Short Course Integral Water Management

Introduction

The Netherlands is a small country, but many people in the world have heard about the tulips, the wooden shoes, and the windmills. Not many people know that a lot of these windmills played in important role in water management. In the 17th, 18th and 19th century windmills were used as pumping stations. By building dikes around lakes and using the windmills for pumping out the water, water was turned into arable land. These area’s are called “polders”. In the Netherlands of the 21st century these polders still play an important role in the landscape. They are used for agriculture, recreation, industry and as dwelling areas.

In the 21st century, the Dutch society is still facing all kind of problems related to water. Can we keep our feet dry and prevent our properties from flooding? Can we make our rivers and lakes clear and clean again, so that fish species, like e.g. salmon can return. Can we reduce our use of scarce fresh water resources, so that future generation also can use them? How can we prevent our natural areas against groundwater depletion and how to preserve also many recreation areas? The biggest challenge for the Dutch is not a lack of technical measures, but how we can convince the Dutch society that every year more money is necessary for good and safe water management. This requires smart and clear policies and transparent decision-making.

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Course content

In the short course on integral water management, you learn more about the Dutch way of managing water. Within the course attention is paid to e.g.:

• land reclamation,
• drinking water supply and sanitation,
• waste water treatment systems,
• water quantity and water quality management of surface and groundwater,
• how water is used as guiding principle in Urban and Regional planning processes and
• how we can use our water resources in a sustainable way.

In the course attention is also paid to international developments. The European Framework Directive Water for example, is very important for the water management in the European Union.

In the course not only attention will be paid to the technical aspects of water management but also to the organisational and financial aspects of good water management. The course consists of lectures and excursions for different subjects but it also contains an individual research in which students can study an individual topic of their own choice. The assessment is based on an article, a presentation at a seminar and a scientific poster about the results of this research.

Finally, did you ever learn that the national airport Schiphol, near Amsterdam, lies several meters below sea level in one of the polders? Are you interested in learning more about good water management principles?

Specific Requirements

Students with at least 3 years of education in a course relevant for water management like Civil Engineering, Ecology, Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Science or Technology.

Besides that, students wanting to apply must meet our general entry requirements.

Career prospects

Our graduates find employment in several working areas that contribute to Sustainable Water Management:

• Dutch and International consultancies that participate in, supervise or carry out environmental projects related to Water Management;
• Governmental organisations and water authorities;
• Environmental agencies;
• Non-governmental organisations, these institutions often operate at, national, international or global level.