Environmental Engineering, 5th Edition

Book Preface

Workers in environmental health and in environmental protection who have had experience with environmental sanitation and engineering problems have noted the need for a book that is comprehensive in its scope and more directly applicable to conditions actually encountered in practice. Many standard texts adequately cover the specialized aspects of environmental health, engineering, and sanitation, but little detailed information is available in one volume dealing with the urban, suburban, and rural environment and community.

In this text emphasis is placed on the practical application of sanitary science and engineering theory and principles to comprehensive environmental control. This is necessary if available knowledge is to benefit humans now and in future generations without transferring an environmental problem from one media (air, water, or land) to another. In addition, and in deliberate contrast to complement other texts, empirical formulas, rule of thumb, experience, and good practice are identified and applied when possible to illustrate the ‘‘best’’ possible solution under the particular circumstances. It must be recognized, however, that knowledge and conditions change and that this may be hazardous when blindly applied by the practitioner. It is sincerely hoped, however, that individual ingenuity and investigation will not be stifled by such practicality but will be challenged and stimulated to always consider new developments and alternatives.*

A special effort was made to include general design, construction, maintenance, and operation details as they relate to plants and structures. Examples and drawings are used freely to help in the understanding and use of the subject matter. The reader is referred to the references and bibliography in each chapter for more information on complex designs and problems that are beyond the scope of this text.

Since the field is a very broad one, the following subjects are specifically covered in this new revised edition:

1. control of communicable and certain noninfectious diseases,
2. environmental engineering planning and impact analysis,
3. water supply,
4. wastewater treatment and disposal,
5. solid waste management,
6. air pollution and noise control,
7. radiation uses and protection,
8. food protection,
9. recreation areas and temporary residences,
10. the residential and institutional environment,
11. environmental emergencies and environmental preparedness, and
12. soil and groundwater remediation.