34
3.1 Defi nition of Major Water Engineering
Projects – A Proposal
Major water engineering projects (MWEPs) have been the subject of a large number
of studies and analyses in a variety of scientifi c disciplines. However, a precise,
standardised and generally accepted defi nition is missing so far.
Thinking of MWEPs, one of the fi rst associations coming to the mind of many
people might be large dams and reservoirs. A rather simple defi nition of large dams
has been provided by ICOLD (International Commission on Large Dams). ICOLD
has defi ned them as dams with a height over 15 m. Other institutions (such as the
World Commission on Dams) additionally designate dams as “large” when they
have a height between 5 and 15 m and a reservoir capacity of more than 3 × 10
6 m
3 .
Similar specifi cations, however, are not available for other MWEPs.
Large-scale technological approaches, however, are not limited to dams and reservoirs, but also comprise irrigation management, industrial usage and many other
purposes. Therefore, an attempt to a general defi nition of MWEPs is made in this
chapter. We argue that the planning, implementation and evaluation of such projects
should not be reduced to merely technical aspects. Instead, a more generic approach
is pursued here, and the implications of MWEPs for economy, society and the environment are considered as well.
“Water engineering” has been defi ned by Lotti ( 1980 ) as the subject that includes
(among others) “everything connected with the use of water resources, namely: the
study of the element ‘water’ (hydrology and hydraulics); the defi nition of its uses
and the structures needed for these; fl ood control; the maintenance of water quality
standards; socioeconomic aspects; and the relationship between water resources
and the environment.”
Accordingly, within the scope of this volume, major water engineering projects
are regarded as technical operations and construction schemes related to these fi elds
with a spatial, temporal and economic extent that is likely to result in relevant and
far-reaching effects on society and the environment. Their specifi c characteristics
affect many sectors of public life. The most prominent feature of MWEPs, however,
is their signifi cant effect on and their (usually permanent) intervention into natural
hydrological regimes.
The most important purposes of MWEPs relate to the following types usage
(according to Lotti 1980 ):
• Water supply
• Irrigation
• Industrial use
• Energy production, conversion and storage
• Inland navigation
• Fishing
• Recreation
As a result, major water engineering projects feature both potentially benefi cial
and adverse outcomes and can be described by the following common
characteristics:
S. Hoechstetter et al.
3.1 Defi nition of Major Water Engineering
Projects – A Proposal
Major water engineering projects (MWEPs) have been the subject of a large number
of studies and analyses in a variety of scientifi c disciplines. However, a precise,
standardised and generally accepted defi nition is missing so far.
Thinking of MWEPs, one of the fi rst associations coming to the mind of many
people might be large dams and reservoirs. A rather simple defi nition of large dams
has been provided by ICOLD (International Commission on Large Dams). ICOLD
has defi ned them as dams with a height over 15 m. Other institutions (such as the
World Commission on Dams) additionally designate dams as “large” when they
have a height between 5 and 15 m and a reservoir capacity of more than 3 × 10
6 m
3 .
Similar specifi cations, however, are not available for other MWEPs.
Large-scale technological approaches, however, are not limited to dams and reservoirs, but also comprise irrigation management, industrial usage and many other
purposes. Therefore, an attempt to a general defi nition of MWEPs is made in this
chapter. We argue that the planning, implementation and evaluation of such projects
should not be reduced to merely technical aspects. Instead, a more generic approach
is pursued here, and the implications of MWEPs for economy, society and the environment are considered as well.
“Water engineering” has been defi ned by Lotti ( 1980 ) as the subject that includes
(among others) “everything connected with the use of water resources, namely: the
study of the element ‘water’ (hydrology and hydraulics); the defi nition of its uses
and the structures needed for these; fl ood control; the maintenance of water quality
standards; socioeconomic aspects; and the relationship between water resources
and the environment.”
Accordingly, within the scope of this volume, major water engineering projects
are regarded as technical operations and construction schemes related to these fi elds
with a spatial, temporal and economic extent that is likely to result in relevant and
far-reaching effects on society and the environment. Their specifi c characteristics
affect many sectors of public life. The most prominent feature of MWEPs, however,
is their signifi cant effect on and their (usually permanent) intervention into natural
hydrological regimes.
The most important purposes of MWEPs relate to the following types usage
(according to Lotti 1980 ):
• Water supply
• Irrigation
• Industrial use
• Energy production, conversion and storage
• Inland navigation
• Fishing
• Recreation
As a result, major water engineering projects feature both potentially benefi cial
and adverse outcomes and can be described by the following common
characteristics:
S. Hoechstetter et al.