Abstract

This subject is structured in three modules each of three Units. In Module 1, Units 1 to 3 provide the context and introduction to water quantity and quality including trends in water supply, climate change and risks to water resources in Australia. In Module 2, Units 4 to 6 explore … For more content click the Read More button below.

Syllabus

Module 1 Unit 1 An introduction and overview of trends in water policy and management including: - pressures (population and changing demography, climate change; land use change; rainfall-runoff relationships) - status of water (storage, surface and groundwater reserves, new sources of water) - social, economic and environmental aspects; consumptive use(urban, … For more content click the Read More button below. Unit 4- river, wetland, floodplain and estuarine condition - environmental flow - selection of condition indicators - monitoring responsibilities - institutional arrangements and responsibilities Unit 5- international food security and export of virtual water - meaning and assessment of sustainable production in Australia - responsibilities, planning, incentives, regulation, green labelling - irrigation water use efficiency; - property rights and trading Unit 6- water for urban use: towns and cities, industry, power, mining - improved efficiency and water-saving strategies - new water sources: desalination, rural-urban transfer - reuse and recycling - rural effluent management. Module 3 Unit 7- roles and responsibilities - Council of Australian Governments Water Reform Framework - water for the environment - water audit and cap - costing and pricing, property rights and trading Unit 8- The National Plan for Water Security - Labors election plan - new arrangements for the Murray Darling Basin - re-emphasis on urban water - dealing with water scarcity and climate change Unit 9- planning frameworks and processes for adaptive management - principles of catchment care - tools to support decision making at catchment level: economic, social and environmental considerations; choice modelling, multicriteria analysis, modelling - best practice case studies.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
1.
be able to demonstrate an understanding of the water cycle including climate change and variability, risks to supply, and interaction of surface and groundwater
2.
be able to demonstrate an understanding of the value of water (quality and quantity) to different users
3.
be able to describe key regional, national and international issues
4.
be able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of aquatic ecology and allocation of water for the environment
5.
be able to explain water use efficiency and management of water in sustainable agriculture (dryland and irrigation)
6.
be able to demonstrate an understanding of urban and industrial water use; effluent management and recycling (rural and urban)
7.
be able to describe the principal issues underpinning the development of water policy in Australia, future challenges, and roles and responsibilities of government, agencies, communities, industry and individuals
8.
be able to describe approaches to integrated catchment management and regional decision-making in Australia

Enrolment restrictions

Enrolment is restricted to students in Emergency Management courses.