Republic of the Philippines

POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILPPINES

Office of the Vice President for Branches and Satellite Campues
Unisan, Quezon branch

CWTS 10013

Prof. Janoras
LESSON 7: Environmental Protection
Environment
-is derived from the French word “environner” which
means ‘to encircle” or to ‘surround’.
It is the sum total of water, air, and land and the
interrelationships that exists among them with human
beings, other living organisms and materials.
Environmental protection is the practice of
protecting the natural environment by individuals,
organizations and governments.
Its objectives are to conserve natural resources
and the existing natural environment and, where
possible, to repair damage and reverse trends.
 Environmental Protection deals with the
following programs:
1. Pollution Control
-is the process of reducing or eliminating the release of pollutants into the environment. It is regulated by various environmental
agencies which establish pollutant discharge limits for air, water, and land.
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. It can take the
form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light. Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be
either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants.
Specific means of pollution control
1. refuse disposal systems such as sanitary landfills
2. emission control systems for automobiles
3. sedimentation tanks in sewerage systems
4. the electrostatic precipitation of impurities from industrial gas,
5. the practice of recycling
6. treatment of major areas of pollution control, can be air pollution control, waste water treatment, solid-waste management, and
hazardous-waste management.
2. Waste Management
R.A. 9003 or “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000” states
that “discipline associated with control of generation, storage, collection,
transfer and transport, processing, and disposal of solid wastes in a manner
that is in accord with the best principles of public health, economics,
engineering, conservation, aesthetics, and other environmental
considerations, and that is also responsive to public attitudes”.
The law aims to protect both the public health and the environment.
3. Water Purification
Water treatment:
1. Pre-treatment
− Pumping it is the movement of water from the lower points to higher points with
a required discharge and pressure head.
− Screening is a unit operation that separates material in and/or water
− Storage refers to holding water in a contained area for a period of time. Water
storage can be natural or artificial.
− Pre-conditioning  is a method of removing or altering minerals, chemicals and
contaminants from a water source.
− Pre-chlorination is the addition of chlorine in the collection system serving the
wastewater treatment plant or at the headworks of the water treatment plant.
2. Flocculation – is a process which clarifies water
3. Sedimentation – allows floc to settle to the bottom
4. Filtration – removes remaining suspended particles and unsettled floc
5. Disinfection – filters out harmful microbes using disinfectant chemicals
 Water is essential to life on earth. The Earth’s water is 95% Salt Water; 5% is Fresh Water (river,
lakes, streams and only 1% of the Fresh water is available for use.
Water is one of our most precious resources. Our bodies are made up of 66% water, and we must
have water to survive, thus, we need to conserve water and protect our sources of water.
Sources of Water
1. Groundwater is water that is found underground within rocks. These waters emerge
from some deep ground water which may have been rain tens, hundred and even thousands of
years ago.
2. Reservoirs: upland (Dam) and lowland (river, streams, canal)
3. Atmospheric Water Generation
4. Desalination of Seawater by distillation or reverse osmosis
Atmospheric Water Generation
4. Climate Change Adaptation
According to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
“it is the change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the
composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed
over comparable time periods.”
EFFECTS OR THREATS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
Effects on Climate Elements and Weather
Effects on Biodiversity
Effects on Human Population and Health
5. Nursery Establishment
Nurseries are place where plants are propagated and grown to a desired age.
Nurseries include:
1. retail nurseries which sell to the general public,
2. wholesale nurseries which sell only to businesses such as other nurseries and to commercial
gardeners,
3. private nurseries which supply the needs of institutions or private estates
Nurseries may supply plants for gardens, agriculture, forestry and conservation biology.
Plant nurseries
6. Environmental Laws
is a term used to explain regulations, statutes, local, national and international legislation, and
treaties designed to protect the environment from damage and to explain the legal consequences
of such damage towards governments or private entities or individuals.

Environmental Protection is influenced by three interwoven factors:

1. Environmental legislation is in the form of Presidential Decrees, Republic Acts, and
environmental policies. These legislations cover the wildlife (flora and fauna) and the challenge to
protect the environment.
Examples: o R.A. 8749 or Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
o R.A. 9003 or Ecological Waste Management Act of 2002
2. Environmental Ethics or philosophy extends the traditional boundaries of ethics from solely humans
to non-human world. It serves as basis for ethical decisions that human beings make with respect to the
environment.

Examples: o Should we continue to cut trees and denude forests for the sake of
human consumption?
o Should we continue to make gasoline powered vehicles

o Is it right for humans to intentionally cause the extinction of species

for the convenience of humanity? Say for instance, crocodiles
and snakes?
3. Environmental Education is a process that allows individuals to
explore environmental issues, engage in problem solving, and take action
to improve the environment.
As a result, individual develop a deeper understanding of environmental
issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible decisions. It
does not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of action. Rather,
environmental education teaches individuals how to weigh various sides
of an issue through critical thinking and it enhances their own problem
solving and decision-making skills.
THANK YOU