GROUNDWATER - SUSTAINABILITY & CONTAMINATION

ENV3EGW

2020

Credit points: 15

Subject outline

Groundwater (water beneath the earth's surface) is a crucial resource in many parts of the world for urban and agricultural use, and its importance is increasing as surface water supplies become over-exploited. This subject covers how groundwater moves (flow, recharge and discharge) and the chemical processes influencing its composition (e.g. evaporation, weathering, mineral precipitation). There is a strong emphasis on environmental aspects and applications, particularly groundwater contamination (including salinization and acid mine drainage) and estimation and sustainability of groundwater resources.

School: Life Sciences (Pre 2022)

Credit points: 15

Subject Co-ordinator: John Webb

Available to Study Abroad/Exchange Students: Yes

Subject year level: Year Level 3 - UG

Available as Elective: No

Learning Activities: N/A

Capstone subject: Yes

Subject particulars

Subject rules

Prerequisites: N/A

Co-requisites: N/A

Incompatible subjects: ENV2EGW

Equivalent subjects: N/A

Quota Management Strategy: N/A

Quota-conditions or rules: N/A

Special conditions: This subject is co-taught with ENV2EGW, but ENV3EGW uses different marking criteria that assess a higher order of thinking (explain, analyse, relate, apply) than is expected in ENV2EGW.

Minimum credit point requirement: N/A

Assumed knowledge: N/A

Learning resources

Physical and chemical hydrogeology

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Domenico, P.A. and Schwartz, F. W.

Year: 1990

Edition/Volume: N/A

Publisher: WILEY

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

The geochemistry of natural waters

Resource Type: Book

Resource Requirement: Recommended

Author: Drever, J. I.

Year: 1997

Edition/Volume: 3RD EDN

Publisher: PRENTICE HALL

ISBN: N/A

Chapter/article title: N/A

Chapter/issue: N/A

URL: N/A

Other description: N/A

Source location: N/A

Career Ready

Career-focused: No

Work-based learning: No

Self sourced or Uni sourced: N/A

Entire subject or partial subject: N/A

Total hours/days required: N/A

Location of WBL activity (region): N/A

WBL addtional requirements: N/A

Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes

Graduate Capabilities

COMMUNICATION - Cultural Intelligence and Global Perspective
DISCIPLINE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Creativity and Innovation
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
INQUIRY AND ANALYSIS - Research and Evidence-Based Inquiry
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Adaptability and Self-Management
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Ethical and Social Responsibility
PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL - Leadership and Teamwork

Intended Learning Outcomes

01. Describe the parameters that control the ability of aquifers to store and transmit groundwater, and an understanding of the techniques used to measure these parameters.
02. Analyse the physical and hydraulic parameters and properties of groundwater flow in order to solve complex constructed and real-world problems involving groundwater resources.
03. Apply the principles and techniques of geochemistry to interpret the composition of groundwater, including the ability to solve solubility and precipitation problems for a range of dissolved species found in natural and contaminated waters, and an assessment of the appropriate remediation techniques for groundwater contamination
04. Analyse groundwater hydraulic and chemical data collected in the field using numerical calculations and graphical representations, in order to prepare a written report using appropriate organisation and referencing.
05. Describe the major groundwater resources of Victoria and the relevant government controls on their usage and protection

Melbourne (Bundoora), 2020, Semester 1, Day

Overview

Online enrolment: Yes

Maximum enrolment size: N/A

Subject Instance Co-ordinator: John Webb

Class requirements

Field TripWeek: 20 - 20
One 1.00 day field trip per study period on sunday during the day from week 20 to week 20 and delivered via face-to-face.

LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.00 hours lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

LectureWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.00 hour lecture per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

PracticalWeek: 10 - 22
One 3.00 hours practical per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via face-to-face.

Assessments

Assessment elementCommentsCategoryContributionHurdle%ILO*

Laboratory/practical reports (10 reports, 1,000-words equivalent)

N/AN/AN/ANo40SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO5

One individual excursion report (500-word equiv) 18%; data collection in groups of 4 students 2% teamwork.

N/AN/AN/ANo20SILO1, SILO2, SILO3, SILO4, SILO5

One 3-hour end of semester open book examination

N/AN/AN/ANo40SILO1, SILO2, SILO3