Environmental Systems Design And Management 

The pictures from the Apollo flights proved that not only was the earth round; it was a very finite blob. Somehow the sight of this lonely spaceship, floating friendliness in the blackness of space, brought home the fact that the earth and its natural resources are indeed all we have, and that we best start worrying about the future of the earth.

It's not possible to assess what effect this view from outer space had on it, but we have seen in the past two decades the formation of a new philosophical force - the environmental ethic, which questions many of our accepted ground rules, such as the sanctity of growth and expansion, and the freedom to exploit resources. This huge topic includes the multifaceted problems associated with the construction of hydropower dams and reservoirs; development of mines and irrigation projects; land clearing, deforestation, and overgrazing that cause erosion, siltation, and flooding; and the many health hazards of overcrowded city slums such as inadequate water supply, lack of sewerage and garbage disposal facilities, and life-threatening air pollution.

The company's extensive involvement in pioneering the application of energy conservation technology in Pakistan has considerably enhanced its outlook on current and futuristic scope of energy issues. Particularly, the relation of energy to environment is a subject that, besides its importance on a global scale, is significant enough to solicit the policy planner's concerted efforts in Pakistan. The issue needs to be resolved in the perspective of preserving the ecosystem in parallel with the enhanced industrialization program.

Reducing emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and the chlorofluorocarbons must be the focus of any attempt to curb global warming. These gases account for around 90% of the enhancement of the greenhouse effect that has already occurred. In this context MEConsult has provided the lead in identifying opportunities for minimizing toxic waste emission to the atmosphere in consequence of some fundamental energy conservation measures. It is expected that through more efficient steam distribution in a typically moderate industry a gross content of 318,000 kg of carbon dioxide can be saved from being emitted to the atmosphere. On a nation wide basis the positive impact can be stupendous.

Another study conducted by MEConsult pertains to the impact of energy conservation on environmental protection. To mobilize efforts in this direction specific recommendations were made to ensure that energy conservation and environmental agencies coordinate in accomplishing mutual objectives, the government initiates user-friendly energy conservation program on the national level, and sufficient mandatory laws are formulated to restrict inept energy use.

In the specific field of design and management of environmental pollution control systems, the company is capable of providing technical services within the constituent areas as shown in the table overleaf.

Environmental Systems Design & Management Program

Constituent Activities

Water Supply

• Ground water supply

• Surface water supply

Water Treatment

• Coagulation and flocculation, settling, filtration, disinfection

Collection of Wastewater

• Estimating wastewater quantities

• System layout

Wastewater Treatment

• Onsite wastewater disposal

• Central wastewater treatment

Sludge Treatment & Disposal

• Sludge treatment

• Ultimate disposal

Nonpoint Source Water Pollution

• Agriculture

• Silviculture

• Construction

• Mining

• Urban stormwater runoff

Solid Waste Disposal

• Collection

• Disposal of unprocessed refuse

• Volume reduction prior to disposal

Resource Recovery

• Source separation

• Solid waste separation processes

Hazardous Waste

• Waste processing and handling

• Transportation of hazardous wastes

• Resource recovery alternatives

• Hazardous waste management facilities

Radioactive Waste

• Health effects

• Sources of radioactive waste

• Radioactive waste management

Air Pollution Control

• Collection of pollutants

• Cooling

• Treatment

• Control of gaseous pollutants

• Control of moving sources

Noise Measurement & Control

• Industrial noise control

• Community noise control

Environmental Impact

• Environmental inventories

• Environmental assessment

• Evaluation