Reading Comprehension Activity

Name: Section: Date:

Introduction to Environmental Engineering

A. Warm-up
Task 1:

Listen to Anjum talk about Environmental Engineering and answer the questions
bellow.

1. What environmental problems are a concern for Environmental Engineers?

a) Primarily soil quality.
b) Primarily soil, air and tap water quality
c) Primarily soil, air and ground water quality.
d) All of the above.
e) None of the above.

2. What are the duties and responsabilities involved with Environmental Engineering?
a) Assessment of a site to decide the size of the construction.
b) Assessment of a site to decide remediation plans.
c) Advicing clients and government on regulations.
d) A and C.
e) B and C.

3. What are the qualities of an environmental engineer? Choose 2 options

a) Design aptitude.
b) Mechanical aptitude.
c) Good communicator.
d) Autonomus worker.
e) Quick decision maker.

4. What promotions or advancements can Environmental Engineers aspire to? Choose 2 options.
a) Be a consultant for an organization.
b) Be a manager within an organization.
c) Be a traveller aroung the world
d) Be a teacher at an organization.
e) Be a teacher at a university level.
 B. While reading
What is Environmental Engineering?

Environmental engineering is the application of science and engineering principles to

improve the environment (air, water, and/or land resources), to provide healthful water, air,
and land for human habitation and for other organisms, and to remediate polluted sites. It
involves the planning, design, construction and operation of equipment, systems, and
structures for the protection and enhancement of the environment. More precisely,
environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and
chemistry to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution
control. They also address global issues, such as unsafe drinking water, climate change, and
environmental sustainability.

The practice of environmental engineering dates back to the dawn of civilization. Ever
since groups of people began living in semi-permanent settlements, they have had to deal
with the challenges of providing clean water and disposing of solid waste and sewage. With
the growth of cities and the advent of large-scale farming and manufacturing, people have
also had to worry about air quality and soil contamination.

The first environmental engineer is said to have been Joseph Bazalgette. According to
an article in the Postgraduate Medical Journal, Bazalgette oversaw the construction of the
first large-scale municipal sanitary sewer system in London in the mid-19th century. This
was prompted by a series of cholera epidemics, as well as a persistent unbearable stench,
that were attributed to the discharge of raw sewage into the Thames River, which was also
the main source of drinking water for the city. This "great stink," which was so noxious that
it caused Parliament to evacuate Westminster, gave then-Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli
grounds to ask for 3.5 million pounds to improve the city's sewage disposal system.

Today, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (or BLS), one of the most
important responsibilities of environmental engineering is to prevent the release of harmful
chemical and biological contaminants into the air, water and soil. This requires extensive
knowledge of the chemistry and biology of the potential contaminants as well as the
industrial or agricultural processes that might lead to their release. With this knowledge, new
processes can be designed, or existing processes can be modified, to reduce or eliminate the
release of pollutants.

Another important function performed by environmental engineers is detecting the

presence of pollutants and tracking them back to their source, the BLS says. In some cases,
this can present a significant challenge. For instance, the source of contamination in a lake
could be anywhere within several thousands of acres of land surrounding the lake and its
tributaries. Contamination of oceans can present even greater challenges in identifying the
source.
 Once the environmental engineer identifies a source of contamination, it must be
stopped or significantly reduced. Simply shutting down a business is not always a viable
option, because of the potential for severe economic consequences. Environmental engineers
often work with businesses to determine ways to avoid or reduce the production of pollutants
or to separate them so they can be disposed of in a safe manner.

Important Qualities for Environmental Engineers

 Imagination. Environmental engineers sometimes have to design systems that will be

part of larger ones. They must foresee how the proposed designs will interact with
components of the larger system, including the workers, machinery, and equipment,
as well as with the environment.
 Interpersonal skills. Environmental engineers must work with others toward a common
goal. They usually work with engineers and scientists who design other systems and
with the technicians and mechanics who put the designs into practice.
 Problem-solving skills. When designing facilities and processes, environmental
engineers strive to solve several issues at once, from workers' safety to environmental
protection. They must identify and anticipate problems in order to prevent losses for
their employers, safeguard workers' health, and mitigate environmental damage.
 Reading skills. Environmental engineers often work with businesspeople, lawyers, and
other professionals outside their field. They frequently are required to read and
understand documents that deal with topics outside their scope of training.
 Writing skills. Environmental engineers must write clearly so that others without their
specific training can understand their documents, including plans, proposals,
specifications, and findings, among others.

C. Post-reading

I. Write four areas Environmental Engineering has to improve

_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
II. Decide whether the following statements are true or false. Justify.
1. _________ The main purpose of environmental engineering is to improve the quality
of people’s lives.
2. _________ Environmental engineering has been present in human activity since the
beginning of human civilization.
3. _________ Joseph Bazalgette had to deal with pollutants coming from houses’ toilet
waste.
 4. _________ Environmental engineers only need to know the chemical and biological
characteristics of a contaminant to know how to deal with it.
5. _________ It is easier to track the source of pollutants in the ocean than in rivers.

II. Answer the questions.

1. Has the practice of environmental engineering change over the years? Why?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. One task of being an environmental engineer is to do assessment of a site. What
other tasks do environmental engineers perform?
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Name the most important quality an Environmental Engineer working in Temuco
needs to have. Justify your choice
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________

III. Rewrite the questions and statements below, turning them into information
questions.
1. Is it necessary to do an assessment of a construction site? (Why)
_________________________________________________________________________________
2. Does an environmental engineer work on a site? (When)
_________________________________________________________________________________
3. Can air contamination be harmful for the environment? (How)
_________________________________________________________________________________
4. Knowledge in agriculture can be beneficial for an environmental engineer. (Where)
 _________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
5. A negative impact is caused by water pollutants. (What)
_________________________________________________________________________________