Addis Ababa Science & Technology University

College Of Engineering
Department of Environmental Engineering
Environmental Engineering (EnEng 4105)
Chapter 1: Introduction
Lecture 1
By
Mr. Solomon Tibebu

(2018E.C / 2025G.C)
Class Introduction
Environmental Engineering
What Is Environmental Engineering?
• Environmental Engineering is the branch of engineering that applies science and
engineering principles to:
➢ Protect human health
➢ Preserve the environment
➢ Control pollution
➢ Design sustainable systems that integrate natural and built environments
Key Functions
❑Design of waste management systems for safe disposal and resource recovery
❑Design of water and air quality control technologies to meet environmental
standards
❑Design of pollution prevention strategies that minimize environmental impact
❑Design and evaluation of environmental impact assessments to guide responsible
development etc…
Why It Matters to Civil Engineers
• Civil engineers shape the built environment, roads, buildings, water systems, and
must understand how these affect natural systems.
Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 2
Class Introduction
Environmental Engineering cont.
Why Civil Engineers Must Understand Environmental Engineering

Reason Explanation
Infrastructure impacts environment Roads, buildings, and drainage systems affect soil, water, and air quality
Regulatory compliance Projects must meet environmental laws and standards
Collaboration Civil engineers work with environmental engineers on shared projects
Public health Poor design can lead to pollution, disease, and unsafe living conditions
Sustainability Civil engineers must design systems that last without harming ecosystems

you will work with Environmental Engineers so this course teaches you how to communicate and collaborate effectively

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 3

Class Introduction
Environmental Engineering cont.
Pillars of Environmental Engineering

Pillar Description

Water & Wastewater Engineering Design of clean water supply and safe wastewater treatment systems

Air Pollution Engineering Control of emissions from vehicles, factories, and construction sites

Soil Pollution Remediation Cleanup of contaminated land and prevention of toxic infiltration

Conversion of waste into energy and use of solar, wind, and biogas
Renewable & Waste-to-Energy Tech
systems

Solid & Hazardous Waste Safe handling, transport, and disposal of municipal and industrial
Engineering waste

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 4

Class Introduction
Environmental Engineering cont.
Why Each Pillar Matters for Civil Engineers?

• Water & Wastewater: Environmental Engineers design, but you construct the civil
structures of pipelines, treatment plants, and drainage systems, therefore you must
understand flow, contamination, and treatment basics.
• Air Pollution: Construction sites and traffic contribute to air pollution, your designs
must minimize dust and emissions.
• Soil Remediation: Before building, you must assess soil quality, contaminated land
needs treatment before construction.
• Renewable Energy: Civil engineers help install solar panels, biogas digesters, and
energy recovery systems in buildings and infrastructure.
• Solid & Hazardous Waste: Environmental Engineers design, but you construct
landfills, waste transfer stations, and must understand how to safely manage
construction and industrial waste.
Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 5
Class Introduction
Environmental Engineering cont.
Course Objective
• Main Goal: To introduce civil engineering students to the language, concepts, and
responsibilities of environmental engineering.
What You Will Learn
• How infrastructure affects natural systems
• Basic terminology and tools used by environmental engineers
• How to communicate effectively with environmental professionals
What You Will NOT Learn
• This is not a calculation-heavy course
• You will not design treatment plants or solve equations
• Instead, you will learn how to understand and collaborate

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 6

Class Introduction
Environmental Engineering cont.
Real-World Example, Civil & Environmental Collaboration
Scenario: A city plans to build a new residential area near a river.

Civil Engineer Task Environmental Engineer Task

Construct roads and buildings Design systems to assess flood risk and water pollution potential
Build drainage and stormwater systems Design runoff management to prevent river contamination
Select and install construction materials Analyze environmental impact of materials used
Construct water supply infrastructure Design water treatment and quality monitoring systems

Outcome of the collaboration: A safe, sustainable, and legally compliant project

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 7

Class Introduction
Environmental Engineering cont.
Environmental Challenges in Ethiopia

Challenge Impact on Civil Engineering Projects

Water scarcity Requires efficient water use and reuse systems
Urban waste accumulation Demands proper landfill and waste transport design
Air pollution in cities Influences traffic planning and emission control
Soil erosion and contamination Affects foundation design and land use planning

Climate change Requires resilient infrastructure and flood control systems

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 8

Class Introduction
Environmental Engineering cont.
Overview of Environmental Engineering Domains and Design Functions
Category Key Topics & Terms Design-Focused Functions
Design of treatment plants, sewer systems, and water
Water & Wastewater Treatment Filtration, sedimentation, disinfection, activated sludge, anaerobic digestion
distribution networks

Design of air filtration systems, stack emission controls,

Air Pollution Control Emission modeling, particulate control, scrubbers, catalytic converters
and monitoring stations

Design of waste collection systems, landfill liners,

Solid & Hazardous Waste Landfills, composting, incineration, recycling, hazardous waste classification
recycling facilities

Environmental Impact Assessment Design of assessment frameworks, impact modeling

Baseline studies, mitigation planning, stakeholder engagement, scoping
(EIA) tools, and mitigation strategies

Sustainable Design & Green Design of eco-friendly urban systems, stormwater

Green roofs, permeable pavements, rain gardens, LID techniques
Infrastructure management, and climate-resilient structures
Design of industrial processes with minimal emissions and
Pollution Prevention Source reduction, cleaner production, lifecycle analysis
waste
Design of monitoring networks, data collection systems,
Environmental Monitoring Sensors, GIS, remote sensing, sampling protocols
and real-time dashboards

Design of low-carbon infrastructure, energy-efficient

Climate & Energy Systems Carbon footprint, renewable energy, carbon capture, adaptation strategies
buildings, and carbon sequestration

Design of decision-support systems, predictive models,

ICT & Data Analytics Environmental modeling, simulation, AI in sustainability
and smart environmental platforms

Design of compliance systems, audit protocols, and

Regulatory & Management Tools ISO 14001, EPA standards, risk assessment, EMS
environmental management frameworks
Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 9
Class Introduction

Environmental Engineering cont.

How This Course Helps You in Your Career
• You’ll be able to

➢Communicate with environmental engineers on site

➢Avoid legal and regulatory mistakes

➢Design infrastructure that’s safe and sustainable

➢Contribute to Ethiopia’s development responsibly

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 10

Class Introduction
Environmental Engineering cont.

“Environmental Engineering is not just a subject, it’s a

mindset. As civil engineers, you are builders of the future.
If you build without understanding the environment, you
risk harming the very people you aim to serve. This
course gives you the tools to build wisely, sustainably,
and collaboratively.”

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 11

Class Introduction
Environmental Engineering cont.
Course Content

Chapter Chapter Name

Chapter 1 Introduction
Chapter 2 Water and Wastewater Treatment IA Test 1

Chapter 3 Air pollution and Treatment

Chapter 4 Soil Pollution and Remediation
Chapter 5 Solid Waste Management
Test 2
Chapter 6 Renewable and Waste-to-Energy Technologies
Chapter 7 Environmental Impact Assessment GA

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 12

assessment

Assessment
Test 1 15 points
Test 2 10 points
Individual Assignment 10 points
Group Assignment 10 points
Quiz 5 points
Final Exam 50 points

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 13

Reference Books

1. Lin, S. D. (2014). Water and wastewater calculation manual (3rd

ed.). McGraw-Hill Professional.
2. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc. (2003). Wastewater engineering: Treatment
and reuse (4th ed.). McGraw-Hill Education.
3. Masten, S. J., & Davis, M. L. (2003). Principles of environmental
engineering and science. McGraw-Hill Education.
4. Petts, J. (Ed.). (1999). Handbook of environmental impact
assessment: Volume 2 – Environmental impact assessment in
practice. Blackwell Publishers.

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 14

Rules
✓ Discipline, Discipline , Discipline !!!

✓ Punctuality

✓ Attendance (>80% is mandatory)

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 15

 Contact Address
Name of the instructor: Mr. Solomon Tibebu
College: Engineering
Department: Environmental Engineering
Email: [Link]@[Link]
Office: Block 73
Room: 002
[Link]

[Link]

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 16

Chapter one
Introduction
What is Environment? Biotic & Abiotic Components
• The environment is the sum of all external conditions affecting the life,
development, and survival of organisms.
• Includes natural systems (air, water, soil, living organisms) and human-made systems
(cities, industries).

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 17

Chapter one
Introduction cont.
What is Environment? Biotic & Abiotic Components cont.

Biotic Components, The Biosphere Abiotic Components

➢ Living organisms Component Description
❑ Plants – producers of oxygen,
Atmosphere Air and gases surrounding Earth
stabilizers of soil
❑ Animals – consumers, part of food Lithosphere Earth's crust and soil
chains
❑ Microorganisms – decomposers, Hydrosphere All water bodies (rivers, lakes, oceans)
nutrient recyclers

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 18

Chapter one
Introduction cont.
What is Environment? Biotic & Abiotic Components cont.
Dynamic Interactions-How Human Disrupt this Interaction???

Human
Atmosphere
O2
Food
CO2

Plant

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 19

Chapter one cont.
Introduction cont.
Human Impacts: Urbanization, Industry, Agriculture, Population

Urbanization Industrialization

• Factories emit pollutants into air, water,

Expansion of cities → land use change, air
and soil
pollution, waste generation
• Resource extraction leads to deforestation
and habitat loss

Agricultural Activity Rapid Population Growth

• More people = more demand for water,
• Fertilizer runoff → excess nutrients in
food, housing
water → algal blooms → oxygen
• Increased waste, pollution, and pressure
depletion…..Eutrophication
on natural resources

20
Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering)
Chapter one cont.
Introduction cont.
Human Impacts: Urbanization, Industry, Agriculture, Population cont.

Activity Environmental Impact

Urbanization Air pollution, land degradation

Industry Toxic emissions, water contamination

Agriculture Soil erosion, eutrophication

Population Growth Resource depletion, waste accumulation

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 21

Chapter one cont.
Introduction cont.
Sustainable Development & Economic Models
What Is Sustainable Development?
• Development that meets present needs without compromising future generations
• Balances economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity
Three Pillars of Sustainability
Pillar Focus Area
Environment Resource conservation, pollution control
Efficient use of materials, green jobs , material
Economy
recycling
Society Health, education, equity

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 22

 Chapter one cont.
Introduction cont.
Sustainable Development & Economic Models cont.

Economic Models
Ethiopia’s Context
Model Description
• Because of
industrialization,
Linear Economy Take → Make → Waste (unsustainable) [cradle to grave]
urbanization,
Circular Economy Reuse → Recycle → Regenerate (sustainable) [cradle to cradle] population increment,
Mixed Economy Combination of both, common in developing countries and agricultural
activity, we need to
apply circular economic
model
• This can be achieved
by: Waste-to-energy,
water reuse, and green
infrastructure are key

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 23

Chapter one cont.
Introduction cont.
Material Flow, Resource Efficiency & Pollution
Material Flow
• Movement of raw materials → Raw
products → waste material
Process Product

• Inefficient flow leads to resource loss

and pollution
waste
Resource Efficiency
• Using fewer resources to produce more Medium Common Pollutants
• Example: Drip irrigation systems — CO₂, SO₂, NOx, particulate
Air
deliver water directly to plant roots, matter
reducing water waste and increasing crop Water
Heavy metals, nutrients,
yield. pathogens
Soil Pesticides, industrial waste, plastics

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 24

Chapter one cont.
Introduction cont.

Material Flow, Resource Efficiency & Pollution cont.

How Pollution Occurs
• Emissions from vehicles, factories, agriculture
• Improper waste disposal, deforestation, mining activities
• Air pollution from traffic
• River contamination from informal settlements

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 25

Chapter one cont.
Introduction cont.
Assimilative Capacity, Pollutants vs Pollution
Assimilative Capacity
• The ability of the environment to absorb pollutants without harmful effects
• The ability of earth to treat it self
• Example: A river can dilute small amounts of waste, but not unlimited
• Environmental Pollution start to show its adverse health and environmental impact
starting from Industrial revolution
Why???
• Because earth’s assimilative capacity is exceeded
• Factors affecting assimilative capacity
✓ Concentration
✓ Time
✓ Climate etc…

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 26

Chapter one cont.
Introduction cont.
Assimilative Capacity, Pollutants vs Pollution cont.

Pollutant Any substance that causes harm to the environment

Pollution The process of introducing pollutants

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 27

 Main Category Subcategory Examples Key Characteristics
Volcanic ash, pollen, methane from
Natural Occur naturally, not always harmful
wetlands
By Origin
Anthropogenic (Human-made) Industrial emissions, plastic waste Result from human activities

Biodegradable Food waste, paper, sewage Broken down by microorganisms

By Degradability
Plastics, heavy metals, synthetic
Non-biodegradable Persist in environment, long-term impact
chemicals
Solid Dust, ash, plastic debris Visible particles, often settle on surfaces
Classification of Pollutants

By Physical State Liquid Wastewater, oil spills Can contaminate water and soil

Gas CO₂, SO₂, NOx, methane Dispersed in air, affect respiratory health
Particulate matter, ozone, carbon
Air Pollutants Affect atmosphere and human health
monoxide
By Affected
Water Pollutants Nitrates, phosphates, pathogens Cause eutrophication, disease
Medium
Soil Pollutants Pesticides, industrial sludge Reduce fertility, contaminate crops

Toxic Mercury, arsenic, cyanide Harmful even in small quantities

By Toxicity
Less harmful, but may still disrupt
Non-toxic Organic matter, biodegradable waste
systems
Long-lasting, bioaccumulate in food
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) DDT, PCBs, dioxins
chains
By Persistence
Break down quickly under natural
Non-persistent Organic waste, some fertilizers 28
conditions
Chapter one cont.
Introduction cont.
Home work 1
1. Explain how a civil engineering project (e.g., construction of a highway or residential complex) can
disrupt the dynamic interactions among the biosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere.
propose two mitigation strategies.
2. Compare the environmental consequences of urbanization and agricultural expansion in Ethiopia.
Discuss how each activity contributes to pollution and resource depletion, and suggest one
sustainable design solution for each.
3. Critically evaluate the differences between linear, circular, and mixed economies. Which model is
most suitable for Ethiopia’s current development context, and why? Support your answer with
examples from infrastructure or waste management.
4. Select one pollutant from each environmental medium (air, water, soil) and describe its source,
pathway, and long-term impact on civil infrastructure. How can resource efficient design reduce
these impacts?
5. You are assigned to design a stormwater drainage system in a flood-prone urban area. Identify
three environmental engineering principles you must consider during design. Explain how
collaboration with environmental engineers can improve the system’s performance and
sustainability.

Mr. Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering) 29

Thank You

Solomon Tibebu (Environmental Engineering Department) 30