University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

What is Environmental Engineering?

University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

Engineering

- the application of engineering principles, under constraints

of scientific principles to the planning, design, construction
and operation of structures, equipment and systems for the
benefit of society

Environmental Engineering
- the branch of engineering that is concerned with:

protecting the environment

protecting human populations

improving environmental quality for human health

University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

Global
The Environment

Area

Small
Volume
Localized
 Atmosphere
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

- a mixture of gases extending outward from the

surface of the earth

Hydrosphere

- consists of the oceans, the lakes and streams, and

shallow groundwater bodies that interflow
with the surface water

Lithosphere

- the soil that wraps the core of the earth

University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

The Biosphere

Hydrosphere

Biosphere
Atmosphere

Lithosphere
 The Impact of Human upon the Environment
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

Satisfying Natural Needs

University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering
Satisfying Acquired Needs
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

The Impact of the Environment upon Humans

 Improvement of Environmental Quality
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

Environmental Strategies

- are comprehensive plans that usually address a variety

of problems that confront a single area

Environmental Tactics

- the means for achieving the goals set forth in a specific

portion of a given environmental strategies
 Improvement of Environmental Quality
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

Edwin Chadwick – penned the ‘sanitary idea’ as a means of promoting

better health among the masses

- ‘An Inquiry into the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring

Population of Great Britain’ 1842 report

Chadwick’s engineering solutions included:

Supplying each dwelling with clean drinking water

Removing wastewater from dwellings and collecting it in a network of pipes
Applying collected sewage to agricultural land
 Table 1. The Industrial Revolution and Public Health
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

Date Science and Citizen groups and Government Activity

Technology professional opinion
1842 Chadwick’s monumental public
health report calls for
engineering solutions to
environmental miasma.
Griscom’s New York study in
1847 American Medical
1845 reaches similar conclusion.
Association founded with
intent to conduct
sanitation surveys
1848- Englishman William England’s National Public Health
9 Budd links typhoid fever Act passes
to water polluted by
sewage. New cholera
1850s Commuter railroads’ ‘The sanitary question’ For two generations, Royal
epidemic.
smoke and noise begin gains national prominence Commissioners recommended
to appear in American in England. Miasma theory purifying sewage by spreading it
suburbs guides public opinion on the land
1860s Pasteur experiments England’s River Pollution Act of
with microbes and 1876 makes it an offence to
vaccines discharge sewage into streams
1880s United States boasts Engineering journals
598 waterworks debate single-pipe versus
systems. Most sewage separate sewer system
systems dump designed by Col. Waring
untreated waste into
rivers, streams, lakes,
1884 Ladies Protective
harbors.
Association founded
 Table 1. The Industrial Revolution and Public Health
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

Date Science and Citizen groups and Government Activity

Technology professional opinion
1890s Water closets present Medical community British Commissions give up
engineers with pitted against land spreading of sewage as
overflow, collection, engineering societies impractical; begin to advocate
disposal problems. over who should decide treatment and dilution
Series of typhoid issues of public health. methods.
Chlorine introduced to Engineers prefer dilution Engineer Col. Waring appointed
epidemics occur.
purify water supplies. and filtration/purification New York’s first street-cleaning
methods for economic Commissioner.
reasons. Physicians
argue for wastewater
1900 3.5 million horses living
treatment.
in American cities,
representing air/water
pollution problems.
1905- International Association Pennsylvania passes law that
7 for the Prevention of forbids cities to dump untreated
Smoke established. sewage.
1910 Hazan and Whipple Resulted in widespread
Report concluded that dumping of sewage to rivers
a new sewage and Pittsburg did not get a
treatment plant ofr sewage plant until 1959
Pittsburg served no
advantage from an
1914 Arden and Lockett
economic and heath
discover “activated
standpoint
sludge’.
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

Table 2. Air Pollution episodes

Location Date Pollutant Effects
Meuse Valley, Dec. 1930 s
SO2 63 excess
Belgium deaths
Donora PA, Oct. 1948 SO2 20 excess
USA
Poza Rica, Nov. 1950 H2S deaths
22 excess
Mexico
London Dec. 1952 SO2 deaths
4000 excess
New York Nov. 1966 SO2 deaths
168 excess
deaths
 The Role of the Environmental Engineer
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

- amplify and optimize the operations observed in nature

- engineered system for pollution control
- knowledgeable in the in the mathematical, physical
and engineering sciences
- build a bridge between biology and technology
- must have keen awareness of the natural constrains in
the environment
 Environmental Law
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

Global
London Law of the Sea, 1962
Montreal Protocol, 1987/90
Stockholm Agreement, 1972
Rio Declaration, 1992

US Federal Europe
USEPA EU, Brussels

US state Country by country

Country/City Country/City

Figure 1. Levels of environmental legislation in the European Union and the United States.
 …… in the Philippines
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000

Republic Act No. 9003

Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

Republic Act No. 8749

Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990
Republic Act No. 6969

National Water and Air Pollution Control Commission Act

Republic Act No. 3931
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering
University of San Carlos - Department of Chemical Engineering