Lecture

Water Protection: Introduction and Legal Basis

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In course

ENG-474: Environmental impact assesment

Présentation des bases des études d'impact, du contexte et des outils d'évaluation de chacun des sujets et des chapitres. Illustration par de nombreux cas réels, et par un travail de groupe. Discussion des limites des EIE et des nouveaux outils tels que le ...

Description

This lecture covers environmental impact studies related to water protection, including topics such as waste treatment, water purification, air and climate protection, and management of major environmental projects. It delves into the legal basis of water protection, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding water resources, promoting safe water use, and preserving aquatic ecosystems. The lecture also discusses the impact of climate change on water levels in Swiss lakes, highlighting the need for sustainable water management practices. Additionally, it explores the regulations governing water quality, pollution control measures, and the protection of groundwater. Overall, the lecture provides a comprehensive overview of the key principles and practices in ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources.

Instructor

Félix Schmidt

Teaching & PhD Courses Environmental impact assesment ENG-474 Presentation of the bases of the environmental impact assesment (EIA), context. Assesment methodology and tools for each of the topics and chapters. Illustration with many real cases, and group work. Discussion of the limitations of EIA and new tools such as strategic environmental studies.

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Environmental science

Pollution: Water pollution

Related concepts (31)

Water purification

Water purification is the process of removing undesirable chemicals, biological contaminants, suspended solids, and gases from water. The goal is to produce water that is fit for specific purposes. Most water is purified and disinfected for human consumption (drinking water), but water purification may also be carried out for a variety of other purposes, including medical, pharmacological, chemical, and industrial applications. The history of water purification includes a wide variety of methods.

Portable water purification

Portable water purification devices are self-contained, easily transported units used to purify water from untreated sources (such as rivers, lakes, and wells) for drinking purposes. Their main function is to eliminate pathogens, and often also of suspended solids and some unpalatable or toxic compounds. These units provide an autonomous supply of drinking water to people without access to clean water supply services, including inhabitants of developing countries and disaster areas, military personnel, campers, hikers, and workers in wilderness, and survivalists.

Industrial wastewater treatment

Industrial wastewater treatment describes the processes used for treating wastewater that is produced by industries as an undesirable by-product. After treatment, the treated industrial wastewater (or effluent) may be reused or released to a sanitary sewer or to a surface water in the environment. Some industrial facilities generate wastewater that can be treated in sewage treatment plants.

Pollution

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. Although environmental pollution can be caused by natural events, the word pollution generally implies that the contaminants have an anthropogenic source – that is, a source created by human activities, such as manufacturing, extractive industries, poor waste management, transportation or agriculture.

Sustainable forest management

Sustainable forest management (SFM) is the management of forests according to the principles of sustainable development. Sustainable forest management has to keep the balance between three main pillars: ecological, economic and socio-cultural. Sustainable forestry can seem contradicting to some individuals as the act of logging trees is not sustainable. However, the goal of sustainable forestry is to allow for a balance to be found between ethical forestry and maintaining biodiversity through the means of maintaining natural patterns of disturbance and regeneration.

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