Environmental Engineering

(CENG 5274)

Dawit Debebe
Unity University, Civil Engineering Department
 Course content

 Chapter 1: Introduction
 Chapter 2: Material and Energy balances
 Chapter 3: Water Quality Engineering
 Chapter 4: Air Pollution and Control
 Chapter 5: Solid waste management
 Chapter 6: Environmental Impact Assessment
 What is Environmental Engineering?

“The application of science and engineering

principles to minimize the adverse (harmful)
effects of human activity on the environment.”

Environmental Science

Environmental Engineering
 Environmental Science
 The study of the processes in water, air, and soil and
organisms which lead to pollution or environmental
damage, and the scientific basis for the establishment of
a standard which can be considered acceptably clean,
safe and healthy for human beings and the natural
ecosystem.

Environment:
 “physical, chemical, biological, and social entities,
conditions and dynamics that surround us” Erikson
1994”
Environmental Science
 Quantitative environmental science

An organized collection of mathematical theories that may

be used to describe and explore environmental
relationships, while environmental science is an organized
body of knowledge about environmental relationships
 Environmental Engineering
 Concerned with the design, manufacture, installation
and operation of the engineering systems that
sustain and control the environments required by
people and processes.
 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER
 is a professional trained in the art of applying scientific
principles and technological means to avoid or reduce
forms of pollution by human activities.
 This includes possessing a knowledge of past and current
engineering practice and an ability to innovate.
 Environmental Engineering

 Involves social, political, economic, and legal issues

 object-focused (problem focused), rather than tool-
based
 It operates at four different levels:
 remediation of contaminated sites (=fixing the past),
 treatment of effluents (=dealing with present),
 pollution prevention, and
 care for future generations.
Core Area of Environmental Engineering
 Pollution

Environmental pollution is the contamination of the

environment with substances that are potentially
injurious to human, plant, and animal life or the
quality of that life.

Pollutant Release

Environmental Processes

Receptors/ Effects
Environmental Systems Overview
 An Example of a Typical River Basin Environment…
Agriculture Department
Livestock Department
Precipitation

Forest Department

Fishing
Rural Water Supply Department
Forest
Ev Hydropower Urban Water Supply Department
ap Reservoir
or
at
io
n Irrigation Department
/T Runoff
ra
ns
pi
ra Industry River Basin Boundary Power Department
tio
n Urban WSS Industry Department
Rural WSS
Rainfed Agr

Return Flow
Fisheries Department
Irrigation
Recreation

Groundwater Inflow
Community Use
Environment Department
Transport Department
Navigation
Tourism Department
Infiltration / Recharge

Wetlands / Environment
Livestock
Groundwater Department Base Flow / Pumping
Groundwater
Surface Water Department
Ocean Development/CZM Department Irrigation
Trans-boundary Water Institutions
…there is a need to share information and integrate the Groundwater Outflow

activities of multiple actors… Ocean

Three environmental systems
 Example Activities of Environmental
Engineers
 Remediation of soil contaminated by a gasoline leak
 Permit application based on atmospheric dispersion
estimates
 Improving environmental performance after an audit
 Preparation of an environmental impact assessment
 Environmental policies and legislations

• Problem regulations and policies

• To protect the environment and prevent/minimize
pollution
• To keep environmental quality
• Environmental law consists of all legal guidelines
that are intended to protect our environment
• Promote sustainable development
 Key Environmental Laws

Year Title Purpose

1963 Clean Air Act (CAA) Legislation to restrict emission levels of air pollutants
from automobiles.
1974 Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Drinking water regulation to protect public health
which specified the MCLs.
1976 Resource Conservation and To protect the public from harm caused by waste
Recovery Act (RCRA) disposal, to encourage reuse, reduction, and
recycling, and to clean up spilled or improperly
stored wastes.
1977 Clean Water Act (CWA) Legislation for BAT requirement for toxic substances
and BCT requirement for conventional pollutants.

1980 Comprehensive Environmental Created to protect public health from heavily

Response, Compensation, and contaminated toxic waste sites that have been
Liability Act (CERCLA) abandoned.
 Environmental Ethics

 Ethics is the systematic analysis of morality.

 Morality is the perceptions (awareness) we have of
what is right and wrong, good or bad, or just or
unjust.
 Environmental Code of Ethics
1. Use knowledge and skill for the enhancement and
protection of the environment.
2. Hold paramount the health, safety and welfare of the
environment.
3. Perform services only in areas of personal expertise.
4. Be honest and impartial in serving the public, your
employers, your clients and the environment.
5. Issue public statements only in an objective and
truthful manner.
 Reading assignment

 Read about historical perspective of environmental

engineering and environmental awareness.