Lecture #1 Environmental Eng. Gr.

3 28092020
Introduction:
Environmental Engineering: Is the application of
Science and engineering principles to improve the
environment (air, water, and / or Land resources) in
order to provide healthy air, water, Land for human
habitation and other organisms and to remediate the
polluted sites.
 Environmental Engineering involves water, air
pollution control, recycling waste disposal, and public
health issues as well as knowledge of Environmental
Engineering laws.
 It also includes studies on the Environmental impact
of proposed construction projects.
 Environmental Engineering conducts hazardous
waste - management studies in order to evaluate the
significance of such hazards, advises on treatment and
develops regulations to prevent accidents (disasters).
 Environmental Engineers also design municipal water
supply and industrial waste water treatment systems
as well as address local and worldwide environmental
issues such as the effects of acid rain, Ozone
depletion, water pollution and air pollution from
Automobile exhausts and industrial sources…
 Environmental Engineering deals with causes,
sources and control of pollution related to human
development and process of (Agricultural, industrial,
population growth and others) to produce higher
standard of living.
Pollution: Undesirable change to physical, chemical or
biological characteristics of air, water or land that can
harmfully affect the health or activities of human or other
living organisms. Or it is
The introduction of contaminants into the environment
that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to
the ecosystem.
 Pollutants are the elements (basics) of pollution. They
can be foreign substances (materials) or naturally
occurring. In case of naturally occurring, they become
contaminants if they exceed the natural levels.
 Pollution becomes a major environmental concern
with potential for depletion and degradation of ground
water.
 And, when contaminated (when harmful substances
rains into soil and reaches the aquifers), it will be very
difficult and costly to be cleaned. Therefore,
 The governmental bodies in the United States such
as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
U.S. Geological Survey are continuously monitoring
the streams (rivers), lakes, and the ground water to
ensure the highest quality of drinking water for public
health, to minimize environmental degradation, and to
improve efficient treatment of waste-water.
 Water can pose a serious challenge to sustainable
development. However, if managed efficiently and
equitably, it can play a big role in strengthening the
social economic and environmental systems in the
light of rapid and unpredictable changes.
 As of today, more than 1.7 billion people live in river
basins where depletion (reduction) through its use
exceeds the natural recharge.
 A trend of two-thirds of the world’s population living in
water- stressed countries is predicted by 2025.
 Most recent reports of Middle East area show an
alarming rate of decrease in total water storage of
approximately 27.2 ± 0.6 mm/year equivalent water
height (equal to a volume of 143.6 km3/year).
 EPA states that the most serious threat to human
health and the environment is the contamination of
ground water. And the most frequently reported
cause of ground water contamination associated with
water-borne diseases by bacteria and viruses are
septic systems in the absence of governmental
regulations for siting, density, and maintenance.
Environmental Ethics (Policies and Rules)
 Environmental Ethics: The study of ethical
relationships between human beings and the natural
environment.
 Traditionally, industries and its basic components
were designed only based upon technical and
economic considerations. But, it is now essential to
consider environment, health and safety as important
factors during any design.
 It is essential during any project, to attain (achieve)
economic sustainability in addition to ecological and
social (community) sustainability.
 Impact assessment is an EASY tool to assess the
environmental compatibility of the projects in terms of
their location, suitability of technology, efficiency in
resources utilization and recycling, etc…
To set up any project or to renew the license of any old
and existing plant, approval report from Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) now became required.
(EIA) is a main environmental assessment tool being
used worldwide to provide decision-makers and the
concerned public with essential information to plan for
environmentally sustainable economic development.
(EIA) provides the conceptual framework for extending
the cumulative assessment of development policies,
plans and projects on a regional basis.
(EIA) requires assessing the existing environment
conditions before starting any project (including water
quality, air quality, and the land condition). In addition,
 EIA approval includes the maximum permissible limits
of the affected areas that must be complied with
during the construction and operations of this project.
 Therefore Environmental Quality Acts are very
important to be referred to before commencing
(beginning) any development.
 Sustainable development: Is a pattern of resource
use that aims to meet human needs while preserving
the environment so that these needs can be met
without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs.
 Sustainability requires human activities to use the
natural resources at rates it can be replenished
naturally. Unsustainable situation occurs when using
natural resources faster than it can be replenished.
Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA): Is a process
for estimating the likelihood of an adverse (opposing)
outcome or event due to pressures or changes in
environmental conditions resulting from human activities.
 (ERA) like (EIA), it involves identification, analysis
and presentation of information in terms of risk to
environmental values to inform planning and decision
making processes.
 ERA is a flexible TOOL that can be applied at:
 A variety of scales and levels (local or state).
 A variety of environmental issues (from wildlife to
water).
 Various levels of funding (from quick overviews to in -
depth comprehensive studies); and
 A variety of time scales: Short, medium or long-term.
 (ERA) assesses the interactions between the
administration and the environmental standards.
 Assessment and reporting of risk to environmental
standards can then be used to detect risk reduction
strategies. Later revisions to management plans and
actions will then be started to reduce the risk.
Environmental risk assessment is based on comparison
of indicators of environmental values over time.
Current conditions are compared with “natural” range
of variation and predicted future ranges based on
differing management scenarios.
 Assessment of environmental
conditions and indicators is
summarized in terms of a
“ Risk Index ”.