Environmental Science and

Engineering
(Lecture Notes)

Engr. Richard B. Almodal

Instructor
S.Y. 2023-24

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 COURSE RATIONALE and DESCRIPTION
This course provides an understanding of the principles and concepts behind environmental
phenomena and current issues related to the environment. This includes topics related to the ecosystem,
natural resources and environmental pollution, environmental laws as well as sustainable development and
energy. Moreover, the course presents an overview of general engineering and scienti ic solutions on the
environmental pollution problems brought by the community and industrial plants operations to protect and
utilize natural resources, control environmental pollution, improve environmental quality that will lead to a
healthy ecosystems and comfortable habitat for humans as well as alleviate the consequences of
environmental degradation and attain sustainable development.

CREDIT and Time Allotment

Lecture - 3 units
4 hours lecture per week

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. Class participations - 20%
2. Group Project - 20%
3. Reporting - 20%
4. Major Exams - 40%

For this term, we have:

- 12 Lectures (6 in Midterm & 6 in Finals)
- 2 Major Exams ( Midterm & Final Exam)

References
1. Cunningham, William & Cunningham, Mary (2018). Environmental Science: A Global Concern. 14th
Edition: McGraw Hill Education, Inc.
2. Vesilind, Aarne P., Morgan, Susan M. & Heine, Lauren G (2010). Introduction to Environmental
Engineering. 3rd Edition: Cengace Learning.
3. Davis, Mackenzie & Masten, Susan (2013). Principles of Environmental Engineering & Science. 3rd
Edition: McGraw Hill Education, Inc.

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 Lecture 1: Introduction to Environmental Science and Engineering

Environment (from the French environner: to encircle or surround) can be de ined as, (1) the
circumstances or conditions that surround an organism or group of organisms, or (2) the complex of social or
cultural conditions that a ect an individual or community.
1. Natural Environment - all living (biotic) and non-living things (abiotic);
- Four (4) domains: Atmosphere (Air), Lithosphere (earth), Hydrosphere (water), and Biosphere
(life).
2. Built Environment - human-made surroundings that provide the setting for human activity.
Examples would include cities, buildings, urban spaces, walkways, roads, parks, etc.
Science (from Latin word scientia which means knowledge) is a process for producing knowledge
methodically and logically;
- the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following
a systematic methodology based on evidence.
Environment + Science [environner (encircle or surround) + scientia (knowldege)]
Environmental Science is the systematic study of our environment and our proper place in it.
- Highly interdisciplinary, integrates natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities in a broad,
holistic study of the world around us.

- Mission-oriented because it seeks new, valid, contextual knowledge about the natural world and our
impacts on it.

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 - With this, we are able to learn about the problems we have created with the environment and take
responsibility of our actions.
- Environmental science make us:
Aware and appreciate the natural and built environment;
Knowledgeable of natural systems and ecological concepts;
Understand the current environmental issues; and
Able to use critical-thinking and problem solving skills on environmental issues.
Engineering (from Latin word ingenium/ingeniare meaning cleverness/to contrive, devise) is the
creative application of scienti ic principles to design or develop structures, machines, apparatus, or
manufacturing processes, or works utilizing them singly or in combination; or to construct or operate the same
with full cognizance of their design; or to forecast their behavior under speci ic operating conditions; all as
respects an intended function, economics of operation and safety to life and property. (ECPD, the predecessor
of ABET)
- the application of science and maths to solve problems;
- use of scienti ic principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items.
Environment + Engineering [environner (encircle or surround) + ingeniare (to devise)]
Environmental Engineering is the application of scienti ic and engineering principles to improve and
maintain the environment to:
Protect human health;
Protect nature’s bene icial ecosystems; and
Improve environmental related enhancement of the quality of human life.
Class Discussion: What will be the meaning then of Environmental Science and Engineering?

Environmental Engineering is a branch of engineering that aims to improve the quality of environment
and promotes protection of people from adverse environmental e ects lik pollution. According to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mission of environmental engineers is to improve recycling, waste disposal,
public health, and water and air pollution control (Lucas, 2014).
History of Environmental Engineering (Vesilind, Morgan, & Heine, 2010)
From the beggining of civilization, environmental engineers provided clean water and managed
wastes as it was necessary whenever people congregated in organized settlements. In the ancient cities, the
availability of a reliable water supply became a defensive necessity. The so called engineers of antiquity were
the builders of wells and aqueducts. They were also the people who built the city walls and moats, as well as
the catapults and other engines of war. During mid-1700s, the term “civil engineering” was born as engineers
who built facilities for the civilian population began to distinguish themselves from the engineers primarily
engaged in matters of warfare. In the formative years of the United States, engineers were mostly self-
educated or were trained at the newly formed United States Military Academy.

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 With the arrival o f industrialization, unsanitary conditions in the cities were unbelievably great due to
the lack of water and waste management. Though, there was no public outcry until they found out that water
carry diseases. From then on, the civil engineers were also tasked to make sure the water would not be a
vector for disease transmission. In the late 19th century, the major objective was to eliminate the waterborne
disease. Public health became a primary concern of the civil engineers who were concerned with the drainage
of cities and the provision of clean water supplies became public health engineers (in Britain) and sanitary
engineers (in the United States).

Current Environmental Conditions (Environmental Problems)

1. Overpopulation
2. Hunger
3. Climate Change
4. Global Energy Crisis
5. Biodiversity Loss
6. Deforestation
7. Clean Water
8. Air Pollution
9. Solid Waste
1. Overpopulation - A situation in which the earth cannot regenerate resources used by the world
population each year.
- Overpopulation data : 8.045 Billion World population 2023
: 80 Million added more to the world each year (220,000 per day;
9,100 per hour; 150 per minute; 2-3 per second)
: estimated 9.7 Billion by 2050
- Causes of Overpopulation :
1. Falling mortality rate : improvement in technology and over-all Public Health
2. Underutilized contraception : 44% of pregnancies “unintended”
3. Lack of female education : 130 million girls out of school
4. Immigration : many people prefer to move to developed countries
- E ects of Overpopulation:
1. Depletion of Natural resources : Basic economics: high demand, low supply. High
consumers, low resources.
2. Degradation of Environment : Overuse of coal, oil, natural gas. Rise in number of vehicles
and industries, which a ects air quality.
3. Pandemics and Epidemics : Overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions, malnutrition.
High densities of population increase emergence of new diseases.

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 4. Unemployment/Poverty : fewer jobs to support large number of people. Rise in
unemployment = rise to crime.
- Solutions for Overpopulation:
1. Individual level : Donate to family planning programs. Have fewer children, one is good,
two is enough.
2. Community level: Join local environmental groups. Municipalities set growth management
boundaries.
3. National level : Fund family planning programs. Make modern contraception legal, free and
available everywhere. Restrict child marriage. Sex education.
4. Global level : Include “Ending Population Growth” as one of UN SDGs. Create new global
treaty to end population growth. Global religious leaders should approve modern contraception
methods.
Class Activity: Students will be randomly assigned in 8 groups. One (1) Environmental problem will be
assign for each group. The students will search 3-4 Causes, E ects and Solutions for the environmental
problem assigned in their room. Each group will be given 5 minutes each to present.
* As distinguished economist Barbara Ward pointed out, for an increasing number of environmental
issues, the di iculty is not to identify remedies. Remedies are now well understood. The problem is to make
them socially, economically, and politically acceptable. Foresters know how to plant trees, but not how to
establish conditions under which villagers in developing countries can manage plantations for themselves.
Engineers know how to control pollution, but not how to persuade factories to install the necessary
equipment. City planners know how to build housing and design safe drinking water systems, but not how
to make them a ordable for the poorest members of society. The solutions to these problems increasingly
involve human social systems as well as natural science.

Topic Summary:
Main Topic I: Ecological Concepts
1. Matter, Energy and Life (Lecture 2)
2. Evolution, Biological Communities, and Species Interactions (Lecture 3)
3. Biomes (Lecture 4)
4. Geology, Earth Resources, and Climate Change (Lecture 5)
Main Topic II: Natural Resources and Pollution in the Environment
1. Water, Soil, Mineral & Rock, and Energy (Lecture 6)
2. Air Pollution (Lecture 7)
3. Water Pollution (Lecture 8)
4. Solid Waste Management (Lecture 9)
5. Toxic and Hazardous Waste (Lecture 10)

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 Main Topic III: Environmental Laws (Philippines Major Environmental Laws
1. RA 8749 (Lecture 7)
2. RA 9275 (Lecture 8)
3. RA 9003 (Lecture 9)
4. RA 6969 (Lecture 10)
5. PD 1586 (Lecture 11)
Main Topic IV: Sustainable Development and Energy (Lecture 12)
1. Sustainable Development
2. Sustainable Energy Management
3. Green Engineering

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