Groundwater hydrology and management

Water users depend on the availability of groundwater and surface water in sufficient quantities and of good quality for their domestic, agricultural and industrial activities. Water resources managers need practical hydrogeologic knowledge and accurate information for making decisions on water allocation, to determine if resources are used in a sustainable way and to guarantee that ecological flows can be maintained. Quantifying hydrological processes is challenging, however, because of the difficulties associated with reliably measuring water fluxes and availability under field conditions. With respect to the evaluation of groundwater resources, understanding of geological and hydrological systems is needed to design an optimal monitoring network, to quantify recharge rates, and to determine flow  patterns, sustainability and water quality risks. The course on applied hydrogeology and groundwater resource management aims to provide practical knowledge to water resources planners and is given by staff experienced in the exploration, assessment, quantification and management of water resources.