Engineering Solutions to Environmental Impacts

Engineering Solutions to Environmental Impacts

Lesson Objective

Evaluate and propose engineering solutions (water treatment) that address


environmental impacts.

New Vocabulary

​Greenhouse gases
Biofuel
urbanization

Engineers deal with a complex environmental problem by:

A- breaking it down into simpler parts

B- designing solutions that focus on each part.

For example, the environmental effects of urbanization could be broken down into smaller problems.

urbanization: The process of increasing population and growth of cities and towns.

1. Asphalt and cement are dark. They absorb heat and increase air temperatures in cities.

2. Building materials do not absorb water, and this increases storm runoff.

3. Water pollution from runoffs reduces the quality and availability of drinking water.

4. Cities destroy the habitats of many organisms.

5. Transportation and factories increase air pollution.

Open Ended

What do engineers create to help fix the problems caused by cities growing too fast?

Hint: Think about solutions for traffic, pollution, lack of green space, and waste management.

Multiple Choice

Which environmental problem does a water treatment plant deal with?

• Soil erosion
• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Deforestation

Water Treatment

A solution for a city’s growing need for clean water is to purify water or wastewater.

Chemical or biological treatments remove pollutants and harmful disease-causing organisms from water.

Water moves through filters until it is safe enough to use and even to drink.

Multiple Choice

What is one solution engineers use to provide clean water in growing cities?

• Use chemical and biological treatments to clean water.

• Store dirty water underground.

• Build more roads to reduce water usage.

• Add salt to make water last longer.

Engineering Solutions to Environmental Impacts

1- Rain Harvesting
2- Renewable Energy
3- Green Roofs

Lesson Objective

Evaluate and propose engineering solutions (water treatment) that address


environmental impacts.

New Vocabulary

​Greenhouse gases
Biofuel
urbanization

A solution for reducing storm runoff is collecting rainwater.

A home rainwater harvesting system may be used to water the garden.

Farmers or villages need a larger harvesting system, that uses pumps to move water through buildings and water filters to purify water.

Rain Harvesting

Engineering Solutions Reduce the Impact of Urbanization

Multiple Choice

How does using collected rainwater to water gardens help the environment?.

• A. It adds more chemicals to the soil.

• B. It reduces the need to use clean drinking water for plants.

• C. It increases runoff and erosion.

• D. It increases the demand on water treatment plants

Multiple Choice

Which setup would work best in a dry village that doesn’t get much rain?

• A small, shallow tank to collect water

• A bucket left open in the rain

• A system that only works during heavy rain

• A big roof that collects rain, connected to a closed tank

Solar panels on buildings generate electricity from sunlight.
The use of solar panels reduces air pollution and CO₂ emissions caused by burning fossil fuels.

Silicon used in solar panels, however, has to be mined, which can be costly and affects the environment.

Renewable Energy

Engineering Solutions Reduce the Impact of Urbanization

Multiple Choice

Why is using solar panels both helpful and sometimes harmful to the environment?

• A. They make electricity from sunlight but take up too much space.

• B. They reduce air pollution, but the material used to make them (silicon) must be mined, which can hurt nature.

• C. They are cheap to build, but they don’t work at night.

• D. They help the environment and have no negative effects.

Multiple Choice

Why is solar energy considered better than fossil fuels for the environment?

• It makes cars go faster

• It’s cheaper to build

• It comes from a clean source and does not create harmful gases

• It works without using wires

Green roofs deal with several problems at once.
Green roofs:

• keep buildings insulated, reducing the need for energy for heating or cooling

• absorb radiation, decreasing air temperatures

• absorb water, reducing storm runoffs

• provide new habitats for insects and birds

Green Roofs

Engineering Solutions Reduce the Impact of Urbanization

Multiple Choice

Which of the following shows how green roofs support biodiversity?

• They make buildings taller

• They stop plants from growing

• They let animals live inside homes

• They provide places for insects and birds to live

Challenge Question

Use the internet to find one country or region that is currently struggling with water pollution or lack of clean water. Then answer the following questions:

1. What human activities are causing water pollution or water scarcity in that area?
   (For example: industrial waste, farming chemicals, sewage, overuse of water, etc.)

2. What engineering solutions or technologies is the country using to treat or clean water?
   (Look for water filtration systems, desalination plants, wastewater treatment facilities, portable water purifiers, or smart water management systems.)

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