The Field of Environmental Engineering
Have you ever wondered..... Is my drinking water safe to drink? Could there be pesticides and pharmaceuticals in it? What happens to storm water runoff? Why does smog form and what can be done to prevent it? How can solid waste be recycled? How do we clean up beaches contaminated by oil spills? How can sustainable development be achieved? .....If you have wondered about things like this, environmental engineering may be the right field for you!
Environmental engineering has evolved since the 1800's from a field principally referred to as sanitary engineering and concerned with the design of water supply systems, to one that encompasses analysis, design, and operation of natural and engineered systems to protect and improve human health and environmental quality while also enabling sustainable development.
Today, environmental engineering has become a recognized specialty of engineering practice. A specialty in environmental engineering offers you opportunities to work in many areas including water supply, wastewater treatment, storm water management, solid and hazardous waste management, air pollution control, remediation of contaminated land, toxic materials control, industrial hygiene and public health, and land management. As an environmental engineer, you can be involved in investigations to analyze environmental and public health problems, studies to develop physical and mathematical models of environmental systems, projects to plan, design, construct, and operate water and air quality control infrastructure, research to advance environmental science and technology, and efforts to shape public policy and develop environmental regulations (Figure 1). Beyond having expertise in science and technology, environmental engineers must understand public policy and government regulations, and be able to make risk-based decisions and communicate the results of their work effectively.
Environmental engineering offers a broad range of career options that includes positions with local, regional, and national government agencies, nonprofit institutions, international organizations, environmental consulting firms, private industries, national laboratories, and universities. As an environmental engineer you can have a wealth of opportunities regarding the type of work you do, for whom you work, and where you work. A career in environmental engineering can provide a good salary, challenging work, and immense personal satisfaction. For more information, visit the following websites:
CSM Environmental
Science & Engineering: http://www.mines.edu/academic/envsci/
American Academy of Environmental Engineering: http://www.enviro-engrs.org/
ASCE Environmental and Water Resources Institute: http://www.ewrinstitute.org/
Water Environment Federation: http://www.wef.org/education/
A few
examples of the wide variety of activities and
projects that environmental engineers can become involved in:
(a) water resource monitoring and modeling, (b) membrane technology for
water treatment,
(c, d) wastewater reclamation and reuse facilities, (e) cleanup of contaminated
sites,
(f) reclamation of abandoned mine sites, (g) environmental process monitoring
and controls,
and (h) basic and applied research.
Prepared by Dr. R.L. Siegrist et al., Environmental Science & Engineering at CSM, v1.1, Feb. 4, 2004