The environment essentially makes up the world in which we live. From ecosystems to waterways, it is extremely complex, as any environmental changes can have a significant impact on other parts of it. For example, in the United States, people use more than 2.2 billion pounds of pesticides each year. All of those chemicals can eventually end up in our water supply, if it is not preoperly filtered. Because of this impact from our use of chemicals on plants and agriculture, we can also have a huge impact on natural water.

While you may have a good understanding of the environment, it is also important to understand environmental engineers and what they do on a daily basis. These environmental experts use their education and skills to find innovative solutions to our environmental problems. Here, we’ve put together a list of the most common questions regarding environmental engineering:

What Is Environmental Engineering?

This specialization of engineering is intended to solve problems with the environment, such as problems with groundwater. It focuses on using science and engineering strategies to protect the people living in a specific environment.

For instance, water quality reports have shown that almost half of all streams, lakes, and bays in the United States are heavily polluted. This can have a major impact on the environment of these waterways, affecting the animals living in them and the people living on shore. Engineers in this field work to solve such a problem, finding unique solutions to decrease the amount of pollution in these waterways

What Do Engineers Do?

Engineers in this field are on the front lines, observing issues, analyzing reports, and finding unique and innovative solutions. Most notably, they often work to help with pollution, recycling, public health, and methods of disposing waste.

The engineers do this by performing investigations and studies to help determine what is causing an overarching problem. They then scientifically analyze the results of the study and design projects to help address the issue. This may involve obtaining important permits or even advising government officials. Thus, these engineers have a myriad of roles that they must work hard to fill every day.

How Are They Making A Difference?

Many people wonder if environmental engineering has a strong impact on the health of the environment. The quick answer is that yes, they do! These engineers study how technology even affects the environment, providing new insights to governments and businesses alike.

They can also help create new sources of energy to prevent the continued use of fossil fuels. These experts work hard each day to have a huge impact on the environment. Without them, we would have a much harder time determining how to help our environment and protect the people in our communities!

Environmental engineering is an incredibly important branch of applied science. These professionals study the world we live in and the effects our actions have had on it. More importantly, they help design and create innovative solutions to any problems we may be creating. From pollution to energy, environmental engineers keep in mind the goal to protecting both humans and our planet.