CE131

CIVIL ENGINEERING
ORIENTATION
WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING

Presented by: Engr. Lee Ann R. Soyangco

Water-resources engineering
is commonly regarded as a
subdiscipline of civil
engineering, and several
other specialty areas are
encompassed within the field
of water-resources
engineering.
What is Water Resources Engineering?
Water resources engineering is the study and management
of equipment, facilities and techniques that are used to
manage and preserve life’s most plentiful resource. In
addition to assessing how and the best ways in which to
control water as it pertains to water-related activities –
such as irrigation, waste disposal and canal development –
water resource engineers are also frequently involved in
water management to ensure that it’s safe to drink both for
humans, plants and animal usage.
Why is water resources engineering important?
Resources, by their very nature, are finite. There are
only a small handful that are naturally renewable –
such as wind, solar, hydro and biomass. While water
may be renewable in terms of the many different
ways it can be used and reused, it’s not as
abundant as it once was, which many earth
scientists and climatologists point to as a function
of climate change.
Why is water resources engineering important?
Water-resources engineers design
systems to control the quantity, quality, timing, and
distribution of water to support human habitation and
the needs of the environment.
Water-supply and flood-control systems are
commonly regarded as essential infrastructure for
developed areas, and as such water-resources
engineering is a core specialty area in civil engineering.
EDUCATION
Civil Engineering Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree specializing in Water Resources Engineering

FUNDAMENTAL CORE SUBJECTS

Fluid Mechanics

Hydrology

Hydraulics
FIELDS OF WATER RESOURCES ENGINEERING
Control of Water Utilization of Water Water Quality

Water Supply Management

Flood Mitigation
Irrigation
Storm Drainage Pollution
Hydroelectric-
Sewerage control
power development
Highway Culvert Wastewater
Navigation
Design Treatment
Improvements
WHAT DOES A WATER RESOURCES ENGINEER
DO?
Design new systems and equipment that help manage human

water resources (e.g. water treatment facilities, underground

wells, and natural springs)

Must consider budgetary constraints, government regulations,

and other factors when designing these systems

Oversee the construction and implementation of these systems

to ensure that they are properly assembled

Manage the maintenance of these systems

FACTORS TO CONSIDER IN DESIGNING
WATER RESOURCES SYSTEMS

1. Quantity of Water

2. Water Quality

3. Hydraulic Structures

4. Economics in Water Resources Engineering

5. Social Aspects of Water Resources Engineering

1. Quantity of Water

How much water is needed?

How much water can be expected?

Who may use this water?

 2. Water Quality
Problems of water quality are encountered in planning water supply and
irrigation projects and disposal of wastewater
Chemical and bacteriologic tests - Amount and character of

impurities in water

Plant and human physiologists - Evaluate the effects of the impurities

in water on crops or human consumers and set standard of acceptable

quality

Engineers - Provide the necessary facilities for removing impurities

from the water by physical, chemical, or biologic methods

 3. Hydraulic Structures

Application of the principles of fluid mechanics in designing

hydraulic structures
Involve complex curved and warped surfaces and sometimes
intricate detail for gates, valves, control systems, etc.
Geologic investigations are done to select the best of the
otherwise suitable sites, predicting the structural problems
that will result from the particular conditions at the site and
locating sources of native material suitable for use
4. Economics in Water Resources Engineering
The projects should serve their intended
purpose at a cost commensurate with the
benefits (value engineering)
Economic analysis is dependent on hydrologic
analysis of occurrence of extreme floods or
droughts
The project design is gaged against a scale of
probability so that the probability of failing to
serve its purpose is small.
5. Social Aspects of Water Resources Engineering

Many projects become controversial political issues

and are debated at length by people whose
understanding of the basic engineering aspects of
the problem is limited.
Throughout any negotiations concerning a project,
the engineer should adhere carefully to the code of
ethics of the professional society that represents the
civil engineering profession in his or her country.
 References:
https://engineeringonline.ucr.edu/blog/what-is-
water-resources-engineering/
https://www.environmentalscience.org/career/water
-resource-engineer
 "Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction,
faithful in prayer."
Romans 12:12

God bless.