INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Section: Date Presented: July 3, 2024

Members Group No.

Trivia/Fun fact related to the topic/civil engineering:

➢ The earth provides enough to satisfy every person’s need but not every person’s greed.

Objectives:

➢ Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of environmental education.

Lesson Proper:

➢ WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING?

Environmental Engineering is one of the most complex and fastest growing
disciplines of Engineering. The scope of this field includes issues from public health
protection to aesthetics, and from impact on business development to the development of
legislation, standards, regulations, and guidelines, to their enforcement and environmental
protection.

➢ WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE?

is the study of nature and the facts about environment. Environment can be defined
as "all the social, economic, physical and chemical factors that surrounds man" or "all
abiotic and biotic components around man; all living and non-living things surrounds man.

➢ THERE ARE THREE REASONS FOR STUDYING THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT:
• First is the need for information that clarifies modern environmental concepts like
equitable use of natural resources, more sustainable lifestyles etc.
• Second, there is a need to change the way in which we view our own environment,
using practical approach based on observation and self-learning.
• Third, there is a need to create a concern for our environment that will trigger pro-
environmental action; including simple activities we can do in our daily life to protect
it.

➢ ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AS A PROFESSION

Environmental engineering has a proud history and a bright future. It is a career that
may be challenging, enjoyable, personally satisfying, and monetarily rewarding.
Environmental engineers are committed to high standards of interpersonal and
environmental ethics. They try to be part of the solution while recognizing that all people
including themselves are part of the problem.
Every state and most local governments have agencies dealing with air quality, water
quality and water resource management, soil quality, forest and natural resource
management, and agricultural management that employ environmental engineers. Pollution
control engineering has also become an exceedingly profitable venture.

➢ PUBLIC AWARENESS
Environmental Pollution or problems cannot be solved by mere laws. Public
participation is an important aspect which serves the environmental Protection.

➢ RISK AND HAZARDS IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmental risk due to various environmental hazards is an important topic for
environmental engineers to recognize and understand in order to protect human society and
ecosystems from harms or damages at local, regional or global scales. For example, to deal
with contaminated soil and ground water at a brown field, risk and exposure assessment help
engineers choose an optimal solution to either treat the hazard (e.g., to remove the
contaminants from the soil and water) or reduce the exposure (e.g., to cover up the land with
a barrier).
A hazard is a threat to life, health, property, or ecosystems, i.e., it involves something
that could potentially be harmful. Therefore, when a dormant hazard comes to fruition, it will
cause physical damage or destruction, loss of life, or drastic change to the environment, and
result in an incident, accident, emergency event, or disaster.
 ➢ Hazards may be classified into:
• Chemical hazards – These hazards involve exposure to harmful chemicals.
Examples.
o Combustion of Fossil fuels
o Industrial effluence
o pesticides heavy metals.
• Physical hazards – These hazards directly impact our physical well-being.
Examples.
o Radioactive and UV radiations
o Global warming
o Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
o Noise etc.
• Biological hazards – These hazards involve living organisms.
Examples.
o Bacteria
o Viruses
o Parasites

Summary:

❖ ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE explores the natural world, while ENVIRONMENTAL

ENGINEERING implements practical solutions to protect it.
❖ THERE ARE THREE REASONS FOR STUDYING THE STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT:
• Clarifying Environmental Concepts
• Changing Our Perspective
• Creating Environmental Concern
❖ Environmental engineering is a rewarding career that addresses environmental challenges.
Engineers uphold ethical standards, aiming to be part of solutions. They work in government
agencies, focusing on air and water quality, soil health, and pollution control. It’s both
impactful and financially rewarding.
❖ Public awareness and active participation are crucial for effective environmental protection
beyond legal regulations.
❖ Hazard Classifications
• Chemical hazards
• Physical hazards
• Biological hazards

Verse of the day:

“At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.”

Isaiah 60:22