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Module 3: Water
The first lecture in this module (Water Quality) aims to provide first a brief overview of the diversity of freshwater ecosystems, how they function and the services that many of them provide to humans. It is only in the light of this information that the implications of different effects on water quality can be understood, in terms of both human and ecosystem health. The lecture outlines the major components of water quality, and summarises how they change, and some of the ecological and /or human health implications of these changes. The use of various water quality management objectives / effluent quality restrictions / guidelines in South Africa is also discussed. Reading material discusses specific effects of human settlements on freshwater ecosystems, and outlines the complexities of catchment level impacts, to show the linkages between social, economic and environmental decisions.

The second lecture (Water Conservation and Demand Management) provides a perspective on the water resource situation in South Africa, and analyses the need for new approaches to water management in light of this situation. Demand side solutions through water conservation and demand management (WC/WDM) are discussed. Short, medium and long term measures are listed as part of a water conservation programme.

After completing the Water module, a student should be able to:
  1. Understand the basic freshwater ecosystem functioning, the different types of aquatic systems and the processes that drive aquatic ecosystem functions
  2. Discuss river water quality, in terms of its natural state and what influences changes
  3. Understand the issues surrounding pollution of aquatic systems
  4. Outline the causes of water quality problems associated with human settlements
  5. Outline how appropriate levels of services support waste prevention and waste minimisation policies
  6. Outline the problems and constraints with respect to the provision of these services
  7. Understand South Africa’s water resource situation with regard to availability, requirements and its use
  8. Define and show understanding of basic concepts and principles that underline WC/WDM
  9. Explain the importance of WC/WDM and its contribution to sustainability of water resource development and management
  10. Explain the philosophical approach of Integrated Water Resource Management
  11. Conceptualize typical flow chart of WC/WDM in a water supply chain and its key supporting activities
  12. Analyze water use situation and identify opportunities for WC/WDM
  13. Apply framework of action to develop a program on WC/WDM
  14. Be able to relate essential techniques such as life cycle assessment, pinch technology and cleaner production on its impact into WC/WDM

Students are also expected to apply the knowledge acquired in:
  1. the analysis of two case studies, one about water quality effects of settlements and another about industrial water management 
  2. the analysis of newspaper articles about river pollution and municipal water services
  3. two self-tests

Documents:

 Download Assignment 3
File Title:Assignment 3 (Details)
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 Download Water Quality Sources of Reference
File Title:Water Quality Sources of Reference (Details)
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Sources of reference for "Water Quality", part of Module 3 (Water) of the "Environmental Engineering: Sustainable development in coa...

 Download Water Conservation Sources of Reference
File Title:Water Conservation Sources of Reference (Details)
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Sources of reference for Water Conservation, part of Module 3 (Water) of the "Environmental Engineering: Sustainable development in coastal ar...

 Download Water Quality Self-Test
File Title:Water Quality Self-Test (Details)
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File Size:37.71Kb

Selft test on Water Quality for Module 3 (Water) of the "Environmental Engineering: Sustainable development in coastal areas" course for...

 Download Water Conservation Synopsis
File Title:Water Conservation Synopsis (Details)
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Synopsis of Water Conservation, for Module 3 (Water) of the "Environmental Engineering: Sustainable development in coastal areas" course...

 Download Water Quality case study
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Case study on Water Quality, for Module 3 (Water) of the "Environmental Engineering: Sustainable development in coastal areas" course fo...

 Download Water Conservation Self-Test
File Title:Water Conservation Self-Test (Details)
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Self test on Water Conservation, for Module 3 (Water) of the "Environmental Engineering: Sustainable development in coastal areas" cours...

 Download Water Quality Newspaper Articles
File Title:Water Quality Newspaper Articles (Details)
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Newspaper articles related to Water Quality, for Module 3 (Water) of the "Environmental Engineering: Sustainable development in coastal areas&...

 Download Water Conservation case study
File Title:Water Conservation case study (Details)
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Case study on Water Conservation, for Module 3 (Water) of the "Environmental Engineering: Sustainable development in coastal areas" cour...

 Download Water Conservation Core Notes
File Title:Water Conservation Core Notes (Details)
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Core notes on Water Conservation, for Module 3 (Water) of the "Environmental Engineering: Sustainable development in coastal areas" cour...

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Core notes on Water Quality, for Module 3 (Water) of the "Environmental Engineering: Sustainable development in coastal areas" course fo...

 Download Water Conservation Newspaper Articles.
File Title:Water Conservation Newspaper Articles. (Details)
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Newspaper Articles related to Water Conservation, for Module 3 (Water) of the "Environmental Engineering: Sustainable development in coastal a...

 Download Water Quality Lecture 2010
File Title:Water Quality Lecture 2010 (Details)
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