Environmental Engineering Issues in the 21st Century Richard O. Mines, Jr., Ph.D., P.E. Professor Environmental Engineering Graduate Program Director Overview My Background What is Environmental Engineering? Environmental Dilemma? Environmental Engineering Job Market EVE Curriculum and Faculty Conclusions 1
My Background What is Environmental Engineering? Native Virginian BS Civil Engineering: Virginia Military Institute ME Civil Engineering: University of Virginia PhD Civil Engineering: Virginia Tech Registered Professional Engineer: FL, NM, VA Taught at: VMI, USF, Mercer, and Santa Fe CC Worked for CH2M Hill and Black & Veatch Specialty that evolved from Civil Engineering People serving profession Concerned about the health and well-being of the public 2
Environmental Engineers Have: Improved the quality of life and increased the longevity of life by: providing safe drinking water to the public, collecting and treating wastewater to reduce epidemics. An Environmental Engineer: Works for consulting firms designing pollution abatement systems Works for a regulatory agency such as the Environmental Protection Agency or the Georgia Environmental Protection Division Works for a municipality or public utilities such as the Macon Water Authority 3
President Bush Water Treatment Plants Design water transportation, water treatment and water distribution systems. Pumping Station Motors Environmental Engineers Design Pumping Systems 4
EPANET Giardia lamblia Ascaris Protozoan parasite Intestinal roundworm 5
Design wastewater collection systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and wastewater reuse systems. Wastewater Treatment Plant Mixer/Aerator 6
BIOWIN Air Pollution Control and Modeling Influent Zone #1 Zone #2 Zone #3 Zone #4 Aerobic #1 Aerobic #2 Effluent Wastage Design air pollution monitoring and control systems for stationary and mobile sources. 7
Conduct Research Design solid waste collection and treatment systems, and sanitary landfills. Sanitary Landfill 8
Hazardous Waste Sites Design sludge treatment and disposal systems. Design hazardous waste collection and treatment systems, and on-site remediation systems to treat contaminated groundwater and soil. Composted Sludge 9
Environmental Dilemma? As population increases the demand for water increases; the quantity of wastewater generated increases; the quantity of solid wastes generated increases; and the quantity of air pollutants generated increases. Global warming and climate change Rise in sea level In the past, the solution to pollution was dilution! 10
Environmental Engineers Have Solutions We can develop the technology! However, technology can not solve all problems. We must conserve and use our resources wisely. Job Market Outlook for jobs is very good! Bureau of labor estimates a 15% increase in the number of environmental engineering jobs from 2012 to 2022. Number of jobs in 2012: 53,200 8,100 jobs will be added by 2020. Most environmental jobs cannot be outsourced to other countries since on-site work is essential. 11
Job Market There will always be a need to provide clean water and air, treat wastewater and solid wastes, etc. Regulatory agencies will continue to pass more stringent requirements for water, wastewater, air, etc. America s infrastructure is in a state of disrepair and 1.6 trillion dollars will be required to fix. ASCE 2013 Report Card for America s Infrastructure Overall GPA = D+ Bridges C+ Drinking Water D Energy D+ Hazardous Waste D Inland Waterways D- Roads D Solid Waste B- Wastewater D OVERALL AVERAGE = D+ http://www.infrastructurereportcard.org/grades/ 12
Salaries of Environmental Engineers Starting salary pay 2013: $55,000 Median pay of all Environmental Engineers 2012: $80,890 Fall Semester Environmental Specialization Freshman Year Spring Semester CHM 111 General Chemistry I 3 3 4 EGR 107 Intro to Engr Design 2 3 3 EGR 126 Programming for Engr 3 0 3 TCO 141 Intro to Prof Comm 3 0 3 MAT 191 Calculus I 4 0 4 MAT 192 Calculus II 4 0 4 UNV 101 Freshman Experience 1 0 1 CHM 112 General Chemistry II 3 3 4 XXX Gen Ed Grp 2/3/4 3 0 3 XXX Gen Ed Grp 2/3/4 3 0 3 14 3 15 15 6 17 Fall Semester Sophomore Year Spring Semester EGR 232 Static/Solid Mech 3 0 3 EGR 236 Dynamics 3 0 3 EGR 244 Electrical Fund I 3 2 4 EGR 235 Thermodynamics 3 0 3 EVE 290 Intro to EVE 3 0 3 EGR 245 Electrical Fund II 3 0 3 MAT 330 Intro to Diff Equ 3 0 3 EGR 246L Electrical Fund Lab 0 3 1 PHY 161 General Physics I 3 3 4 EGE 252 Prob & Stats for Engr 3 0 3 EVE 290L Intro to EVE Lab 0 3 1 XXX Gen Ed Grp 2/3/4 3 0 3 15 8 18 15 3 16 13
Fall Semester Environmental Specialization Junior Year Spring Semester EGR 312 Engineering Econ 3 0 3 EVE 384 Engr Hydraulics 3 0 3 EVE 4XX Elective 3 0 3 EVE 4XX Elective 3 0 3 EVE 385 Engineering Hydrology 3 0 3 EVE 405 Des/Anal/WW sys 3 0 3 TCO 341 Tech Comm 3 0 3 EVE 480 Intro to Senior Design 0 1 0 XXX Laboratory Science 3 3 4 XXX Hyum/SS/Comm Elec 3 0 3 MAE 205 Vis and Graphics 0 6 2 XXX Laboratory Science 3 3 4 15 9 18 15 4 16 Fall Semester Senior Year Spring Semester EVE 4XX Elective 3 0 3 EVE 4XX Elective 3 0 3 EGR 386 Feedback Control 3 0 3 EVE 430 Bioremediation 3 0 3 EVE 486 Public Health 3 0 3 EVE 488 Eng Design Exhibit II 0 6 2 EVE 487 Eng Design Exhibit I 0 6 2 XXX Technical Elective I 3 0 3 EVE 490 Groundwater Hydrol 3 0 3 XXX Hun/SS/Comm Elec 3 0 3 EVE 445L Environmental Lab 0 3 1 XXX 12 9 15 12 6 14 EVE Alumni Glen Behrend: Manager, Nonpoint Source Program of Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Atlanta, GA Mei Dong, PhD: Associate Engineer, Hazen & Sawyer, Irvine, California Andrew Wohlrabe: Hodges, Harbin, Newberry, and Tribble, Macon, GA Brett Northenor: Stantec, Inc., Macon, GA Lindsey Winslette: CH2M Hill, Huntsville, AL 14
EVE Faculty Dr. Andre Butler: Associate Professor and Chair Dr. Laura Lackey: Professor and Senior Associate Dean Dr. Michael MacCarthy: Assistant Professor Dr. Philip McCreanor: Professor and Director of Honors Dr. Richard Mines: Professor and Graduate Program Director EVE Faculty are Scholars All have published scholarly papers All have presented at conferences All have conducted research All have participated or will have participated in Mercer on Mission Two have published books 15
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New WTP Paradigm Direct Reuse of WW Wastewater Effluent Conventional Water Treatment Membrane Treatment Water Distribution System 17
In Singapore, Membranes are Being Used to Produce Potable Water From Wastewater RECYCLED WATER PASSES TASTE TEST: PUB chairman Tan Gee Paw (right) and a panel of international experts who declare reclaimed water fit to drink showed yesterday that they were ready to drink it themselves. The Straits Times hit the streets with samples on Tuesday. -- HOW HWEE YOUNG 5 th Year Program Earn both bachelors and masters degrees at the end of 5 years Must have 3.0 GPA at end of junior year to be eligible Don t have to take GRE No application fee or reference letters Daigger, 2006 18
Conclusions 1. Environmental engineers improve the quality of life and well-being of the public. 2. The demand for environmental engineers is expected to increase by 15% from 2012 to 2020. 3. Approximately 1.6 trillion dollars are required to repair America s infrastructure. Conclusions Continued 4. Environmental engineers develop innovative, economical, and efficient technologies to protect the public. 5. Direct reuse of wastewater effluent as drinking water is occurring now. 19
Questions? 20