Certificate Course (Online) | W-001

Water Science, Management and Governance

Course Director: Dr. Hasrat Arjjumend

Welcome to the short course ‘Certificate on Water Science, Management and Governance’. It is of 3 weeks duration. These 3 weeks will be devoted to learning 3 Modules, each having 6 Units. Upon completion of 3 Modules in 3 weeks, the students can claim a Certificate. For all 3 Modules, different Instructors will facilitate the course. The objectives and intended outcome may be browsed on the web link https://grassrootsinstitute.ca/courses/w-001.php.  

What is expected from student? A student needs to spend total 5 hours every day to read and comprehend the written content in the lessons, and fulfil the requirements of the everyday lessons. One Unit has to be completed within one day. There are 6 Units under one Module and all these 6 Units should be completed within one week. Thus, approximately 30 hours need to be spared and devoted by the student to complete one Module. All 3 Modules will require 90 hours commitment by the student.

Upon completion of 3 weeks long 3 Modules, the student will book the Certificate through the link provided at the end of lessons.

Now, we wish you all the best in your studies and expect your full cooperation.

Course Director: Dr. Hasrat Arjjumend
Instructors for Module 1: Prof. Segundo Edilberto Vergara Medrano | Dr. Sérgio António Neves Lousada | Mr. Kartik Omanakuttan | Ms. Shahrzad Khatiby
Instructors for Module 2: Dr. Hamidreza Solaymani |  Ms. Syeda Tabassum Tasfia |  HG/Er. Sabina Khatri
Instructors for Module 3: Dr. Marirajan Thiruppathi |  Dr. Nusrat Yaqoob
Field Practitioners: Dr. Kakha Nadiradze | Mr. Boniface Sichone |  Dr. Kakha Nadiradze

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MODULE 1: WATER SCIENCE, PRINCIPLES AND TECHNOLOGIES [DURATION: 1 WEEK; STUDY HOURS-30]

Unit 1.1 Water Cycle, Groundwater and Surface Water

1.1.1 The Hydrological Cycle as a Connected System
1.1.2 Surface Water Processes, Catchments and River Flow
1.1.3 Groundwater Occurrence, Recharge and Storage
1.1.4 Surface Water and Groundwater as One Resource
1.1.5 Hydrological Variability, Extremes and Climate Change
1.1.6 Applied Hydrological Reading of a Catchment
1.1.7 Case Studies in Hydrological Connection
1.1.8 Wrap Up Unit 1.1

Unit 1.2 Freshwater Resources, Availability, Water Use and Scarcity

1.2.1 Global Distribution of Water and Freshwater
1.2.2 Renewable Water Availability and the Water Balance
1.2.3 Water Use by Sector and the Difference Between Withdrawal and Consumption
1.2.4 Water Stress, Water Scarcity and Seasonal Mismatch
1.2.5 Drivers of Increasing Scarcity
1.2.6 Water Availability and Scarcity
1.2.7 Case Studies in Freshwater Availability and Scarcity
1.2.8 Wrap Up Unit 1.2

Unit 1.3 Water Chemistry, Nutrients and Pollution

1.3.1 Foundations of Water Chemistry and Water Quality
1.3.2 Nutrients, Organic Matter and Oxygen Dynamics
1.3.3 Pollution Pathways and Contaminant Groups
1.3.4 Water Quality Monitoring, Indicators and Interpretation
1.3.5 Implications for Human Health and Ecosystems
1.3.6 Case Studies in Nutrient and Chemical Pollution
1.3.7 From Monitoring to Action
1.3.8 Wrap Up Unit 1.3

Unit 1.4: Water Biology & Ecology

1.4.1 Understanding Aquatic Ecosystem Degradation
1.4.2 Ecological, Economic, and Public Health Consequences
1.4.3 Case Studies: Aquatic Degradation as a Governance Problem
1.4.4 Legal and Policy Regulations in Aquatic Ecosystems
1.4.5 Diversions and the Disruption of Aquatic Connectivity
1.4.6 Impacts of Fragmentation and Conversion

Unit 1.5: Groundwater Hydrology (Groundwater Depletion, Contamination, and Governance Failure)

1.5.1 Participatory Exercise in Forum W-002
1.5.2 Aquifer Systems, Recharge Dynamics and the Mechanics of Silent Depletion
1.5.3 The Cascading Consequences of Groundwater Misuse
1.5.4 Case Studies: Groundwater as a Socio-Political Crisis
1.5.5 Rights Frameworks, Energy Subsidies, and Structural Drivers of Overextraction
1.5.6 Fragmentation of Groundwater Systems and Impacts of Unregulated Extraction

Unit 1.6: Irrigation Water and Technologies

1.6.1 The Scale, History and Stakes of Global Irrigation
1.6.2 Salinization, Waterlogging and Disease in Irrigated Landscapes
1.6.3 Case Studies: Irrigation as a Socio-Technical Trade-off
1.6.4 Irrigation Technologies and Water Optimization
1.6.5 Legal, Economic and Institutional Frameworks for Irrigation Governance
1.6.6 Irrigation Infrastructure and Hydrological Fragmentation

MODULE 2: WATER MANAGEMENT TO WATERSHED MANAGEMENT: WATERSHED, WETLAND, RIVER BASIN [DURATION: 1 WEEK; STUDY HOURS-30]

Unit 2.1: Principles of Water Management in the Watersheds 

2.1.1 Water and Water Cycle
2.1.2. Principles of Water Management in Watersheds 
2.1.3 Water Management versus Watershed Management 
2.1.4. History of Watershed Management
2.1.5. Water Economics 
2.1.6. Economic tools in Watershed Management
2.1.7. Water Modelling

Unit 2.2: Watershed Planning: Survey and Planning

Unit 2.3: Watershed Development: Implementation and Evaluation

2.3.1. Watershed Development 
2.3.2. Water Institutions and Governance 
2.3.3. Monitoring and Evaluatoin of the Watershed Development

Unit 2.4: Wetland Management

2.4.1 Wetland Ecology
2.4.2 Wetland Types and Distribution
2.4.3 Wetland Hydrology
2.4.4 Wetlands and Water Quality
2.4.5. Wetland Inventory, Classification, and Mapping

Unit 2.5: Integrated Watershed Management

2.5.1: Holistic Approach to Integrated Watershed Management
2.5.2: Stakeholder Involvement
2.5.3: Sustainability and Adaptive Management
2.5.4: Land Use, Ecology, and Biodiversity
2.5.5: Water Resources Management and Ecosystem Services

Unit 2.6: Watershed Management and Climate Change

2.6.1: Climate Variability and Climate Change
2.6.2: Changing Hydro-Climatic Patterns
2.6.3: Climate-Induced Risks and Extremes
2.6.4: Watershed Degradation and Environmental Problems
2.6.5: Watershed Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Strategies

MODULE 3. WATER GOVERNANCE AND POLICIES [DURATION: 1 WEEK; STUDY HOURS-30]

Unit 3.1 What is Water Governance? Principles of Water Governance

3.1.1 Water Governance
3.1.2 Key Aspects of Water Governance
3.1.3 Principles of Water Governance

Unit 3.2 Water Governance Indicator Framework

3.2.1 Water Governance Indicator Definition
3.2.2 Water Governance Indicator Framework
3.2.3 Practical Examples of the Framework in Action
3.2.4 Case Studies on Water Governance

Unit 3.3 Water Law

3.3.1 Water Law
3.3.2 Water Policy
3.3.3 Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM)

Unit 3.4 Water Policy Implementation Case Studies

3.4.1 Case Study 1: Australia’s National Water Policy
3.4.2 Case Study 2: Water Policy Reforms in India
3.4.3 Case Study 3: The Role of NGOs in Water Policy Implementation in Latin America

Unit 3.5 Transboundary Water Conflicts and Treaties

3.5.1 Transboundary Water Definition
3.5.2 Transboundary Treaties
3.5.3 Transboundary Water Conflicts
3.5.4 Conflict Resolution and Cooperative Strategies
3.5.5 Special Session (Discussion)

Unit 3.6 Water Privatization and Issues

3.6.1 What is Water Privatization?
3.6.2 The Potential Benefits of Privatization
3.6.3 Case studies
3.6.4 Alternative Approaches to Water Governance

CERTIFICATE CLAIMS [Upon completion of course]

PEDAGOGY ADOPTED FOR DELIVERING ONLINE SHORT COURSES

What methods are used?

- Participation in Forum and receiving suggestions from students
- Participation in Forum and reflecting views
- Quiz
- Case Study
- Reading material (PDF attachments are kept well classified and are attached at corresponding locations)
- Videos
- Photos
- Livestream Zoom Session (followed by Participatory Discussions)
   (It may also be a PPT presentation by Instructor)
- Text and narration (with proper references in Harvard style)
- Essential Readings (references with PDF attachment if DOI or link not available) and Optional Readings
- Wrap Up reflection
- Livestream/Zoom Session: Interaction with Field Practitioner (2 in each Module)
- Global Lecture(s)
- Assignment or Project Work or Field-Based Case Study

SCHEDULED ZOOM LECTURES

Unlock the secrets of water resource management with our groundbreaking online course.

Partner Organization

Collaborating Organizations