Environmental Engineering is the application of engineering principles to improve and maintain the environment for the protection of human health and at-risk ecosystems. In the past, environmental engineers worked to provide clean drinking water, safely manage wastes, and clean the air we breathe.
2. What Is the Environment?
The environment is something you are very familiar with. It's everything that makes up our surroundings and affects our ability to live on the earth—the air we breathe, the water that covers most of the earth's surface, the plants and animals around us, and much more.
In recent years, scientists have been carefully examining the ways that people affect the environment. They have found that we are causing air pollution, deforestation, acid rain, and other problems that are dangerous both to the earth and to ourselves. These days, when you hear people talk about “the environment”, they are often referring to the overall condition of our planet, or how healthy it is.
Meaning and Definition:
The term environment has been derived from a French word “Environia” means to surround. It refers to both abiotic (physical or non-living) and biotic (living) environment. The word environment means surroundings, in which organisms live. Environment and the organisms are two dynamic and complex component of nature. Environment regulates the life of the organisms including human beings. Human beings interact with the environment more vigorously than other living beings. Ordinarily, environment refers to the materials and forces that surround the living organism.
The environment is the sum total of conditions that surround us at a given point of time and space. It is comprised of the interacting systems of physical, biological and cultural elements which are interlinked both individually and collectively. The environment is the sum total of conditions in which an organism has to survive or maintain its life process. It influences the growth and development of living forms.
3. Components of Environment:
Environment mainly consists of atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere.
But it can be roughly divided into two types such as (a) Micro environment and (b) Macro environment.
It can also be divided into two other types such as (c) Physical and (d) biotic environment.
(a) Micro environment refers to the immediate local surrounding of the organism.
(b) Macro environment refers to all the physical and biotic conditions that surround the organism externally.
(c) Physical environment refers to all abiotic factors or conditions like temperature, light, rainfall, soil, minerals etc. It comprises of atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.
(d) Biotic environment includes all biotic factors or living forms like plants, animals, Micro-organisms.
Components of Environmental Science
Ecology
Ecology is the study of organisms and the environment interacting with one another. Ecologists, who make up a part of environmental scientists, try to find relations between the status of the environment and the population of a particular species within that environment, and if there are any correlations to be drawn between the two. For example, ecologists might take the populations of a particular type of bird with the status of the part of the Amazon Rainforest that population is living in.
The ecologists will study and may or may not come to the conclusion that the bird population is increasing or decreasing as a result of air pollution in the rainforest. They may also take multiple species of birds and see if they can find any relation to one another, allowing the scientists to come to a conclusion if the habitat is suitable or not for that species to live in.
Geoscience
Geoscience concerns the study of geology, soil science, volcanoes, and the Earth’s crust as they relate to the environment. As an example, scientists may study the erosion of the Earth’s surface in a particular area. Soil scientists, physicists, biologists, and geomorphologists would all take part in the study.
Geomorphologists would study the movement of solid particles (sediments), biologists would study the impacts of the study to the plants and animals of the immediate environment, physicists would study the light transmission changes in the water causing the erosion, and the soil scientists would make the final calculations on the flow of the water when it infiltrates the soil to full capacity causing the erosion in the first place.
Atmospheric Science
Atmospheric science is the study of the Earth’s atmosphere. It analyzes the relation of the Earth’s atmosphere to the atmospheres of other systems. This encompasses a wide variety of scientific studies relating to space, astrology and the Earth’s atmosphere: meteorology, pollution, gas emissions, and airborne contaminants.
An example of atmospheric science is where physicists study atmospheric circulation of a part of the atmosphere, chemists would study the chemicals existent in this part and their relationships with the environment, meteorologists study the dynamics of the atmosphere, and biologists study how the plants and animals are affected and their relationship with the environment.
Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry is the study of the changes chemicals make in the environment, such as contamination of the soil, pollution of the water, degradation of chemicals, and the transport of chemicals upon the plants and animals of the immediate environment. An example of environmental chemistry would be an introduction of a chemical object into an environment, in which chemists would then study the chemical bonding to the soil or sand of the environment. Biologists would then study the now chemically induced soil to see its relationship with the plants and animals of the environment.
Environmental science is an active and growing part of the scientific world accelerated by the need to address problems with the Earth’s environment. It encompasses multiple scientific fields and sciences to see how all interchange and relate with one another in any of the above four components.
4. Major Environmental Legislation and Regulations in the Philippines
MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
REPUBLIC ACT 9003 ECOLOGICAL SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2000
In partnership with stakeholders, the law aims to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program that shall ensure the protection of public health and environment. The law ensures proper segregation, collection, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adaptation of best eco-waste products.
REPUBLIC ACT 9275 PHILIPPINE CLEAN WATER ACT OF 2004
The law aims to protect the country's water bodies from pollution from land-based sources (industries and commercial establishments, agriculture and community/household activities). It provides for comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and minimize pollution through a multisectoral and participatory approach involving all the stakeholders.
REPUBLIC ACT 8749 PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT OF 1999
The law aims to achieve and maintain clean air that meets the National Air Quality guideline values for criteria pollutants, throughout the Philippines, while minimizing the possible associated impacts to the economy.
REPUBLIC ACT 6969 TOXIC SUBSTANCES, HAZARDOUS AND NUCLEAR WASTE CONTROL ACT OF 1990
The law aims to regulate restrict or prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures the present unreasonable risk to human health. It likewise prohibits the entry, even in transit, of hazardous and nuclear wastes and their disposal into the Philippine territorial limits for whatever purpose; and to provide advancement and facilitate research and studies on toxic chemicals.
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1586 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS) STATEMENT OF 1978
The Environment Impact Assessment System was formally established in 1978 with the enactment of Presidential Decree no. 1586 to facilitate the attainment and maintenance of rational and orderly balance between socio-economic development and environmental protection. EIA is a planning and management tool that will help government, decision makers, the proponents and the affected community address the negative consequences or risks on the environment. The process assures implementation of environment-friendly projects.
5. Role of Environmental Engineering
Importance of Environmental Science
To realize that environmental problems are global
Environmental science lets you recognize that environmental problems such as climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid rains, and impacts on biodiversity and marine life are not just national problems, but global problems as well. So, concerted effort from across the world is needed to tackle these problems.
To understand the impacts of development on environment
It’s well documented and quantified that development results in Industrial growth, urbanization, expansion of telecommunication and transport systems, hi-tech agriculture and expansion of housing. Environmental science seeks to teach the general population about the need for decentralization of industries to reduce congestion in urban areas. Decentralization means many people will move out of urban centers to reduce pollution resulting from overpopulation. The goal is to achieve all this sustainably without compromising the future generation’s ability to satisfy their own needs.
To discover sustainable ways of living
Environmental science is more concerned with discovering ways to live more sustainably. This means utilizing present resources in a manner that conserves their supplies for the future. Environmental sustainability doesn’t have to outlaw living luxuriously, but it advocates for creating awareness about consumption of resources and minimizing unnecessary waste. This includes minimizing household energy consumption, using disposals to dispose of waste, eating locally, recycling more, growing your own food, drinking from the tap, conserving household water, and driving your car less.
To utilize natural resources efficiently
Natural resources bring a whole lot of benefits to a country. A country’s natural resources may not be utilized efficiently because of low-level training and lack of management skills. Environmental science teaches us to use natural resources efficiently by:
- Appropriately putting into practice environmental conservation methods
- Using the right tools to explore resources
- Adding value to our resources
- Making sure machines are maintained appropriately
- Thorough training of human resources
- Provision of effective and efficient supervision
- Using the right techniques to minimize exploitation
To understand behavior of organisms under natural conditions
Behavior is what organisms manifest to respond to, interact with, and control their environment. An animal exhibits behavior as the first line of defense in response to any change of environment. So, critical look at organism’s behavior can offer insightful information about animal’s needs, dislikes, preferences and internal condition providing that your evaluation of those observations firmly hinge on knowledge of species’-natural behavior.
To shed light on contemporary concepts such as how to conserve biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. The present rate of biodiversity loss is at an all-time high. Environmental science aims to teach people how to reverse this trend by:
- Using sustainable wood products
- Using organic foods
- Embracing the 3R’s, reduce, reuse, and recycle
- Purchasing sustainable seafood
- Supporting conservation campaigns at local levels
- Conserving power
- Minimizing consumption of meat
- Utilizing eco-friendly cleaning products
To understand the interrelationship between organisms in population and communities
Organisms and humans depend on each other to get by. Environmental science is important because it enables you to understand how these relationships work. For example, humans breathe out carbon dioxide, which plants need for photosynthesis. Plants, on the other hand, produce and release oxygen to the atmosphere, which humans need for respiration. Animal droppings are sources of nutrients for plants and other microorganisms. Plants are sources of food for humans and animals. In short, organisms and humans depend on each other for survival.
To learn and create awareness about environmental problems at local, national and international levels
Environmental problems at local, national and international levels mostly occur due to lack of awareness. Environmental science aims to educate and equip learners with necessary environmental skills to pass to the community in order to create awareness. Environmental awareness can be created through social media, creating a blog dedicated to creating awareness, community centered green clubs, women forums, and religious podiums.
*Environmental Engineer
An environmental engineer finds solutions to problems in the environment by leveraging his or her knowledge of soil science, engineering, biology, and chemistry. His or her area of focus includes control of pollution, recycling, and Public health aspects. A bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering is required to become an environmental engineer. An environmental engineer should be able to:
- Offer suggestions for maintaining and beefing up environmental performance
- Find out, evaluate and apply storm water good management practices for municipal, industrial and construction stormwater programs
- Evaluate environmental regulations and seek counsel with applicability determination
- He or she should document all environmental incidences
- Develop and keep in line environmental management systems to conform to air and permit regulations.
- Lead from the front in the negotiation and of permit applications
- Liaise with regulatory bodies, prepare required documentation, organize any testing sessions and provide more follow-up documentation needed.
http://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/environment/meaning-definition-and-components-of-environment/6157/
http://ecac.emb.gov.ph/?page_id=43
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/what-is-environmental-science-and-its-components.php
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