WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Abstract

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the principles, challenges, and methodologies related to the management of water resources in a context of increasing scarcity and environmental change. It explores both the technical and scientific foundations of water resource systems and the strategic approaches required for their sustainable use. The first part presents the global water context, emphasizing disparities in resource distribution, hydrological variability, and the growing pressure from human activities and climate change. Special attention is given to water issues in Algeria, including dam siltation, evaporation losses, seawater intrusion, and declining groundwater levels, which together threaten national water security. Subsequent chapters focus on the mobilization and enhancement of water resources through various engineering solutions: the construction and maintenance of large dams, hill reservoirs, desalination plants, artificial aquifer recharge, and the recycling and reuse of treated wastewater. The course also examines the scientific and technical methodologies underpinning water management, integrating hydrology, hydraulics, and environmental engineering to support informed decision-making. Finally, the course addresses water risk management, particularly the phenomena of droughts and floods, their environmental, economic, and social impacts, and the tools available for their monitoring and mitigation. Through case studies, quantitative data, and technical diagrams, students gain an applied understanding of integrated water resource management (IWRM) and its role in ensuring sustainable development and resilience in arid and semi-arid regions.