Hydrological engineering involves designing and constructing equipment and structures to monitor, control, and store water. It has been used for thousands of years, from dams on the Nile to aqueducts in Greece and Rome. The Industrial Revolution brought a more structured approach, with a focus on supplying growing cities with fresh water and generating electricity. Hydrologists focus on water resource management, while hydrological engineers use their research to design and build systems. Hydrological engineering affects many areas, from flood control to bridge and port design, and may become increasingly important for providing adequate water supplies as food production becomes critical.
Hydrological engineering is the design and construction of equipment and structures to monitor, control and store water. The term “hydrology” refers to the relationship of water with the environment. A hydrological engineer uses engineering principles to design dams for water containment, pumping stations for distribution, and levees and bulkheads for flood control.
The earliest applications of hydrological engineering can be traced back thousands of years. Dams have been built on the River Nile to control flooding. The Greeks and Romans built aqueducts and canals to manage their cities’ water supply. Earthworks were built by early civilizations to control river flooding. Water control gates and valves were used to flood or irrigate fields when river levels were adequate, and pumps were designed to move water from rivers or lakes to fields in need of irrigation.
The Industrial Revolution brought a more structured approach to hydrological engineering. The water was used to power grain mills and simple mechanical devices. Dams and pipelines were needed to supply the growing cities with fresh water, and electricity was generated from these same storage systems. Sanitary systems were needed to handle a growing waste problem. Growing cities have expanded into undeveloped areas due to flooding or high water tables, resulting in the need for flood control and drainage.
The roles of the hydrologist and the hydrological engineer diverged somewhat during the 20th century. Hydrologists typically are more focused on water resource management, flood planning, and the impact of weather conditions on the water balance in a given region. Hydrology engineers use hydrologists’ research and estimates to design and build the systems that supply water, remove waste, control floods, and provide storage for current and projected water needs.
A growing interest in hydrology has led some universities to recognize hydrology and hydrological engineering as degree programs. Many hydrologists and engineers who graduated from the 1930s may have studied civil engineering and nurtured their interest in hydrology after graduation. Hydrological engineering is also fundamental to the proper design of agricultural irrigation and flood control and has led to graduate studies linking agricultural engineering and hydrology.
Hydrological engineering affects many other areas of the world. Flood control and river flow management affect bridge design. Port and port projects are constantly changing to accommodate new cargo and passenger vessels. Global climate change in the 21st century and beyond could require a massive redesign of flood control if proposed global warming estimates come true and sea levels rise as predicted. As food production becomes critical in many parts of the world, hydrological engineers and water resources engineers may have an increasing responsibility for providing adequate water supplies.
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