Handbook of Environmental Engineering

Preface

The discipline of environmental engineering deals with solutions to problems whose neglect would be harmful to society’s well‐being. The discipline plays a vital role in a world where human activity has affected the Earth’s climate, the levels of the seas, the air we breathe, and the cleanliness of water and soil. It is hardly a stretch, in my view, to assert that the work of environmental engineers can contribute to mitigating problems caused by extreme weather events; protecting populations in coastal areas; reducing illnesses caused by polluted air, soil, and water from improperly regulated industrial and transportation activities; and promoting the safety of the food supply. Environmental engineers do not need to rely on political stands on climate change or pollution sources for motivation. As perceptive theoreticians and practitioners, they need to merely observe where problems exist. Then they can use their knowledge and experience to analyze elements of problems, recommend solutions, and enable effective action.

This environmental engineering handbook provides sources of information for students and practitioners interested in both fundamentals and real‐world applications of environmental engineering. The handbook is organized around the assertions highlighted above. The first major section is composed of six wide‐ranging chapters that cover methods for analyzing environmental systems and making measurements within those systems, legal issues that environmental ...