UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MALAYSIA

FINAL EXAMINATION
SEMESTER 2, SESSION 2015/2016

COURSE NAME : INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL

ENGINEERING

COURSE CODE : SMJC 3333

LECTURERS : PROF. IR. MEGAT JOHARI

DR. NURFATEHAH WAHYUNY CHE JUSOH
DR. ROSHAFIMA RASIT ALI

PROGRAMMES : SMJC

DATE :

TIME : 2 HOURS

INSTRUCTION : ANSWER ALL FIVE (5) QUESTIONS

(THIS QUESTION PAPER CONSISTS OF 6 PRINTED PAGES INCLUDING THIS PAGE)

 SMJC 3333

1.0 EXAMINATION MISCONDUCT

1.1 Students are NOT allowed to do the following during the examination:

(a) give/receive/own any electronic, printed or other forms of information

that is not allowed during the examinations whether it be inside or
outside the examination hall unless with the permission of the chief
invigilator;

(b) make use of above information to answer the examination questions;

(c) cheating, attempt to cheat or act in a manner that is construed as

cheating during an examination;

(d) other misconducts as stated by the university.

2.0 PUNISHMENT

2.1 If a student has acted against the rules and regulations of the examination
and is found guilty by the Faculty Examination Committee, the Senate can
take any of the following actions:

(a) give a mark of ZERO (0) for the course (inclusive of coursework) ; or

(b) a mark of ZERO (0) for all the courses registered in that semester.

2.2 Students who have found to act against the rules and regulations of the
examinations for the second time will be dealt according to the Universities
and Colleges Act, 1971, Procedures according to the Universiti Teknologi
Malaysia (Students Code of Conduct), 1999.

Quote from:
ACADEMIC GUIDELINES BACHELOR DEGREE PROGRAMS FULL-TIME STUDY

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 SMJC 3333

Answer All Questions.

Section A

QUESTION 1 [50 marks] Spend about 40 minutes to answer this question.

A new area on the southern side, divided by a major river (shown in Figure 1), has been
identified for residential development to cater for a population of two million. The northern
side, across the major river and its tributary, will remain as oil palm plantation. A palm oil
mill is situated within the northern plantation. A pig farm with a highly mechanized
wastewater treatment plant for treating piggery waste is situated on the same side, next to the
plantation.

The palm oil mill has been known to discharge poorly treated effluent three times for the past
10 years, accord to monthly sampling done by the District Environmental Department. For
the three cases there were breakdown of the treatment plants. In one of the situations, a
discharge of effluent BOD5 of 15,000 mg/L and SS of 20,000 mg/L of over a period of 8
hours was noted. Typically the mill manage to keep the effluent below 50 mg/L BOD 5 and
100 mg/L SS with a daily flow of 230 m3/d.

The pig farm BOD5 and SS have always been below 20 mg/L and 10 mg/L respectively, with
a daily flow of 100 m3/d.

Piggery Wastewater
North
River B Discharge point

Existing Oil Palm Plantation

QB = 3.0 x 108 L/d
BOD5 = 10 mg/L
SS = 5 mg/L Palm Oil Mill
Discharge point

River A

Show possibilities of
QA = 8.0 x 108 L/d water intake
Proposed Residential Area
BOD5 = 3 mg/L

SS = 2 mg/L Figure Q1: New area for residential developement

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 SMJC 3333

a) What are the typical non-point pollutions that may influence the river water quality,
based on Figure 1? How does these affect public health?
[4 marks]

b) Given that the regulatory requirements for discharging into a river that will be used for
drinking water supply should not exceed river water BOD5 of 10 mg/L and SS of 10
mg/L. Another requirements that must be met by the wastewater treatment plant is that
it must not exceed the 20 mg/L BOD5 and 20 mg/L SS on all water bodies. The typical
water demand is 250 L/p/d and the typical water discharge is 225 L/p/d. Identify a
suitable intake point for a water treatment plant and a discharge point for a wastewater
treatment plant to cater for the two million populations. Justify your selection for the
points of intake and discharge based on the available data. You may make necessary
assumptions.
[24 marks]

c) Propose a process flow for drinking water treatment for the residential area of concern,
then list and sketch the schematic diagram of the unit processes.
[10 marks]

d) Table 1 shows the respective particle diameters and the settling velocities of particulate
matters. Design a rectangular setting tank for a drinking water treatment plant to cater
for the two million populations, given that the raw water contains silt and clay. Typical
water consumption is 250 L/p/d. You may make necessary assumptions.
[12 marks]

Table Q1: Parameters for particulate matters

Particle Typical particle Settling velocity

diameter (mm) (m/s)

1.0 Sand 2 x 10-1

0.1 Fine sand 1 x 10-2
0.01 Silt 1 x 10-4
0.001 Clay 1 x 10-6

Buoyancy = g /6 d3
Drag = CD ( /4 d2) vs2
Vertical momentum = 1 /6 d3 . dvs/dt

Section B

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 SMJC 3333

QUESTION 2 [12 Marks] Spend about 20 minutes to answer this question.

(a) Hazardous chemicals escape to the air by a number of natural and/or anthropogenic
activities and may cause adverse effects on human health and the environment. Please
identify two (2) mains health consequences by air pollution?
[6 Marks]

(b) Global warming and climate change are terms for the observed century-scale rise in the
average temperature of the Earth's climate system and its related effects. Explain the
following about global warming/climate change:

i. Give two main human sources of greenhouse gases? [2 Marks]

ii. State two environmental effects caused by global warming? [2 Marks]

iii. List two (2) of health effects that could be caused by global warming? [2 Marks]

QUESTION 3 [13 Marks] Spend about 20 minutes to answer this question.

(a) Describe what is meant by primary and secondary air pollutants and give two examples
of each with their respective source and classification.
[8 Marks]

(b) Identify and discuss important techniques to control and reduce the emission of sulphur
oxides (SOx) and oxide of nitrogen (NOx). In your discussion consider that the goals
are to minimize potential health and environmental impacts.
[5 Marks]

Section C

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QUESTION 4 [12 Marks] Spend about 20 minutes to answer this question.

(a) Human development and health is greatly influenced by the environment in which they
live in. Solid waste constitutes a major source of environmental hazard. Define solid
waste pollution and give two (2) main activities that contribute to solid waste.

[6 marks]

(b) The composition of solid waste is not the same everywhere, so the process of selection
of the right solid waste disposal method is a complex task. Choose two (2) solid waste
disposal methods and discuss its advantages and limitations.
[6 marks]

QUESTION 5 [13 Marks] Spend about 20 minutes to answer this question.

From an environmental perspective, the elimination of waste represents the ultimate solution
to pollution problems that threaten ecosystems at global, national and local levels. Explain
four (4) treatment technologies to overcome solid waste pollution issues.
[13 marks]

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