Environment-Traditional &

futuristic methods
Module 4
 Content
• Environment-Traditional & futuristic methods
• Solid waste management,
• Water purification
• Waste water treatment & Recycling,
• Hazardous waste treatment;
• Flood control (Dams, Canals, River interlinking),
• Multi-purpose water projects,
• Atmospheric pollution;
• Global warming phenomena and Pollution Mitigation measures,
• Environmental Metrics & Monitoring;
• Other Sustainability measures;
• Innovations and methodologies for ensuring Sustainability.
 Solid waste management
• Waste : Waste (also known as rubbish, trash, refuse, garbage, junk, litter, and
ort) is unwanted or useless materials. In biology, waste is any of the many
unwanted substances or toxins that are expelled from living organisms,
metabolic waste; such as urea and sweat.
• “substances or objects which are disposed of or are intended to be disposed of
or are required to be disposed of by the provisions of the law”
• Kinds of Waste:
• Solid wastes: wastes in solid forms, domestic, commercial and industrial
wastes, Examples: plastics, Styrofoam containers, bottles, cans, papers, scrap
iron, and other trash
• Liquid wastes in liquid form Examples: domestic washings,
chemicals, oils, waste water from ponds, manufacturing industries
and other sources
 Types of Waste Household waste as municipal waste

Broadly there are 3 types of waste which as follows

Household waste as municipal waste : Household
waste, construction and demolition debris,
sanitation residue, waste from streets
Industrial waste as hazardous waste : Industrial
and hospital waste is considered hazardous as they
may contain toxic substances;
• Hazardous waste could be highly toxic to
humans, animals and plants. They are- corrosive-
highly inflammable or explosive
• In the industrial sector the major generators of hazardous waste are the metal’ chemical’ paper,
pesticide, dye and rubber goods industries.
• Direct exposure to chemicals in hazardous waste such as mercury and cyanide can be fatal
Biomedical waste or hospital waste as infectious waste: Bio-medical waste means “Any waste
which is generated during the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or
animals or in research activities pertaining thereto or in the production or testing of biological
-Bio-medical waste rules ,1998
• It may includes wastes like sharp waste, pathological waste, pharmaceutical waste,
genotoxic waste, chemical waste, and radioactive waste etc.
Storage Management Concept
The 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to be
followed for waste management.
Reduce : Disposable goods: paper plate,
paper bowl, Styrofoam cup, plastic spoon,
roll of paper towels, paper napkin;
• Durable goods: ceramic/plastic plate,
metal spoon, glass/plastic drinking cup,
dish towel, cloth napkin)
• Recovery of one tonne paper can save 17
trees.
Reuse : Instead of buying new containers
from the market, use the ones that are in
the house.
• Don’t through away the soft drink can or
bottle cover them with home made paper
or paint on them and use them as pencil
stands or small vases.
Recycle: Use shopping bags made of cloth or
jute which can be used over and over.
 Water Purification
1. Aeration:
•Raw water is first collected in large aeration tank and the
water is aerated by bubbling compressed air through
perforated pipes.
•Aeration removes bad odors and CO2. It also removes metal
such as iron, manganese by precipitating then as their
respective hydroxides.
2. Storage or settling:
•Aerated water is then placed in settling tank and stored for
10-14 days.
•During storage about 90% of suspended solids settle down
within 24 hrs and the water becomes clear.
•Certain heavier toxic chemicals also settle down during
storage.
•Similarly pathogenic bacteria gradually die and bacterial
count decreases by 90% in first in first 5-7 days of storage.
•During storage organic matter present in water is oxidized by
microorganisms. Similarly NH3 present is oxidized into nitrate
by microorganisms during storage.
 Cont.
• Coagulation:
• Water from storage tank is then placed in coagulation tank and then some
precipitating agents such as alum, lime etc are added in water and mixed.
• These precipitating agents form precipitate of Al(OH)3 when dissolved in water.
• Suspended solids absorbs on the surface of precipitate, so gradually mass of
precipitate becomes heavier and finally settle down.
• This technique is used to remove very light suspended solids that do not settle by
themselves during storage. Furthermore, if negatively charged colloidal
impurities are present, they are neutralized by Al+++ ions and settle down.
• 4. Filtration:
• Partially clarified water is then passed through sand gravity filter which removes
98-99% of microorganisms and other impurities.
 Contd…
• Sand gravity water filter:
• Sand filter is a rectangular tank in which filter bed is made up to 3 layers.
• Top layer: fine layer of 1 meter thick
• Middle layer: 0.3-0.5 meter thick layer of coarse sand
• Bottom layer: 0.3-0.5 meter thick layer of gravel
• There is a collection tank at the bottom of the filter bed to collect filtered water. During
filtration filter bed soon gets covered with a slimy layer called vital layer.
• Vital layer consists of thread like algae, diatoms and bacteria.
• During filtration microorganisms presents in vital layer oxidize organic and other matter
present in water. For example if NH3 is present, it is oxidized into nitrate.
• Vital layer also helps in filtration of microbial cells.
• If water contains unpleasant odor, activated carbon may be placed in filter bed that removes
bad odors.
• 5. Disinfection:
• The filtered water is finally purified by using disinfectants. Eg. Chlorination
• Disinfectant kills pathogenic as well as other microorganism in water.
• After disinfection water is pumped into overhead tank for subsequent domestic distribution.
 Waste water treatment & Recycling
1. Wastewater Collection
This is the first step in waste water treatment process. Collection systems are put in place by
municipal administration, home owners as well as business owners to ensure that all the wastewater
is collected and directed to a central point. This water is then directed to a treatment plant using
underground drainage systems or by exhauster tracks owned and operated by business people. The
transportation of wastewater should however be done under hygienic conditions. The pipes or tracks
should be leak proof and the people offering the exhausting services should wear protective
clothing.
2. Odor Control
At the treatment plant, odor control is very important. Wastewater contains a lot of dirty substances
that cause a foul smell over time. To ensure that the surrounding areas are free of the foul smell,
odor treatment processes are initiated at the treatment plant. All odor sources are contained and
treated using chemicals to neutralize the foul smell producing elements. It is the first wastewater
treatment plant process and it’s very important.
3. Screening
This is the next step in wastewater treatment process. Screening involves the removal of large
objects for example nappies, cotton buds, plastics, diapers, rags, sanitary items, nappies, face wipes,
broken bottles or bottle tops that in one way or another may damage the equipment. Failure to
observe this step, results in constant machine and equipment problems. Specially designed
equipment is used to get rid of grit that is usually washed down into the sewer lines by rainwater.
The solid wastes removed from the wastewater are then transported and disposed off in landfills.
 Cont…
4. Primary Treatment
This process involves the separation of macrobiotic solid matter from the wastewater. Primary treatment is done by
pouring the wastewater into big tanks for the solid matter to settle at the surface of the tanks. The sludge, the solid
waste that settles at the surface of the tanks, is removed by large scrappers and is pushed to the center of the
cylindrical tanks and later pumped out of the tanks for further treatment. The remaining water is then pumped for
secondary treatment.
5. Secondary Treatment
Also known as the activated sludge process, the secondary treatment stage involves adding seed sludge to the
wastewater to ensure that is broken down further. Air is first pumped into huge aeration tanks which mix the
wastewater with the seed sludge which is basically small amount of sludge, which fuels the growth of bacteria that
uses oxygen and the growth of other small microorganisms that consume the remaining organic matter. This process
leads to the production of large particles that settle down at the bottom of the huge tanks. The wastewater passes
through the large tanks for a period of 3-6 hours.
6. Bio-solids handling
The solid matter that settle out after the primary and secondary treatment stages are directed to digesters. The
digesters are heated at room temperature. The solid wastes are then treated for a month where they undergo
anaerobic digestion. During this process, methane gases are produced and there is a formation of nutrient rich bio-
solids which are recycled and dewatered into local firms. The methane gas formed is usually used as a source of
energy at the treatment plants. It can be used to produce electricity in engines or to simply drive plant equipment.
This gas can also be used in boilers to generate heat for digesters.
 Cont……
7. Tertiary treatment
This stage is similar to the one used by drinking water treatment plants which clean raw water for drinking purposes. The tertiary
treatment stage has the ability to remove up to 99 percent of the impurities from the wastewater. This produces effluent water
that is close to drinking water quality. Unfortunately, this process tends to be a bit expensive as it requires special equipment,
well trained and highly skilled equipment operators, chemicals and a steady energy supply. All these are not readily available.
8. Disinfection
After the primary treatment stage and the secondary treatment process, there are still some diseases causing organisms in the
remaining treated wastewater. To eliminate them, the wastewater must be disinfected for at least 20-25 minutes in tanks that
contain a mixture of chlorine and sodium hypochlorite. The disinfection process is an integral part of the treatment process
because it guards the health of the animals and the local people who use the water for other purposes. The effluent (treated
waste water) is later released into the environment through the local water ways.
9. Sludge Treatment
The sludge that is produced and collected during the primary and secondary treatment processes requires concentration and
thickening to enable further processing. It is put into thickening tanks that allow it to settle down and later separates from the
water. This process can take up to 24 hours. The remaining water is collected and sent back to the huge aeration tanks for further
treatment. The sludge is then treated and sent back into the environment and can be used for agricultural use.
Wastewater treatment has a number of benefits. For example, wastewater treatment ensures that the environment is kept clean,
there is no water pollution, makes use of the most important natural resource; water, the treated water can be used for cooling
machines in factories and industries, prevents the outbreak of waterborne diseases and most importantly, it ensures that there is
adequate water for other purposes like irrigation.
Conclusion
In summary, wastewater treatment process is one of the most important environmental conservation processes that should be
encouraged worldwide. Most wastewater treatment plants treat wastewater from homes and business places. Industrial plant,
refineries and manufacturing plants wastewater is usually treated at the onsite facilities. These facilities are designed to ensure
that the wastewater is treated before it can be released to the local environment. Some of the water is used for cooling the
machines within the plants and treated again. They try to ensure that nothing is lost. It illegal for disposing untreated wastewater
into rivers, lakes, oceans or into the environment and if found culpable one can be prosecuted.
 Hazardous Waste Treatment
Hazardous Waste : Any residues or combination of residues other than radioactive
waste which by reason of its chemical reactivity or toxic, explosive, corrosive or
other characteristics causes potential hazard to human or environment, either
alone or when in contact with other wastes and which therefore cannot be
handled, store, transported, treated or disposed off without special precautions.
Sources:• Inorganic &organic chemicals; • Petroleum refineries; • Iron & steel
• Non ferrous metals;• Leather tanning;• Metal finishing.
Hazardous Waste Classification:
1.Ignitability -Ignitable Wastes; 2. Corrosivity -Corrosive Waste ; 3.Reactivity
-Reactive Waste; 4.Toxicity -Toxic Waste
Hazardous Waste Management Strategy:
1. Waste minimization 2. Detoxification & neutralization of waste by treatments
3. Destruction of combustible waste by incineration 4. Solidification of sludge &
ash from steps from 2 & 3 5. Disposal of residues in landfills.
 Hazardous Waste Management Strategy
1.Waste minimization:
• helps in resource conservation, economic efficiency & environmental protection.
• The strategies include—source reduction, recycling and waste exchange.
2. Treatment Methods:
• Physical treatment : Involves variety of separation techniques; Whenever a waste
containing liquid & solid must be treated; Physical processes are Screening,
sedimentation, centrifugation, flotation, adsorption, stripping and RO.
• Chemical treatment: To make the complete breakdown of hazardous waste into non
toxic form and to reduce the hazard of a particular waste. Chemical methods are :
Neutralization, oxidation, reduction and anodic electrolysis
Neutralization: carried out when the waste contains excessive amount of acid or alkali.
Chemical oxidation : used to destroy toxic cyanide molecule with oxidising agents
Reduction: used in the conversion of hexa valent chromium into trivalent chromium
before it can be precipitated.
Anodic electrolysis: used for the destruction of cyanide in spent stripping & plating
solutions.
Cont….
• Biological treatment:
Different types of microorganisms are used for degradation of specific compounds of HW;
Some microbes found in soil & sewage sludge have been tested in the degradation of
organic chemicals; Tests have been conducted to degrade PCBs using pseudomonas &
flavo bacterium; Pseudomonas bacteria – benzene, phenol ,cresol
3. Incineration:
• able to achieve 99.99% destruction & removal efficiency of hazardous components in
waste.
• Primary products are CO2, vapour & ash
• Sulphur bearing wastes gives off SO2, CO2, H2O when incinerated.
• By products of incomplete combustion are sometimes more harmful.
• Two types of incinerators: liquid injection system, rotary kilns..
4. Solidification or Stabilization:
• Convert the waste into an insoluble, rock hard material.
• Additive materials used to reduce the mobility of pollutants in the waste.
• Certain materials like nickel cannot be destroyed or detoxified by above methods.
• The residues that are left out are solidified to reduce the leach ability.
Cont..
• 5.DISPOSAL METHODS:
• The options for disposal include land disposal, underground disposal
& deep well injection.
• The choice of disposal method should be based on evaluation of
economics & potential pollution risks.
• To prevent environmental pollution from landfills , it is essential that
site c/s are taken into account.
 Flood control by Dams
Description
Flow-through dams (also known as perforated dams) are constructed solely for the
purpose of flood control and mitigation of flood risks in downstream communities and
ecosystems. Unlike reservoir dams, which are at built primarily for water storage or power
generation, the spillway (opening) is built at the same height as the riverbed level,
allowing the river to continue its natural flow in normal conditions. When water levels rise
above the spillway, the dam restricts the amount flowing through the opening, decreasing
peak flood flow. Since flow-through dams minimally affect rivers natural flows, under
normal conditions negative environmental and socioeconomic impacts, such as sediment
accumulation, restriction of water flow to downstream communities and ecosystems, and
breaching during very extreme flood events, can be minimized or avoided altogether.
Implementation
Flow-through dams are constructed in high flood-risk areas, particularly those with
important infrastructure and livelihoods. Planners, local decision makers and construction
engineers are the typical stakeholders involved in construction site choice, as well as
spillway and wall height selection, and setting of desired river flow rates and dam carrying
capacity. Post dam construction socio-economic and environmental impact assessment
criteria should be established as part of implementation to avoid negative impacts on
ecosystems and local communities. Operational management typically includes general
maintenance and occasional clearing of sediments or other accumulations preventing
optimal water flow.
• https://www.ctc-n.org/technologies/flow-through-dam-flood-control
 Flood control by Canals
• Flood control channels are large and empty basins which let
water flow in and out (except during flooding) or dry channels
that run below the street levels of some larger cities, so that if
and when a flood occurs, the water will run into these
channels, and eventually drain into a river or other body of
water. Flood channels are sometimes built on the former
courses of waterways as a way to reduce flooding.
• Flood control channels are not to be confused with
watercourses which are simply confined between levees. These
structures may be made entirely of concrete, with concrete
sides and an exposed bottom, with riprap sides and an exposed
bottom, or completely unlined. They often contain grade
control sills or weirs to prevent erosion and maintain a level
streambed. Tujunga Wash is an
example of a concrete
• By definition, flood control channels range from the size of a flood control channel.
street gutter to a few hundred or even a few thousand feet
wide in some rare cases. Flood control channels are found in
most heavily developed areas in the world. One city with many
of these channels is Los Angeles, as they became mandatory
with the passage of the Flood Control Act of 1941 passed in
the wake of the Los Angeles Flood of 1938.
 Flood control by River interlinking
• River Linking is a project of linking two or more rivers by creating a network of
manually created reservoirs and canals, and providing land areas that otherwise
does not have river water access and reducing the flow of water to sea using this
means. It is based on the assumptions that surplus water in some rivers can be
diverted to deficit rivers by creating a network of canals to interconnect the
rivers.
• During heavy rainy seasons some areas can experience heavy floods while other
areas might be experiencing drought like situations. With network of rivers this
problem can be greatly avoided by channeling excess water to areas that are not
experiencing a flood or are dry.
• The National River Linking Project (NRLP) is designed to ease water shortages in
western and southern India while mitigating the impacts of recurrent floods in
the eastern parts of the Ganga basin. The NRLP, if and when implemented, will be
one of the biggest inter basin water transfer projects in the world.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Rivers_Inter-link
 Multi-purpose water projects
Multipurpose water projects generally refer to a water retention system which is used to generate electricity, to
prevent water shed flooding, provide irrigation, navigation, habitat improvement, improve fishery populations etc.
Thus this has more than one use
The positive impacts caused by dams are:
• Their capacity to generate hydroelectric power and thus provision of electricity to nearby places.
• Increase agriculture production in far stretching areas.
• Through provision of reliable water supplies, production of energy and creation of recreational opportunities,
dams have improved the economic and social well-being of many millions of people.
• Dams are the most important means of making surface water available at the place and time of demand.
• Creates new habitats through the reservoirs.
• Large dams provide flood protection.
• Hydro-power is a clean energy source.
• In developing countries like India where population is increasing at a greater pace, dams are needed for the
continuous supply of water.
• Continuous supply of water for irrigation to the farmers.
• Bring nation’s development.
• Encourage tourism also.
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/india-2/multipurpose-projects/top-10-multipurpose-projects-of-india/75006
 Atmospheric pollution
Atmospheric pollution is the release of a harmful chemical or material into the atmosphere. The consequences can
be devastating - carbon dioxide, for example, is one of the major causes of climate change, while nitrogen oxide and
sulphur dioxide combine to form harmful acid rain. Not all pollution is directly man-made, however, such as the
release of ammonia from livestock. Ammonia is toxic to many aquatic animals and can lead to soil acidification and
smog.
Atmospheric pollution is also harmful to human health. It has driven cancer to be the main cause of death in China,
the poster country for smog, and more than half of Americans are breathing unacceptable standards of air. In the UK
alone it is thought that air pollution causes 29,000 deaths every year.
• Sources of Air Pollution
A stationary source of air pollution refers to an emission source that does not move, also known as a point source.
Stationary sources include factories, power plants, and dry cleaners.
The term area source is used to describe many small sources of air pollution located together whose individual
emissions may be below thresholds of concern, but whose collective emissions can be significant. Residential wood
burners are a good example of a small source, but when combined with many other small sources, they can
contribute to local and regional air pollution levels. Area sources can also be thought of as non-point sources, such
as construction of housing developments, dry lake beds, and landfills.
A mobile source of air pollution refers to a source that is capable of moving under its own power. In general, mobile
sources imply “on-road” transportation, which includes vehicles such as cars, sport utility vehicles, and buses. In
addition, there is also a “non-road” or “off-road” category that includes gas-powered lawn tools and mowers, farm
and construction equipment, recreational vehicles, boats, planes, and trains.
 Cont…
Agricultural sources arise from operations that raise animals and grow crops, which can
generate emissions of gases and particulate matter. For example, animals confined to a barn or
restricted area produce large amounts of manure. Manure emits various gases, particularly
ammonia into the air. This ammonia can be emitted from the animal houses, manure storage
areas, or from the land after the manure is applied. In crop production, the misapplication of
fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides can potentially result in aerial drift of these materials and
harm may be caused.
Unlike the above mentioned sources of air pollution, air pollution caused by natural sources is
not caused by people or their activities. An erupting volcano emits particulate matter and
gases, forest and prairie fires can emit large quantities of “pollutants”, dust storms can create
large amounts of particulate matter, and plants and trees naturally emit volatile organic
compounds which can form aerosols that can cause a natural blue haze. Wild animals in their
natural habitat are also considered natural sources of “pollution”.
Six Common Air Pollutants
• The most commonly found air pollutants are particulate matter, ground-level ozone, carbon
monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and lead. These pollutants can harm health and the
environment, and cause property damage. Of the six pollutants, particle pollution and
ground-level ozone are the most widespread health threats. The U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) regulates them by developing criteria based on considerations of
human and environmental health.
 Global warming phenomena
Global warming is a phenomenon of climate change characterized by a general increase in average
temperatures of the Earth, which modifies the weather balances and ecosystems for a long time. It is
directly linked to the increase of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere, worsening the greenhouse effect.
In fact, the average temperature of the planet has increased by 0.8º Celsius (1.44° Fahrenheit) compared
to the end of the 19th century. Each of the last three decades has been warmer than all previous decades
since the beginning of the statistical surveys in 1850.
At the pace of current CO2 emissions, scientists expect an increase of between 1.5° and 5.3°C (2.7° to
9.54°F) in average temperature by 2100. If no action is taken, it would have harmful consequences to
humanity and the biosphere.
The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon. However, the increase in greenhouse gases is linked to
human activities.
Global warming causes:
• Fossil fuels
The massive use of fossil fuels is obviously the first source of global warming, as burning coal, oil and gas
produces carbon dioxide - the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere - as well as nitrous
oxide.
• Deforestation
The exploitation of forests has a major role in climate change. Trees help regulate the climate by
absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere. When they are cut down, this positive effect is lost and the carbon
stored in the trees is released into the atmosphere.
 Global warming causes
• Intensive farming
Another cause of global warming is intensive farming, not only with the ever-increasing livestock,
but also with plant protection products and fertilizers. In fact, cattle and sheep produce large
amounts of methane when digesting their food, while fertilizers produce nitrous oxide emissions.
• Waste disposal
Waste management methods like landfills and incineration emit greenhouse and toxic gases -
including methane - that are released into the atmosphere, soil and waterways, contributing to
the increase of the greenhouse effect.
• Mining
Modern life is highly dependent on the mining and metallurgical industry. Metals and minerals
are the raw materials used in the construction, transportation and manufacturing of goods. From
extraction to delivery, this market accounts for 5% of all greenhouse gas emissions.
• Overconsumption
Finally, overconsumption also plays a major role in climate change. In fact, it is responsible for
the overexploitation of natural resources and emissions from international freight transport,
which both contributes to global warming.
• On biodiversity
Global warming effects
The increase of temperatures and the climate upheavals disturb the ecosystems, modify the conditions and cycles of plant
reproduction. The scarcity of resources and climate change are changing life habits and migratory cycles of animals. We
are already witnessing the disappearance of many species - including endemic species - or, conversely, the intrusion of
invasive species that threaten crops and other animals. Global warming therefore impacts biodiversity. It is the balance of
biodiversity that is modified and threatened. According to the IPCC, a 1.5°C (2.7°F) average rise might put 20-30% of
species at risk of extinction. If the planet warms by more than 2°C, most ecosystems will struggle.
• On oceans
Because of global warming, permafrost and ice are melting massively at the poles, increasing the sea level at a rate never
known before. In a century, the increase reaches 18 cm (including 6 cm in the last 20 years). The worst case scenario is a
rise of up to 1m by 2100. The acidification of the oceans is also of great concern. In fact, the large amount of CO2 captured
by the oceans makes them more acidic, arousing serious questions about the adaptability of seashells or coral reefs.
• On humans
Human beings are not spared by these upheavals. Climate change is affecting the global economy. It is already shaking up
social, health and geopolitical balances in many parts of the world. The scarcity of resources like food and energy gives rise
to new conflicts. Rising sea levels and floods are causing population migration. Small island states are in the front line. The
estimated number of climate refugees by 2050 is 250 million people.
• On the weather
For decades now, meteorologists and climatologists around the world have been watching the effects of global warming
on the weather phenomena. And the impact is huge: more droughts and heatwaves, more precipitations, more natural
disasters like floods, hurricanes, storms and wildfires, frost-free season, etc.
 Global warming prevention
• Renewable energies
The first way to prevent climate change is to move away from fossil fuels. What are the alternatives?
Renewable energies like solar, wind, biomass and geothermal.
• Energy & water efficiency
Producing clean energy is essential, but reducing our consumption of energy and water by using more
efficient devices (e.g. LED light bulbs, innovative shower system) is less costly and equally important.
• Sustainable transportation
Promoting public transportation, carpooling, but also electric and hydrogen mobility, can definitely help
reduce CO2 emissions and thus fight global warming.
• Sustainable infrastructure
In order to reduce the CO2 emissions from buildings - caused by heating, air conditioning, hot water or
lighting - it is necessary both to build new low energy buildings, and to renovate the existing
constructions.
• Sustainable agriculture & forest management
Encouraging better use of natural resources, stopping massive deforestation as well as making agriculture
greener and more efficient should also be a priority.
• Responsible consumption & recycling
Adopting responsible consumption habits is crucial, be it regarding food (particularly meat), clothing,
cosmetics or cleaning products. Last but not least, recycling is an absolute necessity for dealing with
waste.
 Pollution Mitigation measures

The environmental regulation is to protect public health by reducing the presence

of certain pollutants. The health and environmental damages caused by a specific
concentration of a given pollutant in a given location at a given point in time are
the same regardless of its source. For political and practical reasons, however,
environmental regulations have treated point source polluters, such as power
plants, differently from mobile source polluters, such as vehicles. If existing
regulations designed to reduce Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) emitted from power plants to
regulations of NOx emitted from vehicles then the cost of reducing NOx from cars
less than one half of the cost of reducing NOx from power plants. So the estimate
efficiency losses of over $2billion from the current policy approach to regulating
NOx emissions.

http://idei.fr/sites/default/files/medias/doc/conf/eem/papers_2008/wolfram.pdf
Environmental Metrics
Environmental metrics are
designed to assess the
environmental impact of
technology or activity. The
impact is primarily related to
using natural resources
(renewable or non-renewable)
and generating waste. The
ultimate sustainability goal is
to minimize the environmental
impact via using less non-
renewable resources and
generating less waste and
pollution. Since the complete
elimination of these factors is
hardly possible, it is also
important to evaluate the rate
at which environment can
absorb the impacts and
Environmental Monitoring
Environmental monitoring describes the
processes and activities that need to take place to
characterize and monitor the quality of the
environment. Environmental monitoring is used in
the preparation of environmental impact
assessments, as well as in many circumstances in
which human activities carry a risk of harmful
effects on the natural environment. All monitoring
strategies and programs have reasons and
justifications which are often designed to establish
the current status of an environment or to
establish trends in environmental parameters. In
all cases, the results of monitoring will be
reviewed, analyzed statistically, and published.
The design of a monitoring program must
therefore have regard to the final use of the data
before monitoring starts.
 Environmental Monitoring
• Air quality monitoring : An air quality index (AQI) is used by government agencies to communicate to the public how polluted the air currently
is or how polluted it is forecast to become. Continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) were historically used as a tool to monitor flue
gas for oxygen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide to provide information for combustion control in industrial settings. A particulate matter
sampler is an instrument for measuring the properties (such as mass concentration or chemical composition) of particulates in the ambient air.
• Soil monitoring : Soil monitoring involves the collection and/or analysis of soil and its associated quality, constituents, and physical status to
determine or guarantee its fitness for use. Soil faces many threats, including compaction, contamination, organic material loss, biodiversity
loss, slope stability issues, erosion, salinization, and acidification. Soil monitoring helps characterize these threats and other potential risks to
the soil, surrounding environments, animal health, and human health.
• Water quality monitoring: Water quality monitoring is of little use without a clear and unambiguous definition of the reasons for the
monitoring and the objectives that it will satisfy. Almost all monitoring (except perhaps remote sensing) is in some part invasive of the
environment under study and extensive and poorly planned monitoring carries a risk of damage to the environment.
• Environmental monitoring data management systems : Given the multiple types and increasing volumes and importance of monitoring data,
commercial software Environmental Data Management Systems (EDMS) or E-MDMS are increasingly in common use by regulated industries.
They provide a means of managing all monitoring data in a single central place. Quality validation, compliance checking, verifying all data has
been received, and sending alerts are generally automated. Typical interrogation functionality enables comparison of data sets both
temporarily and spatially. They will also generate regulatory and other reports.
• Bio-monitoring: The use of living organisms as monitoring tools has many advantages. Organisms living in the environment under study are
constantly exposed to the physical, biological and chemical influences of that environment. Organisms that have a tendency to accumulate
chemical species can often accumulate significant quantities of material from very low concentrations in the environment. Mosses have been
used by many investigators to monitor heavy metal concentrations because of their tendency to selectively adsorb heavy metals. Similarly, eels
have been used to study halogenated organic chemicals, as these are adsorbed into the fatty deposits within the eel
• Carbon monitoring: Carbon monitoring refers to tracking how much carbon dioxide or methane is produced by particular activity at a
particular point in time. For example, it may refer to tracking methane emissions from agriculture, or carbon dioxide emissions from land use
changes, such as deforestation, or from burning fossil fuels, whether in a power plant, automobile, or other device. Because carbon dioxide is
the greenhouse gas emitted in the largest quantities, and methane is an even more potent greenhouse gas, monitoring carbon emissions is
widely seen as crucial to any effort to reduce emissions and thereby slow climate change.
Other
Sustainability
measures
Innovations and methodologies for ensuring Sustainability
• Technologies for sustainable development
Having recognized the need for innovation for sustainable development, it is not evident
what should be done. There are several options that contribute to diminish the
environmental burden of human activities. New technologies always entail social
change. The successful introduction of a new technology is therefore always a matter of
sociotechnical change. In the following sections, a range of sociotechnical solutions for
environmental problems is discussed. These technologies have been categorized
according to their degree of “radicalism,” i.e., the degree to which they affect current
technological systems:
• 1. Preindustrial solutions
• 2. Classic environmental technologies
• 3. Good housekeeping technologies
• 4. End-of-pipe technologies
• 5. Process adaptation and damage prevention
• 6. Sustainable technologies
• https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11625-007-0036-7.pdf
• https://interestingengineering.com/21-sustainability-innovations-and-initiatives-that-
might-just-change-the-world