ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

ENVREA204

Module 1
Introduction to Environmental Issues
Obj 1.1: Environmental Issues

Environmental issues can be categorized based on where they are

located on the Earth:
• Air
• Land
• Water

Image courtesy of Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center.
(http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov)
Obj 1.1: Environmental Issues

Atmosphere/Air
• Noise
• Odour
• Particulate matter (smoke, dust)
• Ground level smog
• Volatile organic compounds (VOC’s)
• Acid rain
• Greenhouse gases
• Wildfowl
Obj 1.1: Environmental Issues

Land
• Surface erosion by wind/water
• Hazardous and toxic waste disposal
• Municipal solid waste disposal
• Recycling
• Brownfields
• Loss of agricultural land
• Urban sprawl and development
• Wildlife: flora and fauna
Obj 1.1: Environmental Issues

Water
• Surface and groundwater supplies for potable water
• Water Quality
• Wastewater treatment and disposal
• Stormwater management
• Contamination, pollution
• Global climate impact
• Marine wildlife
Obj 1.2 The Environmental Equation
Environmental Load (EL)
• A measure of demand placed
on the natural environment
• Population (P)
• Consumption & Waste (CW)
𝐸𝐿 = 𝑃 × 𝐶𝑊
Environmental Resistance (ER)
• The ability of the natural
environment to absorb
demands placed upon it
• Environmental technology
mitigation (ET)
• Production and Absorption of
impacts by environment (PA)
• 𝐸𝑅 = 𝐸𝑇 × 𝑃𝐴
Obj 1.2 Environmental Impact (EI)

𝐿𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑃 × 𝐶𝑊
𝐸𝐼 = =
𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝐸𝑇 × 𝑃𝐴

When EI > 1 we overload the environment with detrimental effects.

Obj 1.2: Ecological Footprint defined?

The surface area required to sustain your current lifestyle indefinitely

using today’s current technologies.

Consider your consumption (C) of 2 potatoes per week:

𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑘𝑠 𝑘𝑔 𝑘𝑔
𝐶=2 × 52 × 0.25 = 26
𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑘 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑒 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟

Consider potato production (P) at 50,000 kg/hectare·year

𝑘𝑔
26 100𝑚 × 100𝑚
𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟
𝑃= × = 5.2𝑚2
𝑘𝑔 1ℎ𝑎
50000
ℎ𝑎 ∙ 𝑦𝑟
Obj 1.2: Ecological Footprint

• So you require 5.2m2 of the earth’s surface for your 2 potatoes/wk

• Plus equipment and energy and infrastructure for:
– Harvesting, sorting, cleaning, packaging
– Transporting and retailing
– Storing, cleaning and cooking
– Disposal of waste

• Google global footprint network - footprint calculator and determine

your ecological footprint using Ontario as your location.
– How many hectares do you need?
– How can you reduce this?
Obj 1.3 Environmental Technology defined?

The application of technology and engineering principles to the

planning, design, construction and operation of infrastructure systems
including:

• Potable water supply, treatment and distribution;

• Wastewater collection, treatment and disposal;
• Stormwater drainage, collection and management;
• Solid and hazardous waste management;
• Air and noise pollution control measures;
• General community health and sanitation.

With the objective of mitigating the impacts of man-made “loads” on the

natural and built environment.
Current Events – Potable Water

• FLINT, MICHIGAN- According to a class-action

lawsuit, the state Department of Environmental
Quality was not treating the Flint River water with an
anti-corrosive agent, in violation of federal law. The
river water was found to be 19 times more corrosive
than water from Detroit, which was from Lake Huron,
according to a study by Virginia Tech.
• Since the water wasn't properly treated, lead from
aging service lines to homes began leaching into the
Flint water supply after the city tapped into the Flint
River as its main water source.
• June 24, 2015 - An EPA manager issues a
memo, "High Lead Levels in Flint," warning the city is
not providing corrosion control treatment to mitigate
the presence of lead in drinking water. According to
the memo, scientists at Virginia Tech tested tap water
from a resident‘s home and found the lead level was
as high as 13,200 ppb. Water contaminated with
5,000 ppb of lead is classified by the EPA as
hazardous waste. Three other homes also have high
lead levels in the water, according to the memo. The
resident sends the memo about lead in her tap water
to an investigative reporter from the ACLU, Curt https://www.google.ca/search?q=flint+michigan&bi
Guyette. w=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&s
Source: http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/04/us/flint-water-crisis-fast-facts/ qi=2&ved=0ahUKEwiC7YGS0M3OAhWHkh4KHRixA
MEQ_AUICCgD#imgrc=IMk2d0Cn91GgSM%3A
Current Events – Sewage Treatment and Disposal

• TORONTO – While the city of Montreal

begins dumping eight billion litres of
wastewater into the St. Lawrence River,
officials in Toronto are planning to start
advising the public about regular overflows
into Lake Ontario.
• With nearly every major rainfall, Toronto’s
infrastructure reaches capacity and the city’s
wastewater treatment plants are often
bypassed as a result.
• Untreated sewage and storm water are then
sent into rivers and the waterfront through
“combined sewer” overflows, according to
Lake Ontario Waterkeeper.
• During heavy rainstorms on October 28 and
29, 2015 in Toronto, the Ashbridges Bay
treatment plant was bypassed for more than
15 hours.
Source: http://globalnews.ca/news/2333799/toronto-sewage-
and-storm-water-overflows-regularly-into-lake-ontario/
Current Events – Stormwater Drainage

• HAMILTON - Sunday, July 26, 2009 started out like

any other southern Ontario summer day — hot and
humid. At approximately 11 a.m. the skies in
Hamilton darkened as heavy clouds approached
from the southwest. In the next three hours, an
extremely intense storm moved across the Red Hill
Creek watershed from its headwater to its outlet,
releasing well over 100 mm (4″) of rainfall. The only
rain gauge which remained operational after the
storm, recorded an astonishing 91 millimetres in one
hour alone.
• The extent and magnitude of the flooding,
particularly in the Red Hill Creek watershed, was
unprecedented. Portions of the new Red Hill Valley
Parkway became a torrent as stormwater came
cascading down the Niagara Escarpment,
overwhelming ditches, sewers and roads. At its lower
end towards the Canadian National Railway, water
overtopped the parkway, trapping motorists and
closing the roadway
Source: http://www.canadianconsultingengineer.com/features/the-day-
the-rains-came/
Current Events – Solid and Hazardous Waste

• HAMILTON (2016) - The province will try to

legally force businesses to stop toxic PCBs
from leaching into Hamilton Harbour from the
industrial east end — but only after decades of
quiet study and failed fixes out of the public
eye.
• The Ministry of the Environment publicly posted
a draft director's order Wednesday that would
require past and present owners of properties
on Barton Street East and Strathearne Avenue
North to stop the "migration" of polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) into storm sewer pipes
emptying into the harbour. Residents can
comment for 60 days.
• Studies point to the pollution originating from a
defunct manufacturer of electrical conductors at
1565 Barton St. E. — now the site of the
Strathbarton Mall owned by Rosart Properties
Inc.
• Rosart said in a statement it was unaware of
the contamination when it bought the property
45 years ago. Aerovox Canada operated from
the 1940s to 1972 on the site.
Source: http://www.thespec.com/news-story/6082769-
historical-pcbs-leaking-into-hamilton-harbour/
Obj 1.4: Objectives of E.T.?

• Public Health Protection

– To help prevent the transmission of disease among humans and other
living organisms by controlling the transmission of pathogens (viruses,
bacteria, microorganisms harmful to animals) and other harmful
elements

• Environmental Health Protection

– To preserve the quality of natural resources such as water, air, land,
flora and fauna (vegetation and wildlife)

Sustainable development meets today’s needs without compromising

the ability to meet tomorrow’s needs and those of generations to come.
Obj 1.5: Technical Specialties in E.T.

• Professionals working in E.T. must understand the basics of many

disciplines and how they are inter-related in application

Obvious specialties include:

– Hydrology, hydraulics, chemistry, biology, geology, geography, ecology,
botany, civil engineering

Not-so-Obvious specialties include:

– Sociology, ethics, economics, politics, history, psychology, media
relations, architecture, transportation, information technology
Obj 1.6: Pathogens and Disease

A bit of history….
• Not until the mid-1800’s did people
connect contaminated drinking water
with disease
• Dr. John Snow connected the two
during a cholera epidemic in London in
1854
• This started an evolution in germ
theory

Dr. John Snow – 1857,

one year before
his death
Obj 1.6: Pathogens and Disease

A bit of history….
• Around 1864 Louis Pasteur postulates
and proves that most infectious
diseases are caused by germs
(pathogens)
• Begins a revolution in Germ Theory of
Disease, one of the most important
theories in medical history

A young Louis Pasteur

1822-1895
Obj 1.6: Pathogens

• Our environment is populated with microscopic organisms that

include protozoa, bacteria, viruses….
• Those that are capable of transmitting disease are called
PATHOGENIC ORGANISMS
Or…… Pathogens
(i.e. E.Coli, cryptosporidia, H1N1)
Obj 1.7: Disease Transmission and E.T.

• Communicable diseases can be transmitted/caused through direct

or indirect transmission of pathogens

• Direct transmission:
– Physical touching/contact
– Sneezing and droplet spray
• Indirect transmission:
– Air-borne transmission: dust, aerosol, wind-blown
– Vehicle-borne transmission: water, food, packaging
– Vector-borne transmission: insects, mammals, reptiles, birds
Obj 1.7: Disease Transmission and E.T.

DIRECT TRANSMISSION

physical contact
sneezing
pathogens droplet spray humans

INDIRECT TRANSMISSION
E.T.
STOP
air-borne: dust, aerosol
vehicle-borne: water, food
vector-borne: insects, animals
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
ENVREA204

Module 1
Introduction to Environmental Issues