Learning Objectives

After the successful completion of this course, the students will be able to:

1. Exhibit broad knowledge of the freshwater environment
2. Make an understanding of the importance of freshwater ecosystems and their conservation
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the sustainable use of water in irrigation, hydropower, water supply, sanitation, and urban water management

Unit 1: Dynamics of Freshwater Ecosystem (8 hrs)

1.1 Freshwater ecosystems

1.2 River and lake: Water movements, Thermal and chemical zonation and stratification

1.3 Methods of bathymetry and morphometry (Depth-area-volume relationship)

1.4 Eutrophication and Sedimentation

1.5 Assessment of aquatic ecosystems

1.6 Environmental indices (e.g., water quality indices, river habitat quality indices)

1.7 Ecological restoration of fresh water

Unit 2: Wetland and Conservation (7 hrs)

2.1 Wetland: Identification, delineation, classification, and biodiversity

2.2 Land-water ecotones: Ecological importance (Biodiversity, Flows of water and nutrients), Disturbance, Riparian vegetation

2.3 Ecosystem services of wetlands and their economic valuation methods

2.4 Conservation of wetlands, Institutional arrangements, Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM)

2.5 International conventions and protocols on wetlands, Implications in Nepal

Unit 3: Water and Agriculture (8 hrs)

3.1 Classification and types of irrigation, Irrigation system

3.2 Crop water requirement, Cropping pattern, Frequency of irrigation

3.3 Quality of water for irrigation, Drainage and distribution of irrigation water, Assessment of irrigation water

3.4 Effect of irrigation on ground and surface water

3.5 Effects of irrigation on soils, Soil salinity, Salt balance, Leaching requirement of irrigated soils, Use and management of saline water for irrigation

Unit 4: Hydropower Development (10 hrs)

4.1 Hydropower potential of Nepal

4.2 Types and classification of hydropower plants and their arrangements

4.3 Estimation of hydropower potential, Firm power and secondary power, Current demand and load forecast in Nepal

4.4 Reservoir: Classification, Selection of reservoir sites, Storage zones, Capacity yield relation, Fixation of reservoir capacity and spillway, Reservoir sedimentation, Trap efficiency and Life of reservoir, Interrupted fish migration, Reservoir and livelihood

4.5 Method of reservoir operation, Sediment and water quality management, Environmental flow and assessment techniques

Unit 5: Water Supply and Sanitation (7 hrs)

5.1 History of pipe water supply in Nepal

5.2 Types of water sources, Availability of water, Trend and status

5.3 Municipal/rural water supply demand, Factors affecting water demand, Demand management

5.4 Water supply design criteria and distribution system, Water supply methods

5.5 Problems with the supply of water

5.6 Leakage control, Potable water demand management

5.7 Drinking water quality standards WHO/NWQS

5.8 Sanitation: Key principles of ecological sanitation, Wastewater collection networks, Faecal sludge management, Storm water drainage systems, Combined sewerage networks

Unit 6: Urban Water Management (5 hrs)

6.1 Water ecosystem in urban areas

6.2 Effect of urbanization on water resources

6.3 Water footprint: Blue, green, and grey water footprint, Water footprint of products and foot items, Water footprint of nations and water scarcity

6.4 Management of urban water, Global water management

References

1. Cherekar, M.N., & Pathak, A.P. (2016). Chemical assessment of Sambhar Soda Lake, a Ramsar site in India. Journal of Water Chemistry and Technology, 38 (4), 244–247.
2. De Zuane, J.P.E. (2013). Handbook of drinking water quality. 2nd ed. Wiley India Pvt. Ltd.
3. Dodds, W.K. (2002). Freshwater ecology concepts and environmental applications. Academic Press, An Elsevier Science Imprint.
4. Garg, S.K. (2002). Water supply engineering. Khanna Publishers, Delhi.
5. Hoekstra, A.Y. (2014). Sustainable, efficient and equitable water use: the three pillars under wise freshwater allocation. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, 1, 31–40.
6. Hoekstra, A.Y., & Chapagain, A.K. (2007). Water footprints of nations: water use by people as a function of their consumption pattern. Water Resource Management, 21, 35–48.
7. Martin, J.L. (2014). Hydro-environmental analysis: freshwater environments. CRC Press.
8. Sharma, R.K., & Sharma, T.K. (2002). Irrigation engineering. Chand and Company Ltd., New Delhi.
9. Vanham, D. (2016). Does the water footprint concept provide relevant information to address the water–food–energy–ecosystem nexus? Ecosystem Services, 17, 298–307.
10. Wetzel, R.G. (2006). Limnology: lake and river ecosystems. 3rd Ed. Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc., San Diego, US.