Environmental engineering, 1848-2016

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Environmental terms

Environmental engineering involves the use of engineering principles to construct and improve processes and infrastructure related to environmental protection and conservation. Environmental engineers work in a variety of fields, including air and water pollution control, recycling, waste management, and public health.

Environmental engineering is an interdisciplinary field that incorporates mathematics, chemistry, ecology (the study of ecosystems), geology, hydrology (the study of water), microbiology, and economics into its study of constructing, maintaining, and improving environmental protection. Examples of environmental engineering projects include dams, systems for recycling and reusing building waste in construction, municipal water supply and wastewater treatment facilities, plants to desalinate ocean water to irrigate crops, systems that assist refineries in reducing air pollutants, and more.

Background

Early forms of environmental engineering date back to the ancient world when ancient cities developed canals and networks to deliver water and remove wastewater. More modern forms appeared during the 19th century when drinking water quality became an environmental and public health problem as communities and water needs grew. Colonel De Witt Clinton, an Army engineer and son of former Governor of New York George Clinton, developed one of the earliest plans to dam a river and deliver water to New York City through a 40-mile aqueduct. Prior to the aqueduct, water was pumped into a reservoir from a well and distributed through wooden mains to portions of the city. By 1830, the water was delivered by 12-inch cast iron pipes. As the city grew, however, the well water became increasingly polluted and existing supplies could not meet demand. By 1842, after the aqueduct was implemented, New York City was receiving up to 95 million gallons of drinking water per day while other large cities began adopting the same method.

Beginning in 1848, Boston, Massachusetts, installed combined sewers large enough to carry unsanitary water and wastes to a nearby river or the ocean, an approach favored by other large cities due to low construction costs. Beginning in the 1950s and 1960s, environmental engineering developed into a separate academic discipline to address emerging environmental issues such as air and water pollution and hazardous waste management, which were related to the continued growth of heavy industry in the United States.

Tasks

Environmental engineers design systems for municipal water supplies. These systems focus on maintaining and cleansing water supplies.

Environmental engineers develop processes and infrastructure to maintain public health and the environment. Environmental engineers specialize in fields such as air pollution control, water treatment, industrial or municipal facility inspection, quality control checks, government advising, and more.

Environmental engineers design and modify technologies that are used to prevent the release of harmful chemical or biological compounds into the air, water, or soil. As part of this work, environmental engineers must consider biological and chemical properties of certain compounds, the ability of certain compounds to affect the environment, and the agricultural or industrial processes that release these compounds.

Environmental engineers also identify the sources of harmful compounds. For example, environmental engineers study lakes or other bodies of water affected by harmful compounds and trace the contaminants' origin, which can be near or far from the contaminated body of water. Once the source is detected, environmental engineers work with private businesses to reduce or eliminate the discharge of pollutants or to implement processes to dispose of harmful compounds elsewhere. Additionally, environmental engineers advise federal, state, and local regulatory bodies on the supervision and approval of environmental engineering projects.

Below is a list of regular tasks performed by environmental engineers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:

“	Prepare, review, and update environmental investigation reports Design projects that lead to environmental protection, such as water reclamation facilities, air pollution control systems, and operations that convert waste to energy Obtain, update, and maintain plans, permits, and standard operating procedures Provide technical support for environmental remediation projects and for legal actions Analyze scientific data and do quality-control checks Monitor the progress of environmental improvement programs Inspect industrial and municipal facilities and programs in order to ensure compliance with environmental regulations Advise corporations and government agencies about procedures for cleaning up contaminated sites	”
—U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Project areas

Wastewater treatment plants remove impurities from sewage before they reach aquifers, rivers, lakes, and estuaries.

Environmental engineers work in the areas of drinking water quality, wastewater disposal, air pollution control, hazardous waste treatment, and more. Below is a brief summary of the project areas that involve environmental engineering.

• The treatment and distribution of drinking water involves altering a water source to achieve a specific level of quality safe for human consumption. During the late 19th century and early 20th century, this mainly involved removing disease-causing microorganisms by using sand filtration and chlorine as a disinfectant. Once water-borne diseases were eradicated in developed countries, water treatment shifted to address chemical contamination related to chronic health effects, such as reproductive problems and neurological disorders.
• The collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater involves removing impurities from sewage before it reaches aquifers, rivers, lakes, and estuaries. Wastewater treatment plants use a variety of biological, physical, and chemical processes to remove bacteria, harmful chemicals, and other contaminants. For example, some plants use a process known as screening to trap and remove solids and sediments from raw sewage. Another treatment process is the use of microbes to dissolve organic matter that manages to escape the screening process.
• Air pollution control involves adopting technologies and techniques to reduce or eliminate harmful compound emissions into the air. Pollution control devices for a specific facility depend on variations in the reactivity, shape, density, and size of certain air pollutants. One common device used to remove harmful compounds is a cyclone. Cyclones (or cyclone collectors) remove certain particles by directing a contaminated airstream to flow inside a cylindrical chamber. The contaminated air spins around the chamber and forms a vortex as larger particles move outward and stick to the chamber wall due to their inertia. The particles then fall down to a container at the bottom of the chamber, and the cleaned air flows upward and is released from an outlet at the top of the cyclone.
• Hazardous waste treatment involves collecting, treating, and disposing of hazardous waste materials. These materials are generated by manufacturing, chemical production, and other industrial activities. Wastes can take the form of gases, solids, liquids, or sludges (residual, semi-solid material). Hazardous wastes are treated by chemical, thermal, biological, and physical processes. A common thermal process is high-temperature incineration in which organic wastes are detoxified and then destroyed. A common biological treatment involves adding microbes, such as genetically engineered bacteria, to metabolize the waste on specific plot of land.

Major groups

• The American Academy of Environmental Engineering and Scientists is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization that began in 1955. Its stated mission involves "protecting public health and the environment by recognizing leadership and excellence through Board Certification of Environmental Engineers and Scientists...[and] providing professional development opportunities for students, engineers, and scientists." The academy organizes training workshops and seminars, participates with colleges and universities, publishes periodicals, and awards environmental engineers for outstanding achievement in the field. The academy is also influential in reviewing and shaping environmental engineering curricula.

See also

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  Environmental health

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  Environmental science

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  Environmental chemistry

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  Ecology

External links

• American Academy of Environmental Engineering and Scientists
• World Health Organization
• National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences