Environmental Engineers Are the Architects of a Healthy Planet!
Nature is complex. Add humans and technology and you have a dynamic ecosystem that needs environmental engineers. With climate change and years of industrialism, environmental engineers are working hard to create new methods to protect us from water, ground, and air pollution. They are also leaders in creating public policy that protects communities and natural ecosystems from environmental degradation and contamination due to waste.
Stop flushing drinking water down the toilet!
It's a significant effort to provide clean drinking water to our taps, so why do we use it to flush toilets? California regulators finally approved the use of sewage water that is converted into pure drinking water but this method still requires the wastewater to travel long distances to the treatment plants. Few building owners integrate graywater (from sinks, showers, washing machines) filtration and recycling into their designs, and blackwater recycling is even rarer. But San Francisco now requires large developments to filter wastewater onsite. One company, epiccleantec, has already developed the necessary technology and works with building owners in California. They're so confident in their water's cleanliness that they now brew Epic Onewater Brew using treated graywater from a 40-story, San Francisco apartment building. Homeowners can now recycle their own graywater with products like the Hydraloop.
Town saved because of flooding!
Flooded floodplain in California’s Delta region with an elevated highway in the background.
With climate change causing stronger storms, intentional flooding is being used to protect towns, replenish water wells, and create wildlife habitats. By strategically choosing areas near rivers and levees as floodplains, dangerous water can be diverted away from communities. These floodplains, ideally on porous soil deposits, slowly let water seep in, replenishing groundwater. They also provide resting and feeding spots for migrating fish and birds, fostering sustainable habitats for various wildlife. Floodplains can be repurposed farmland or existing agricultural areas unaffected by winter flooding. For example, 2100 acres of farmland near Grayson, CA was converted to a floodplain replanted with native vegetation by local volunteers. Residents believe this is what protected their town during the 2022 atmospheric river events and the floodplain aids in recharging Grayson's depleted groundwater while creating a home for local wildlife.