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What does an environmental engineer do?

A weather station is checked by an environmental engineer. They work with an array of field experiment.

Did you know?

• In N. C. there are 17 major watersheds and nearly 4 times that number are smaller tributaries. The environmental engineer identifies and solves issues to protect these watersheds.

• Every year U.S. industry generates billions of tons of waste that creates potential risks to human health and the environment. Environmental engineers create and advance technologies to improve waste management.

NC Environmental Agencies

North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources

North Carolina Cooperative Extension NC State University

North Carolina Division of Waste Management

The Work of Environmental Engineers

Environmental engineers or ecological engineers respond to the challenges posed by a growing population, intensifying land-use pressures, rapidly evolving technology, and increasing government regulations. The environmental engineer must develop technically sound solutions within the framework of maintaining or improving environmental quality, complying with public policy, and optimizing the utilization of resources. The engineer provides system and component design, serves as a technical advisor in policy making and legal deliberations, develops management schemes for resources, and provides technical evaluations of systems.

Through the current work of environmental engineers, individuals and businesses are understanding how to coordinate society's interaction with the environment. There will always be a need for engineers who are able to integrate the latest technologies into systems to produce needed food and fiber while protecting natural resources.

• Design and evaluation of erosion control systems
• Systems and processes for management and utilization of wastes
• Design and management of water control systems
• Inspection, evaluation, and reporting for regulatory compliance
• Air quality monitoring, air emission measurement and modeling, air pollution mitigation
and control, and air dispersion modeling
• Design of animal housing
• Environmental management
• Expert witness

Professional organizations environmental engineers belong to:

• American Society of Biological and Agricultural Engineers (ASABE)
• American Academy of Environmental Engineering
• Institute of Biological Engineering
• American Society of Civil Engineering
• American Engineering Ecological Society

Many environmental engineers choose to earn a Professional Engineers License. Being licensed assures competencies and expands opportunities for professional advancement.