European Desalination Society


Integrated Water Resources Management in Arid and
Semi-Arid Regions
A 4-day intensive course
February 10-13, 2009, L'Aquila, Italy
Lecturers: Gideon Oron, Shimon Tal

 

Purpose

The general purpose of the intensive course is to provide the experts from all around the world with advanced tools and ideas for a deeper insight into sustainable integrated water resources management in arid and semi-arid regions, environmental, economical and public considerations towards making the best decisions. It will allow the participants to have a broad view of management aspects to tackle problems related to water and related issues in water scarce regions towards evaluation and adaptation of optimal long range solutions. It will allow the participants to widen their understanding and know-how to deal with the challenges of water shortage. The course is based on extended experience gained by the instructors in one of the most water scarce region around the world.

Topics

The topic of the course will include identifying, characterization, development and utilization of the various water sources, technical and managerial aspects (qualities, quantities, location, treatment), environmental and engineering issues (contaminations, control, risks). These are strongly linked managing natural waters and their role in the national water potential. Topics include introduction to general worldwide water status and climate changes. The extra waters role in the national water sector and the linkage with the end users characteristics will be discussed. Other topics will refer to irrigation, resources contamination and rehabilitation, economic aspects of water distribution and storage. Extra emphasize will be focused on trans-boundary waters and regional agreements.

Venue

L'Aquila, the capital of the Abruzzo region, is dominated by the Gran Sasso mountain, highest point in the Appenines and enjoys a healthy alpine climate: cold but dry in winter, and hot without becoming unpleasant in summer. The city was born in the Middle Ages, has a hundred splendid squares which are symbols and testimony of the small villages that cooperated in building it. The long cultural tradition is preserved in the beautiful medieval monuments and buildings in Baroque and Renaissance style, in paintings and in its museums, as well as maintaining an active and musical and theatrical life, local cuisine, handicrafts and folklore. In the surroundings there is a unique natural environment at a height of 3,000 m where there are protected woods with chamoix, bears and wolves. In the winter there are attractive ski areas.
S.S. 17 Localta Casermette 67100 L'Aquila, Italy

Tel. +39 0862 317402
Fax +39 0862 317398

Email: canadian@canadianhotel.il


Lecturers

Gideon Oron

Upon completing his graduate studies he spent a post doctoral period at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. After this complementary training period he joined the Technion, Haifa, as researcher in the area of waste reclamation. Later he joined Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, for research and teaching in the general areas of low quality reclamation and reuse, management of water resources and environmental systems. During this time he spent extended periods as a Visiting Professor at AIT, Bangkok, Fresno State University, CA, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA and Yale University, New Haven, CT. Currently, he participates in national and international research projects dealing with low quality waters reclamation, primarily for agriculture use.


Shimon Tal

 

After getting his master degree in water systems engineering he joined Mekorot Company, the Israeli national water supply company. He began as a regional engineer and finally reached the position of chief engineer of the company, which allowed him to be involved in most water system development in Israel. Later he was nominated as the water commissioner of the State of Israel. This high level position allowed him to be involved in most water development in the region, including peace treaties with neighboring countries. This activity requires a broad view of water and environmental considerations along with basic understanding in engineering and economic. During his service he led significant reforms in the water sector in Israel. From 2006 he is private consultant and has been elected to be president of the Israeli Water Association - IsWA.

 

The three lecturers bring with them an enormous practical and theoretical experience and knowledge in all aspects of integrated water resources management in arid and semi-arid regions. Complementary practical examples will follow the theoretical lectures.

 

Integrated Water Resources Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions


February 10-13, 2009, L'Aquila, Italy
 Lecturers: Gideon Oron, Shimon Tal


Please Register online for course Oron and Tal
http://www.edsoc.com/form-course.htm

Registration fee

EDS Members: Euro 2,150
Non-Members: Euro 2,350

 

The fee includes 5 nights accommodation, transportation to/from airport, lunches, coffee, dinners, course workbook and CD.

 

PROGRAM

Day 1 Basics of Water Resources and Water Use

08:30 Opening and Introduction

Characteristics of natural water resources in arid and semi-arid regions
Water scarcity as a global problem
Global climate changes and it effects on natural water resources

09:45 Coffee break

10:00 Management of natural water resources

Renewable water potential
The importance of meteorological, hydrological, geological and quality information Hydrological models and forecasting
The integration of natural water resources in national water supply systems
Sustainable use of natural water resources in arid and semi-arid regions

12:00 Flood management in arid regions

Drought and floods phenomena; forecasting; reliability and assessment
Floods: in open and urban areas
Integration of flood water into the water sector activities

13:00 Lunch

15:00 Resources and end users

The population-water resources equation
Water Stress, strain and water modulus
Basic water demands, domestic, municipal, industrial Water role in serving national interests - agriculture, nature, peace agreements, others
Strategic importance of agriculture and its role in the national water demand picture
Competition between water consumers on water resources The role of "shadow water" (partly virtual water) in the balancing of the population-water resources equation.

17:00 Summary and discussion

Day 2 Extra Waters, Irrigation

08:30 Production of new waters

Production of new water - world picture
Seawater desalination - technologies, costs, environmental problems and related considerations Brackish water desalination - brine disposal alternatives
Desalinated water quality issues -mixing with other water resources, linkage with different end users

10:45 Coffee break

11:00 Production of new waters - contd.

Wastewater - treatment technologies
Reuse of treated wastewater (e.g. agriculture, irrigation of parks, industry, municipal use, drinking)
Special issues in wastewater reuse

13:00 Lunch

15:00 Irrigation

Irrigation methods Drip irrigation: on surface and subsurface drip irrigation Reuse criteria of low quality treated waters

17:00 Summary and discussion

Day 3 Efficient water use, quality considerations

08.30 Efficient use in agriculture

Green water use
Crops selection
Irrigation regimes
Assessment of water requirements

10:00 Efficient use and reclamation of waters in the industrial and municipal sectors

Planning water conservation program
Residential and domestic water use
Industrial, commercial and institutional water use

 

10:45 Coffee break

11:00 Efficient use and reclamation of waters for industry municipal and domestic sectors - contd.

Planning water conservation program
Residential and domestic water use
Industrial, commercial and institutional water use

13:00 Lunch

15:00 Potable water quality considerations

Drinking water quality criteria
Water safety and control
Monitoring
Emergency situation handling


17:00 Summary and discussion

Day 4 Contamination, Regulation, Trans boundary waters

08:30 Water resources quality control

Water resources pollution and prevention means
Legislations and enforcements
Treatment of polluted water resources - methods and examples

10:45 Coffee break

11:00 Structure of national water sectors

Central national water system control regional water organizations
Special water oriented water organizations
Authorized bodies in the water sectors
Water laws

13:00 Lunch

15:00 Economic tools and water pricing

Water costs
Water policy for charge

16:00 Trans boundary water

Trans boundary water sources
International water laws
Trans boundary waters-disputes and resolution
Conjunctive use of Trans boundary water and agreements between countries (e.g. Germany-Holland; Thailand-Vietnam; Malaysia-Singapore; Israel-Jordan-Palestine)

17:00 Summary and discussion

Open discussion related to water management issues in different countries


18:00 Final ceremony and adjourn



 

 

 
Hosted by MONDOWEB