Chapter 5 Environmental and Energy Infrastructure Copyright
2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.
Introduction to Infrastructure: An Introduction to Civil and
Environmental Engineering First Edition Michael R. Penn and Philip
J. Parker
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9% Renewable 91% Non-Renewable
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Coal and nuclear material are transported by rail Natural gas
and Petroleum are transported by pipeline
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Conventional power plants create heat from fuel which produces
steam. This steam is then run through a turbine connected to a
generator.
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Long distance: transmitted at several hundred thousand volts to
minimize loss. Short distance: transmitted at 7,200 volts. Home
use: stepped down to 240 volts.
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Energy demand increased 25% from 1999 Transmission construction
decreased by 30% Poor power quality costs our economy $25-$180
annually.
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Typically a communitys entire water supply is treated to
drinking water standards. >1% of that water is used for
drinking. Some communitys have second water system for non-drinking
water that is not treated. US personal average: 60 gal/person/day
US average including industry: 120 gal/person/day
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Water Sources: Lakes and Reservoirs City of Houston Surface
Water Supply Sources Houston
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Due to varying demand yet constant pump rates storage is
necessary.
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Two goals Potable Safe to drink Aesthetically pleasing Looks
clear and clean
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Drinking water is distributed via pressurized pipes. Older
pipes are cast iron and wood Newer pipes are ductile Iron or
PVC
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The US has 53,000 community water systems. 83% serve 3,300 or
fewer people. These smaller systems face challenges they do not
have the resources to combat.
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Wastewater polite name for sewage. Water from showers/baths,
toilets, laundry, carwashes, restaurants, offices, etc. Treated
prior to discharge into rivers, lakes, estuaries, oceans, or
groundwater.
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Sanitary sewers designed to carry wastewater often also carry
stormwater due to leakage or improperly connected pipes.
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Sewer pipes are typically PVC or reinforced concrete. Pipe
sizes: Laterals pipes from homes Collectors pipes in neighborhoods
Interceptors sewer mains.
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In systems with combined sewers there the is possibility of
overflow in rain events. Example of a combined sewer outfall. The
door will open and spill out the untreated sewage in overflow
conditions.
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Removes larger macroscopic particles and debris. Consists of
screens and settling tanks.
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Removal of fats, oils, greases, and settleable material.
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Uses microorganisms in a suspended slurry (activated sludge).
Decomposes organic material before it is dumped into the
environment Keeps the wastewater from reaping havoc on the DO of
the dumping environment.
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Removal of phosphorus or nitrogen
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Combined sewers overflow a total of 850 billion gallons a year.
(2004, EPA) Sanitary sewers overflow 10 billion gallons of raw
sewage every year. (2004, EPA)
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Stormwater runoff from rain events. Mostly from impervious
surfaces, but also pervious ones. Stormwater inlet on the side of a
crowned roadway
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Carried from inlets to storm sewers then to outfalls Typically
untreated Inadequate outfall rip-rap apron designed to minimize
erosion.
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Used to pass open channel flow under roads or structures Either
short sections of storm sewer or box culverts
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After development the increase in impermeable surfaces causes
the runoff to be much more intense. Storage helps to mitigate that
effect.
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This system is engineered to release at the same flowrate as
pre-development land.
In sewer systems that are not combined typically little or no
treatment occurs. Table 5.1 Possible Pollutants
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Important for making urban areas more livable Increase property
values
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Its a funny show. This fall - Thursdays 9:30/8:30c Airs on
NBC
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On average states spend 0.23% of their annual budgets on parks.
Due to increasing populations, the number of acres per person has
been quickly dropping.
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Municipal solid waste everything thrown away or recycled by
homes, and businesses.
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Typically after roadside pickup the waste is taken to transfer
stations Recyclables often separated here From there it is
compacted and sent to regional landfills
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The US seems to have reached a plateau at 33% of MSW recycled.
Other developed countries have reached 60%.
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Most states have banned yard waste from their landfills. This
is often composted and sold for profit. Pre-composting on right.
Post-composting on left.
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Modern landfills are lined with geomembranes to keep runoff
(called leachate) from infiltrated groundwater. The leachate is
then treated like all wastewater
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Highest grade awarded to any category in 2009. ASCE wants to
see more methane capture projects that reduce greenhouse gasses and
create energy.
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Prior to the 1970s hazardous waste was not distinguished from
municipal waste. Superfund a federal program to clean the worst of
the hazardous waste contaminated sites. Brownfields real estate
that goes undeveloped because of real or perceived
contamination.
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Superfund allotted budget has dwindled since the 90s. Used to
clean about 70 sites a year. In recent year that has dropped to
25-30.