Assignment 2:

Title: "Urbanization and Its Impact on Hydrology and Water Resources"

Assignment Description: Urbanization is the process of population growth and expansion of

cities and towns, resulting in significant changes to the natural environment. In this assignment,
you will explore how urbanization affects hydrology and water resources in a region of your
choice. You will analyze the various aspects of urbanization's impact on the water cycle, runoff
patterns, water quality, and potential mitigation strategies.

Assignment Tasks:

1. Select a Region: Choose a specific urban or semi-urban region for your study. This could
be a city or a metropolitan area that has experienced significant urbanization.
2. Impact on Hydrological Cycle: a. Describe the natural hydrological cycle. b. Explain
how urbanization alters the hydrological cycle in your chosen region. c. Discuss the
changes in precipitation patterns, evaporation rates, and groundwater recharge due to
urbanization.
3. Changes in Runoff Patterns: a. Define surface runoff and its importance. b. Analyze
how urbanization affects surface runoff in terms of quantity and timing. c. Use
hydrographs to illustrate and compare pre-urbanization and post-urbanization runoff
patterns.
4. Water Quality Concerns: a. Explain the sources of water pollution in urban areas. b.
Discuss how urbanization contributes to water quality deterioration in local water bodies.
c. Provide examples of common pollutants associated with urban runoff.
5. Mitigation and Management Strategies: a. Suggest potential strategies to manage and
mitigate the adverse effects of urbanization on hydrology and water resources. b. Explore
the concept of green infrastructure and its role in urban hydrology. c. Present case studies
where cities have successfully implemented sustainable stormwater management
practices.

Submission Guidelines:

 Prepare a well-structured report including an introduction, main body, conclusions, and

references.
 Include relevant diagrams, hydrographs, maps, and images to support your analysis.
 Cite credible sources such as research articles, government reports, and academic
publications.
 Rubrics

Criteria Excellent (5) Proficient (4) Basic (3) Limited (2)

Demonstrates a Demonstrates a
Shows a solid Displays limited
thorough basic
understanding of or unclear
Content understanding of understanding of
urbanization's understanding of
Understanding urbanization's impact urbanization's
impact on hydrology urbanization's
on hydrology and impact, with some
and water resources. impact.
water resources. gaps.
Provides a
Offers a well-
comprehensive
rounded analysis of Provides a basic
analysis of Offers minimal or
hydrological analysis of some
hydrological superficial
Analysis changes, runoff aspects, but with
changes, runoff analysis with
patterns, water gaps or limited
patterns, water notable gaps.
quality, and depth.
quality, and
mitigation strategies.
mitigation strategies.
Integrates a wide Uses sources Limited use of
range of credible effectively to sources, with No or improper
Use of
sources effectively to support analysis and some citations use of sources
References
support analysis and understanding, with missing or not and citations.
understanding. a few minor issues. well-suited.
Writing is mostly
Writing is clear,
clear and organized, Writing is unclear Writing is
concise, and
Clarity and with some areas at times, causing confusing or
effectively organizes
Coherence needing confusion in highly
ideas, enhancing
improvement in conveying ideas. disorganized
understanding.
clarity or coherence.
Total Marks obtained (20)