Applications of technology to improve our lives

1. production of more and better quality of food

2. fast and reliable means of transportation
3. various system of communication
4. supply of safe water and disposal of wastes
5. housing and urbanization
6. elimination of Infectious disease
7. elimination of most waterborne disease
8. availability of leisure time through greater productivity

Environmental Engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to

minimize the adverse effects of human activity (pollution) to the environment.

Pollution can be defined as an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or biological

characteristics of air, water, or land that can harmfully affect the health, survival, or activities
of humans or other living organisms.
Historical Perspective

Civil Engineers

One of the first applications of “environmental engineering” was the removal of sewage from
cities. Prior to 1900s, human wastes were simply conveyed to the nearest stream or other
water body. Due to rampant spread of diseases and damage to natural waters, civil
engineers in the early 1900s began to develop methods of treating wastes prior to discharge.

Other allied professions

The industrial revolution brought in a more complicated environmental problem. The rising
standard of living in many places around the world generated greater consumption of natural
resources, manufacture of synthetic products and generation of recalcitrant and persistent
by-products. Other allied professions then focused on the solution to mitigate the
environmental problems brought-in by rapid development

Chemical Industry

Threat to Human & its Environment

During the past four decades, environmental awareness increased as the threats associated
with the continuous production and consumption of chemicals were realized. Human health
as well as the bio-diversity of wildlife was affected as manifested by the increase of cancer
incidents and decrease in numbers of certain vulnerable species of flora and fauna.

Preventive Technology

• Sustainable development – to meet the needs of present without

compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
 • Cleaner production, waste minimization, source reduction, environmental
management systems, etc.

Ecological Concepts

What is ecology?

The term ecology was coined by German biologist Ernst Haeckel, but the discipline
of ecology was created about 100 years ago
The Greek word “oikos” means “house” or “place to live” and “logos” meaning “is
study of”
Therefore, ecology is the study of how organisms interact with one another and with
their non living environment including such factors as sunlight, temperature, moisture and
vital nutrients
Ecologist focus on trying to understand the interactions among organisms,
populations, communities, ecosystem and ecosphere

What is organism ?
It can be classified into species – groups of organisms that resemble one another in
appearance, behavior, chemistry and genetic endowment.

What is population ?
Population consists of all members of the same species occupying a specific area at
the same time
Examples are sunfish in the pond and white oak trees in the forest.
Populations are dynamic groups that change in size, age, distribution, density and
genetic composition as a result of changes in environmental conditions

What is community ?
Community is a population of all different species occupying and interacting in a particular
place

What is ecosystem ?
Ecosystem is a community of different species interacting with one another and with
their nonliving environment of matter and energy.
Ecosystem can be natural of artificial (human created) .
Examples of human created ecosystems are cropfield, farm ponds and reservoirs
and artificial lakes created behind dams.
To be sustainable for some specified period of time, an ecosystem must contain the
energy and nutrients resources needed to support its resident organisms and to dispose of
and recycle their wastes.

What is ecosphere ?
All of the earth’s ecosystems together make up what we call the biosphere or
ecosphere.
Nutrient cycle or biogeochemical cycle?
Any atom, ions or molecule an organism needs to live, grow or reproduce is called
nutrient.
These nutrient atoms, ions and molecules are continuously cycled from the nonliving
organisms (air water soil rock) to living organisms (biota) and then back again in what are
called nutrient cycles or biogeochemical cycles (literally life earth chemical cycles)

There are three general types of biogeochemical cycles:

• atmospheric
• sedimentary and
• hydrologic
• Atmospheric cycle

In atmospheric cycle, a large portion of a given element exists in gaseous form in the
atmosphere.

Examples are nitrogen gas (N2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) gas, which cycle fairly rapidly
from the atmosphere, through soil and organisms, and back into the atmosphere.

Sedimentary cycle

In sedimentary cycle, an element either does not have a gaseous phase or its gaseous
compounds don’t make up a significant portion of its supply. In this case, the earth’s crust is
the main storehouse.

Such element cycle quite slowly , moving mostly from the land to sediments in the seas and
then back to land through long term geological uplifting of the earth’s crust over millions to
hundreds of millions of years. Phosphorus and most nonrenewable solid minerals are
circulated in such cycles.

Hydrologic cycle

In the hydrologic cycle or water cycle, water in the form of ice, liquid water and water vapor
cycles through the ecosphere.

In this case the hydrosphere is the main storehouse. This cycle operates at the local
regional and global levels.

HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
1. Evaporation - The process where water molecules evaporates to form clouds
2. Transpiration – The process of water movement through a plant and its evaporation from
aerial parts, such as leaves, stems and flowers.
3. Sublimation – Evaporation of ice and snow.
4. Condensation- It is the process by which water vapor in the air is change into liquid
water.
5. Transportation of clouds by the wind.
6. Precipitation – A process where condensed moisture falls to the earth. Precipitation can
be in the form of rain, sleet, snow, hail ice or fog
7. Deposition – When water vapor forms ice, skipping the liquid phase
8. Snowmelt runoff flows downward to form streams and rivers.
9. Streams and rivers flow into the ocean in a process called surface runoff
10. Ground flow – It is when groundwater flows to the ocean
11. Plant Uptake – Plants absorb water from the soil

CARBON CYCLE
All living things are made of carbon. Most of the fuels used for energy is made of carbon
including the food we eat. Gases made of carbon such as CO2 play important role in
regulating climate. Biological activity causes carbon to be converted among different forms
and location. This movement of carbon are referred to carbon cycle.

Carbon cycle describes the exchanges of carbon between the atmosphere, terrestrial
vegetation, soils and inorganic matter, ocean and fossil fuels. These exchanges are
continually changing and not perfectly balance. Human activities are converting oil coal
natural gas, plant and soil organic carbon into carbon dioxide which accumulating to our
atmosphere that contributes to greenhouse effect. The atmosphere is a relatively small
reservoir of carbon containing less than 1% of earth’s total carbon pool.

Because it is so small, even a slight increase or input to the carbon atmosphere can have a
big impact to the total concentration over time. The amount of carbon in terrestrial vegetation
is conformable to the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Vegetation takes carbon dioxide
out of the atmosphere through photosynthesis.

However, the amount that humans continue to add thru fossil fuel emission is more than plants
can able to use so it accumulates in the atmosphere. The CO2 that plants are able to use
become new plant tissue. Most of the plant tissue once natural dying and fallen into the ground
become plant litter and eventually decompose and transform to soil organic matter. In many
parts of the world, organic matter accumulates faster than it decomposes adding to soil carbon
pools.

Within the soil there is more than twice as much carbon lacked up in organic material than
there is carbon in the atmosphere. Human activities such as land use changes and
greenhouse gas emission accelerates the conversion of soil carbon to carbon dioxide. CO2 is
a major greenhouse gas which causes heat retain between the earth in the atmosphere Some
radiation leaving the earth’s surface is trapped by greenhouse gases causing heat to be
retained.

This happens because CO2 absorbs outgoing infrared radiation and re emits it in all direction
including back down to the earth’s surface. This leads to increase temperature in the lower
atmosphere which in turn can increase the rate of decomposition which further increases the
amount of atmospheric carbon. This create a magnifying cycle of increase warming and
increase atmospheric carbon.

NITROGEN CYCLE
Our atmosphere is made of 78% nitrogen. We need the nitrogen for DNA and for protein but
we just can breathe in the nitrogen like oxygen. We must absorb nitrogen in our food.
The nitrogen follows a cycle where it travels from atmosphere, to the soil to the animals and
back in a cycle. Nitrogen in the atmosphere falls to the earth by precipitation such as rain or
snow. Once in the soil it finds its way to bacteria on the root of plants. At the root nitrogen is
combined with hydrogen to make ammonia in a process called nitrogen fixation. Lightning
in the atmosphere can also do this. Now ammonia is toxic, so the additional bacteria combine
this ammonia with oxygen in a process called nitrification. At this point, the nitrogen is in the
form of nitrite. Additional nitrifying bacteria convert this nitrite to nitrate. At this point, plants
can absorb this nitrogen in the process called assimilation. However, not all the nitrates is
absorb but some of it go to bacteria that release the nitrogen to the atmosphere in the process
called denitrifying. The nitrogen returns into the atmosphere. Also, once in the animal after
it eats the plants the animal either dies or need to get rid of waste. Another type of bacteria,
then takes this along with the decomposers and breaks this nitrogen either in the waste or the
dead animals. And by the process called ammonification the nitrogen can enter the cycle once
again at nitrification. And the cycle continues.

PHOSPHORUS CYCLE
Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for living organisms. It’s a building block of nucleic
acids, like DNA, and phospholipids that form our cell membranes. It is also essential for
plant growth. In the natural world phosphorous is never encountered in its pure form, but
only as phosphates, which consists of a phosphorus atom bonded to four oxygen atoms
Phosphate compounds are found in sedimentary rocks, and as the rocks weather—wear
down over long time periods—the phosphorus they contain slowly leaches into surface water
and soils. Volcanic ash and fertilizer can also be significant phosphate sources.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Environmental ethics is also known as Environmental Stewardship. Ethos, the Greek word
from which ethicis derived, means the character of a person as described by his or her
actions.
Environmental ethics is the attitude toward the environment had evolved to the point where
many people believed we should adopt a custodial or stewardship role.

The Five Environmental Code of Ethics

1. Use knowledge and skill for the enhancement and protection of the environment.
2. Hold paramount the health, safety and welfare of the environment.
3. Perform services only in areas of personal expertise.
4. Be honest and impartial in serving the public, your employees, your clients, and the
environment
5. Issue public statements only in an objective and truthful manner.

Principles of Environmental Law

These are the basis of Philippine Environmental Law
● Sovereignty of States over their Natural Resources
● Sustainable Development
● Precautionary Principle
● Polluter-pays Principle
 ● Common but Differentiated Responsibility

A. Sovereignty of States over their Natural Resources

The State shall protect and promote the right to health of people and instill health
consciousness among them.” (Art.II, Sec.15)
“The State shall protect and advance the health of the people to a balanced and healthful
ecology in accord with and harmony of nature.” (Art. II, Sec. 16)
“All lands of public domain, waters, minerals, coal, petroleum, and other mineral oils, all forces
of potential energies, fisheries, forests or timber, wildlife, flora and fauna, and other natural
resources are owned by the state.” (Art. XII, Sec. 2)

B. Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is a development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

C. Precautionary Principle
The precautionary principle, proposed a new guideline in environmental decision making, has
four central components:
● taking preventive action in the face of uncertainty;
● shifting the burden of proof to the proponents of an activity;
● exploring a wide range of alternatives to possibly harmful actions;
● and increasing public participation in decision making.

D. Polluter-pays Principle
The polluter pays principle is enacted to make the party responsible for producing pollution
that will also be responsible for paying the damage done to the natural environment .

E. Common but Differentiated Responsibility

States have common responsibilities to protect the environment and promote sustainable
development, but due to different social, economic, and ecological situations, countries must
shoulder different responsibilities. The principle also reflects the core elements of equity,
placing more responsibility on wealthier countries and those more responsible for causing
specific global problems.

Regulatory Framework Water

1. DENR Administrative Order No. 34 (Series of 1990): Revised water usage and
classification Water Quality Criteria
2. DENR Administrative Order No. 35 (Series of 1990): Revised Effluent Regulations of
1990
3. RA 9275: Philippine Clean Water Act
4. DENR Administrative Order No. 10 Series of 2005 : Implementing Rules and
Regulations of the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004

The Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004 (Republic Act No. 9275) aims to protect the
country’s water bodies from pollution from land-based sources (industries and commercial
establishments, agriculture and community/household activities). It provides for a
comprehensive and integrated strategy to prevent and minimize pollution through a multi-
sectoral and participatory approach involving all the stakeholders.
 Regulatory Framework : Air
1. RA 8749: The Philippine Clean Air Act
2. DENR Administrative Order No. 81 Series of 2000: Implementing Rules and Regulation
of RA 8749

Republic Act No. 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act, is a
comprehensive air quality management policy and program which aims to achieve and
maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.
Source: RA 8749

Regulatory Framework : Solid waste

1. RA 9003 Ecological Solid Wastes Management Act
2. DENR Administrative Order No. 34 Series of 2001: Implementing Rules and
Regulations of RA 9003

RA 9003 declares the policy of the state in adopting a systematic, comprehensive and
ecological solid waste management program that ensures the protection of public health and
the environment and the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment, and
disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of best environmental practices.
Moreover, it illustrates the potentials and benefits of recycling not only in addressing waste
management problems but also alleviating poverty.

Source: RA 9003

Regulatory Framework : Hazardous Waste Management

1. RA 6969: Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990
2. DENR Administrative Order No. 29: Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 6969
3. DENR Administrative Order No. 36 Series of 2004: Revised Implementing Rules and
Regulations of RA 6969

RA 6969 regulates the handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials, and also
provides for the registration of hazardous e-waste generators, as well as importers,
recyclers, and facilities. Although this law has neither a clear provision for the management
of e-waste nor a definition, it recognizes that e-waste has toxic components. Other related
policy instruments that may have a bearing on e-waste exist as well.

Source : RA 6969

Regulatory Framework : Toxic Chemicals

Toxic Chemicals
1. DENR Administrative Order No. 39 Series of 1997: Chemical Control Order for
Cyanide and Cyanide Compounds
 2. DENR Administrative Order No. 38 Series of 1997: Chemical Control Order for
Mercury and Mercury Compounds
3. DENR Administrative Order No. 1 Series of 2004: Chemical Control Order of
Polychlorinated Biphenyls
4. DENR Administrative Order No. 8 Series of 2004: Chemical Control Order for
Ozone Depleting Substances
5. DENR Administrative Order No. 2 Series of 2000: Chemical Control Order for
Asbestos

A. Cyanide and Cyanide Compounds:

Cyanide is a rapidly acting, potentially deadly chemical that can exist in various forms.
It is released from natural substances in some foods and in certain plants such as cassava.
It is contained in cigarette smoke and the combustion products of synthetic materials such as
plastics. Cyanide salts are used in metallurgy for electroplating, metal cleaning, and removing
gold from its ore.
Immediate signs and symptoms of exposure to cyanide: rapid breathing, restlessness,
dizziness, weakness, headache, nausea and vomiting and rapid heart rate. The long-term
health effects of exposure to cyanide may develop heart and brain damage.

B. Mercury and Mercury Compound

Mercury is the only metal liquid at standard conditions for temperature and pressure , with a
melting point of −38.83°C. Its boiling point of 356.73°C gives it one of the widest liquid ranges
of any metal. It remains in use in a number of other ways in scientific and scientific research
applications, and in amalgam material for dental restoration. It is used in lighting; electricity
passed through mercury vapor in a phosphor tube produces short-wave ultraviolet light which
then causes the phosphor to fluoresce, making visible light.

Symptoms of mercury poisoning in humans

1. Psychological disturbances
2. Oral Cavity problems
3. Digestive tract problems
4. Cardiovascular problems
5. Respiratory problems
6 Neurological Problems

C. Polychlorinated Biphenyls
In 1929, PCB's were quickly acclaimed as an industrial breakthrough. These chlorinated oils
have a low degree of reactivity. They are not flammable, have high electrical resistance, good
insulating properties and are very stable even when exposed to heat and pressure.

Symptoms of PCB poisoning in humans

The most commonly observed health effects in people exposed to large amounts of PCBs are
skin conditions such as acne and rashes. Studies in exposed workers have shown changes
in blood and urine that may indicate liver damage

D. Ozone depleting substances

Ozone depleting substances (ODS) are those substances which deplete the ozone layer and
are widely used in refrigerators, air-conditioners, fire extinguishers, dry cleaning, solvents
for cleaning, electronic equipment and agricultural fumigants.

E. Asbestos
Friable asbestos is a type of asbestos which is dry and can be easily crumbled with the hand.
Inhaled asbestos fibers remain in the body and cannot be expelled. Because of this, the fibers
can easily penetrate body tissues and may deposit themselves in airways and in the lung
tissue (asbestosis).

Inter Agency Government

To support these regulations, other government agencies formulate their own policies to
promote environmental protection.
Department of Health - sanitation/ drinking water standards
1. Department of Tourism - ecological tourism projects
2. Department of Trade and Industry - incentives to environmental technologies
3. Department of Science and Technology - technology testing
4. Department of Labor and Employment - occupational safety and health
5. Department of Interior and Local Government- solid waste collection and disposal
International Agreements
Environmental problems transcend political and geographical boundaries. As in the case of
pollution problems in European countries, the wastes emitted in Germany may end up in
France and Belgium. The forest fires in Kalimantan in the islands of Indonesia caused the
smog problems in Malaysia and Singapore few years ago. Thus, Philippines is a signatory of
different international agreements relative to environmental protection.

A. Montreal Protocol (Montreal, Canada)

The treaty was opened for signature on September 16, 1987 and entered into force on
January 1, 1989. This is an agreement called for the elimination of CFCs and other ozone
depleting substances.
B. Basel Convention (Basel, Switzerland)
This agreement is about the control on transboundary movement of hazardous wastes.
C. Kyoto Protocol (Kyoto, Japan)
This Protocol is about the limit or reduction of greenhouse gases by using renewable energy
efficient technologies.
D. Stockholm Convention (Stockholm Sweden)
This convention is about the banned on importation and use of persistent organic pollutants.

DENR Administrative Order No. 34 and DENR Administrative Order No. 35

REVISED WATER USAGE AND CLASSIFICATION/WATER QUALITY CRITERIA
AMENDING SECTION NOS. 68 AND 09. CHAPTER III OF THE 1978 NPCC RULES AND
REGU-LATIONS
Section 68. Water Usage and Classification. - The quality of Philippine waters shall be
maintained in a safe and satisfactory condition according to their best usages. For this
purpose, all waters shall be classified according to the following beneficial usages:

(a) Fresh Surface Waters (rivers, lakes. reservoirs, etc.)

CLASSIFICATION BENEFITIAL USE
CLASS AA Public Water Supply Class I. This
class is intended primarily for waters
having watersheds which are
uninhabited and otherwise protected
and which require only approved
disinfection in order to meet the
National Standards for Drinking Water
(NSDW) of the Philippines.

CLASS A Public Water Supply Class H. For

sources of water supply that will require
completetreatment (coagulation,
sedimentation, filtration and disin-
fection) in order to meet the NSDW.

CLASS B Recreational Water Class I. For

primary contact recreation such as
bathing, swimming, skin diving, etc.
(particularly those designated for tour-
ism purposes).
In general, this refers to current best beneficial use that is expected to last, at
least, for the next 10 to 20 years. In special cases when dictated by political,
economic, social, public health, environmental and other considerations,
certain waters may be classified according to the intended or future beneficial
use (e.g. Pasig River, Tullahan-Tenejeros, etc.)

CLASS C 1. Fishery Water for the propagation and

growth of fish and other aquatic
resources;
2. Recreational Water Class II
(Boatings, etc.)
3. Industrial Water Supply Class 1 (For
manufacturing processes after
treatment).

CLASS D 4. For agriculture, irrigation, livestock

watering, etc.
5. Industrial Water Supply Class 11 (e.g
cooling, etc.);
6. Other inland waters, by their quality,
belong Lo this classification.

b. Coastal and Marine Waters

CLASSIFICATION BENEFITIAL USE
 CLASS SA 1.Waters suitable for the propagation,
survival
and harvesting of shellfish for
commercial pur-poses;

2. Tourist zones and national marine

parks and reserves established under
Presidential Procla-mation No. 1801;
existing laws and/or declared as such
by appropriate government agency.

3. Coral reef .parks and reserves

designated by law and concerned
authorities.

CLASS SB 1. Recreational Water Class I (Areas

regularly used by the public for
bathing, swimming, skin diving, etc.);

2. Fisbery Water Class I (Spawning

areas for Chaos chanos or "Bangus"
and similar species).
CLASS SC 1. Recreational Water Class 11 (e.g.
boating, etc.);

2. Fishery Water Class 11

(Commercial and sus tenance
fishing);

3. Marshy and/or mangrove areas

declared as fish and wildlife
sanctuaries;
CLASS SD 3. Industrial Water Supply Class it (e.g.
cool- ing, etc.);
4. Other coastal and marine waters, by
their qual-ity, belong to this
classification.Recreational Water Class
II (Boatings, etc.)

5. Industrial Water Supply Class 1 (For

manufacturing processes after
treatment).

General Provisions on Water Classification

1. Classification of a water body according to a particular designated use or uses
does not preclude use of the water for other purposes that are lower in
classification provided that such use does not prejudice the quality required for
such waters.
2. Water classifications are arranged in the order of the degree of protection required,
with Class AA and SA having generally the most stringent water quality,
respectively, for fresh surface waters and marine/coastal waters; and Class D and
 SD waters have the least stringent water quality for fresh surface waters and marine
waters, respectively.
3. The main objective of the water quality criteria is to maintain the minimum
conditions necessary to assure the suitability of water for its designated use or
classification.
4. Any person regulated under these rules or having a substantial inter est in this
chapter may seek reclassification of waters by filing a petition with the DENR giving
all necessary information to support the petition.
5. All reclassifications of water shall be adopted, only after public no tice and hearing
and upon affirmative findings by the DENR Regional Office concerned that:
1. The proposed reclassification will establish the present and future most
beneficial use of the waters;
2. Such a reclassification is clearly in the public interest, and
3. The proposed designated use is attainable, upon consider-ation of
enrivonmental, technological, social, economic and institutional factors.
6. For purposes of classification or reclassification the following minimum water quality
parameters are to be considered:
1. Dissolved oxygen (DO)
2. ii) pH
3. iii) Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
4. iv) Total Coliform Organisms

Water Quality Criteria,

Minimum Criteria for Surface Waters. All surface waters of the country shall be
free from:

I. Domestic, industrial, agricultural, or other man-induced non-thermal com-

ponents of discharges which, alone or in combination with other sub -stances or
in combination with other components of discharges (whether thermal or non -
thermal)
1. That settle to- form putrescent deposits or otherwise create a
nuisance; or
2. That float as debris, scum, oil, or other matter in such amounts
as to form nuisances; or
3.That produce color, odor, taste, turbidity, or other conditions in
such degree as to create a nuisance; or
That are acutely toxic; or
5.That are present in concentrations which are carcinogenic, mu-
tagenic, or tetatogenic to human beings or to significant, locally occurring wildlife or aquatic
species; or
6.That pose a serious danger to the public health, safety or welfare.