Integrated management of hydrosystems

Surface water bodies interact with groundwater bodies in terms of both quality and quantity. Surface water and groundwater are essential resources for human activities, providing a range of social and ecological services. An "integrated" management approach considers all these aspects and their interactions.
The aim of this module is to raise students' awareness of integrated management of hydrosystems, and to provide them with the knowledge and practical tools they need to manage water resources sustainably. The teaching covers physical and natural processes, as well as technical and administrative constraints for the operation and protection of hydrosystems. The scale of study extends from management basins to transboundary regional aquifers.

The production of drinking water is particularly sensitive, as it requires a quality resource throughout the year. Groundwater is particularly sought-after for this purpose, as it better meets the two imperatives of quality and resilience. This module describes the methods used to prospect for, protect and exploit groundwater resources.
From a quantitative point of view, the challenges associated with surface water management cover both "extremes" (high and low water). During floods, the risks associated with peak flows need to be managed to prevent accidents. During low-water periods, it is the definition and distribution of minimum instream flows between users that protects the resource and associated ecosystems.

The notion of quantitative management is approached with the help of hydrological (GR4J) and analytical and numerical hydrogeological (Feflow and Marthe) models. These tools are applied to different examples, whether in resource management, low-water management or flood management.

Skills to be acquired:

Sustainable management of hydrosystems
Prospecting, protection and exploitation of drinking water resources, particularly underground
Flood and low-water modeling (GR4J hydrological model)
Hydrogeological modeling (Feflow and Marthe models)
Actors and legislative framework for water resource management and protection

Environmental Science Program / Engineering Science Program