Water resources engineering and environmental engineering are two closely related engineering disciplines. During my final year of university, while pursuing my undergraduate degree, we were asked to select a major. Among the three options available, water resources engineering and environmental engineering were on the list and were classified as a single major. This was most likely done because the two disciplines are inextricably linked.
It is said that all aspects of engineering are interconnected. Engineers from various disciplines are often required to collaborate to accomplish a common objective. In road construction, for example, a highway engineer is expected to design the road in collaboration with a transportation engineer who provides details about the vehicular traffic the road would be expected to carry and a hydraulics engineer who determines the best type of drainage such type of road requires.
The road will be built by a contractor who is knowledgeable about highways, hydraulics, and transportation engineering. As a result, the details in the designed drawings can be properly implemented on site. A mechanical engineer and an electrical engineer work together to design and install the best type of road signs, street lights, and other fittings.
The example mentioned above simply illustrates how every aspect of engineering is interconnected. In most schools (at least in Nigeria, where I studied), everyone is expected to study every aspect of Civil Engineering and certain aspects of other engineering courses at the beginning. To better understand water resources engineering and environmental engineering, we will first look at an overview of both types of engineering before delving deeper into the various aspects of both types of engineering in subsequent posts.
Environmental Engineering
Environmental engineering is a branch of civil engineering that focuses on protecting and preserving natural resources in the environment as well as the environment itself by reducing waste and contaminants in the environment while improving the existing condition of the environment.
Environmental engineering provides solutions to environmental problems. It also improves life on land and in water by reducing or preventing environmental issues such as flooding.
Engineering is known for solving problems by applying scientific and technological knowledge. Environmental engineering aims to provide continuous solutions to the following issues:
- Air pollution
- Water pollution
- Soil pollution
- Flood
- Water scarcity
- Waste disposal
- Water supply
Water resources engineering
Water resources engineering is concerned with managing existing water resources and sourcing new ones. It requires a thorough understanding of how the hydrologic cycle works – the distribution and circulation of water.
A water resources engineer is someone who is tasked with providing clean water for human consumption and removing the water once it has been used (wastewater treatment).
Water resources engineering, like any other branch of engineering, has various aspects, which include:
- Irrigation Engineering
- Water and wastewater treatment Engineering
- Flood control
- Hydraulics engineering
- River engineering
Jay water advisory 