Importance of environmental engineering

Concepts for a civil Engineer.

Report base on field visits to central

Environmental Authority, Battaramulla, Sri Lanka
And
NWSDB- Biyagama Drinking water treatment plant
Date:

Introduction
Role of a civil engineer in the society
Using the principles of biology and chemistry, environmental engineers develop
solutions to environmental problems. They are involved in water and air pollution control,
recycling, waste disposal, and public health issues. Environmental engineers conduct
hazardous-waste management studies in which they evaluate the significance of the hazard,
offer analysis on treatment and containment, and develop regulations to prevent mishaps.
They design municipal water supply and industrial wastewater treatment systems. They
conduct research on proposed environmental projects, analyze scientific data, and perform
quality control checks. They provide legal and financial consulting on matters related to the
environment. Environmental engineers are concerned with local and worldwide
environmental issues. They study and attempt to minimize the effects of acid rain, global
warming, automobile emissions, and ozone depletion. They also are involved in the
protection of wildlife. Many environmental engineers work as consultants, helping their
clients to comply with regulations and to clean up hazardous sites.
Environmental engineers should be creative, inquisitive, analytical, and detail
oriented. They must have a strong grasp of mathematics, including algebra, geometry,
trigonometry, and calculus, sciences, such as biology, chemistry, and physics, and computer
systems. Abilities to work as part of a team and to communicate well. Environmental
engineers' job duties include collecting soil or groundwater samples and testing them for
contamination, designing municipal sewage and industrial wastewater systems, analyzing
scientific data, researching controversial projects, and performing quality control checks.
They may be involved in legal or financial consulting regarding environmental processes or
issues. They may study and attempt to minimize the effects of large scale problems such as
acid rain, global warming, and ozone depletion. One emphasis in environmental engineering
consulting is on brownfields land areas that are abandoned because of contamination by
hazardous substances. Environmental engineers help clients clean up the brownfields for
reuse in place of premium land, minimizing the liabilities and the costs of infrastructure or
building projects.

Observation
Experience on visit to CEA and Biyagama water treatment plant
Biyagama Water treatment plants water resources of the Kelaniya River are being
used for the Plant built by the National Water Supply and Drainage Board. About one million
people of Biyagama, Kiribathgoda, Kadawatha, Ragama, Wattala, Kandana, Jaela, Seeduwa
and Ganemulla areas will benefit from this Water Treatment Plant. The Water Plant has the
capacity to purify 160 million liters of water per day. During the filed visit session I identified
some of the main process of water treatment. They are,

Rapid mixing
Coagulation and Flocculation
Sedimentation
Filtration
Disinfection

Rapid mixing
Rapid mixing is the process by which a coagulant is rapidly and uniformly dispersed
through the mass of water. This process usually occurs in a small basin immediately
preceding or at the head of the coagulation basin. Generally, the detention period is 30 to 60
seconds and the head loss is 20 to 60 cm of water. Here colloids are destabilized and the
nucleus for the flocs is formed.
Coagulation and Flocculation
During coagulation, liquid aluminium sulfate (alum) and/or polymer is added to
untreated (raw) water. When mixed with the water, this causes the tiny particles of dirt in the
water to stick together or coagulate. Next, groups of dirt particles stick together to form
larger, heavier particles called flocs which are easier to remove by settling or filtration.
Sedimentation
As the water and the floc particles progress through the treatment process, they move
into sedimentation basins where the water moves slowly, causing the heavy floc particles to
settle to the bottom. Floc which collects on the bottom of the basin is called sludge, and is

piped to drying lagoons. In Direct Filtration, the sedimentation step is not included, and the
floc is removed by filtration only.
Filtration
Water flows through a filter designed to remove particles in the water. The filters are
made of layers of sand and gravel. Filtration collects the suspended impurities in water and
enhances the effectiveness of disinfection. The filters are routinely cleaned by backwashing.
Disinfection
Water is disinfected before it enters the distribution system to ensure that any disease
causing bacteria, viruses, and parasites are destroyed. Chlorine is used because it is a very
effective disinfectant, and residual concentrations can be maintained to guard against possible
biological contamination in the water distribution system.