Maricopa Community Colleges  WRT100   19926-19985 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 05/26/92
WRT100 19926-19985 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Introduction to Hydrology
Fundamental principles of hydrology. Basic concepts and strategies in the study of water and the current focus on water pollution. Topics include ground water, surface water, water quality and water pollution. On-going studies are presented to familiarize students with actual duties of earth scientists. Prerequisites: None.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
WRT100   19926-19985 Introduction to Hydrology
1. Define the term hydrology and describe the evolution of major water projects from the past to the present. (I)
2. List agencies involved in water resource planning, water studies, water distribution and regulatory functions to assure quality standards. (II)
3. Explain how hydrology relates to other discilpines including chemistry, mathematics, physics, computer science, geology, geophysics, geochemistry, atmospheric physics, soil physics, biology, engineering and oceanography. (III)
4. Describe surface water hydrology including surface water features, hydrologic cycle, measurement/monitoring of streamflow. (IV)
5. Describe groundwater hydrology including the hydrologic cycle, measurement/monitoring of groundwater. (V)
6. Define specific types of water, types of water contamination and methods of sampling for water quality. (VI)
7. Describe specific hydrologic investigations for water quantity/quality. (VII)
8. Describe specific causes of water pollution in groundwater and surface water. (VIII)
9. Describe the methodologies and types of studies documented in current hydrologic studies. (IX)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
WRT100   19926-19985 Introduction to Hydrology
    I. Evolution of Water Projects
        A. Past
        B. Present
      II. Agencies
          A. Resource planning
            1. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
            2. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
            3. U.S. Forest Service
          B. Water studies
            1. U.S. Geological Survey
            2. Soil Conservation Service
          C. Water distribution
            1. Bureau of Reclamation
            2. Salt River Project
            3. Maricopa County Municipal Water Conservation District
          D. Regulatory functions
            1. Arizona Department of Water Resources
            2. Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
        III. Related Fields in Hydrology
            A. Basic science
              1. Mathematics
              2. Chemistry
              3. Physics
            B. Earth science
              1. Geology
              2. Geophysics
              3. Geochemistry
            C. Engineering sciences
              1. Soil physics
              2. Comuter science
              3. Hydraulics/surveying
          IV. Surface Water Hydrology
              A. Surface water features
                1. Streams
                2. Rivers
                3. Lakes
              B. Hydraulic cycle
                1. Precipitation
                2. Runoff
                3. Evaporation/infiltration
              C. Measurement of streamflow
                1. Open channel flow meaurements
                2. Flumes/weirs
                3. Indirect measurements
              D. Monitoring streamflow
                1. Gaging stations
                2. Crest stage gages
                3. Remote sensing/weather satellite
            V. Groundwater Hydrology
                A. Groundwater features
                  1. Aquifers
                  2. Geologic features
                  3. Groundwater movement
                B. Hydrologic cycle
                  1. Infiltration
                  2. Storage
                  3. Outflow
                C. Measurement of groundwater
                  1. Depth of water
                  2. Slope of water surface
                  3. Amount of water stored
                D. Monitoring groundwater
                  1. Observation wells
                  2. Piezometers
                  3. Springs
              VI. Water Quality
                  A. Definitions
                    1. Fresh water
                    2. Brackish water
                    3. Ocean water
                  B. Types of contamination
                    1. Sewage effluent
                    2. Industrial wastes
                    3. Landfills leachate
                  C. Sampling for water quality
                    1. Streams
                    2. Lakes
                    3. Groundwater
                VII. Hydrologic Investigations for Quantity/Quality
                    A. Regional studies
                      1. Water use
                      2. Streamflow
                      3. Groundwater
                    B. Basin studies
                      1. Water budgets
                      2. Water distribution
                      3. Water manning
                    C. Site-specific studies
                      1. Water availability
                      2. Water quality
                      3. On-site treament/monitoring
                  VIII. Hazardous Waste Pollution
                      A. Groundwater pollution
                        1. Non-point source pollution
                        2. Industrial waste
                        3. Radioactive waste
                      B. Surface water pollution
                        1. Streams
                        2. Lakes
                        3. Oceans
                    IX. Current Hydrologic Studies
                        A. Types of studies
                          1. National
                          2. Regional
                          3. Local
                        B. Methodologies
                          1. Historical data assessment
                          2. Collecting new data
                          3. Techniques
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