ES 31 EXAM NO.

1) Suppose human population grows from 6.3 billion in 2000 to an ultimate population of
10.3 billion following the logistic curve. Assuming a growth rate of 1.5 percent in 2000,
when would the population reach 9 billion? What would the population be in 2050? (15
points)

2) In October 2005, Lafayette Mining Corporations Rapu Rapu mines was reported to be
responsible for the cyanide spills and acid mine drainage and toxic heavy metal pollution
along the fishing grounds of Rapu Rapu island and the adjacent municipalities of
Sorsogon. To prevent similar occurrences to take place, the executive branch of the
government produced the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the
Philippine Mining Act. Aside from the stringent requirements of securing an environmental
compliance certificate (ECC), name at least 2 provisions in the Philippine Mining Act that
cover environmental protection. (18 points)

3) Maimpis Creek carries 5.0 m3/s of water with a selenium (Se) concentration of 0.0015
mg/L. Mang Esteban, a farmer, starts withdrawing 1.0 m3/s of the creek water to irrigate
his farmland. During irrigation, the water picks up Se from the salts in the soil. One-half
of the irrigation water is lost to the ground and plants, and the other half is returned to
Maimpis Creek. The irrigation run-off to the creek contains 1.00 mg/L of Se. Selenium is
a conservative, nonreactive substance (it does not degrade in the stream), and the stream
does not pick up more selenium from any other source.

a. Sketch the problem with the given variables. (12 points)

b. If Mang Esteban irrigates continuously, what will be the steady state
concentration of Se in the stream downstream from the farm (after the irrigation
run-off returns to the stream)? (17 points)

4) A proposed lagoon is to be designed to accommodate an input flow of 0.10 m3/s of

nonconservative pollutant with concentration of 30.0 mg/L and reaction rate of 0.20/day
(decay). The effluent from the lagoon must have pollutant concentration of less than 10.0
mg/L. Assume complete mixing, how large must the lagoon be? (20 points)

5) Are Sustainable Development Goals a binding treaty or a voluntary agreement? How

does this compare to Paris Treaty and others if it is a binding treaty? What are the
challenges and drawbacks if it is a voluntary agreement? (18 points)

Bonus:

1. A coal-fired power plant converts one-third of the coals energy into electrical energy.
The electrical power output of the plant is 1,000 MW. The other two-thirds of the energy
content of the fuel is rejected to the environment as waste heat. About 15% of the waste
heat goes up the smokestack, and the other 85% is taken away by cooling water that is
drawn from a nearby river. The river has an upstream flow of 100 m3/s and temperature
of 20C.
a. If the cooling water is only allowed to rise in temperature by 10C, what flow rate
from the stream would be required? (15 points)