand the distribution and management of global and regional water resources.
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Design efficient and resilient water distribution and drainage systems.
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Apply hydrology and hydraulics in infrastructure planning.
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Evaluate sustainable water reuse and conservation technologies.
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Use simulation tools for network optimization and scenario analysis.
👥 Target Audience:
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Civil, Environmental, and Hydraulic Engineers
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Water Utility Planners and Municipal Engineers
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Researchers and Consultants in Water Resource Management
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Final-year engineering students in water and infrastructure domains
📈 Expected Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
✅ Design pressurized and gravity-flow water distribution systems.
✅ Analyze hydrological data and assess flood risks.
✅ Plan and model irrigation and drainage infrastructure.
✅ Apply sustainable practices for water reuse and conservation.
✅ Use WaterGEMS (or similar tools) to simulate water networks.
⏱️ Time Frame:
Duration: 6 Weeks — 36 Contact Hours
Schedule: 2 sessions/week × 3 hours/session
Week | Module | Topics Covered |
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Week 1 | Water Resources Overview | Distribution, demand, water scarcity issues |
Week 2 | Water Networks Design | Potable water systems, pumps, storage, pressure zones |
Week 3 | Irrigation & Drainage | Surface/subsurface systems, canals, drainage methods |
Week 4 | Hydrology & Flood Management | Rainfall-runoff modeling, hydrographs, flood analysis |
Week 5 | Hydraulic Structures | Design of reservoirs, dams, spillways |
Week 6 | Sustainability & Simulation | Water reuse, conservation, WaterGEMS modeling, project |
📦 Course Outline in Detail:
Module 1: Introduction to Water Resources Management
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Global water cycle and hydrological balance
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Regional water scarcity and geopolitical implications
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Legal and institutional aspects of water management (e.g., IWRM framework)
Module 2: Design of Water Supply Networks
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Pressurized vs. gravity-fed distribution systems
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Pipe sizing, pressure calculations, demand forecasting
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Pumping stations and water storage tanks
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Zoning, pressure management, firefighting considerations
Module 3: Irrigation and Drainage Systems
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Classification of irrigation systems: sprinkler, drip, furrow
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Design of open channels and pipelines
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Drainage systems for agricultural and urban settings
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Soil-water-plant relationships and evapotranspiration
Module 4: Hydrology and Flood Analysis
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Precipitation analysis, runoff estimation
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Flow routing, hydrograph development
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Design floods and return periods
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Urban flood management strategies and retention systems
Module 5: Hydraulic Structures & Storage
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Components of dams and reservoirs
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Spillway design and energy dissipation
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Sedimentation control and reservoir management
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Groundwater recharge and aquifer storage
Module 6: Sustainable Water Practices & Software
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Water conservation techniques: low-flow devices, leakage control
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Greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting
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WaterGEMS: model creation, scenario analysis, calibration
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Final project: Simulate a water network for a virtual city
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Case studies: Cape Town Day Zero, Nile Basin water conflicts
🧰 Tools & Materials Provided:
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Design spreadsheets (pipe sizing, pump head loss, runoff modeling)
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WaterGEMS and/or EPANET tutorials and datasets
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Maps and DEMs for hydrological modeling
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Case study datasets for simulation
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Access to relevant codes and standards (e.g., AWWA, ISO 24512)
🛠️ Practical Activities & Projects:
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Design of a full urban water supply and drainage system
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Simulation of water distribution in WaterGEMS
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Group analysis of water crisis case studies (e.g., Jordan, California)
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Presentation of sustainable management strategies for a selected watershed