Morro bay project

The student learning outcome addressed in this article is the effect of engineering clarifications in a universal, commercial, ecofriendly, and communal context. The concept of sustainable development is used to explain the above contemporary issues. According to the Brundland commission, justifiable advancement is the development which encounters the necessities of the existing group without integrating the ability of forthcoming generations to meet their own necessities. This concept explains two crucial notions. The notion of needs that bring about social accountability and the notion of limits of the environment to satisfy needs of the current and future generations. Engineers apply knowledge and skills to solve challenges instead of outlining needs (Hyldgaard, 2012). Before the implementation of any engineers’ solutions, the impact of these solutions on the economy, the environment, and the society should be considered. Sustainability is based on three pillars; economic progress, environmental protection and social growth.

Morro bay project has been scheduled to cost $140 million which is an increase of over $100 million on the initial budget of $126 million. The project consist the construction of the city’s new sewerage treatment and the water recycling plant. The increase in budget estimates has been attributed by more piping due to the project's new site which is far from the city environs. The project will also have an advanced treatment technology plan to increase the ground water quantity levels that will be expensive to install. An equalization tank will be installed to control the amount of water intake into the system during heavy rains which cause increased flow of water into the system (Wilson, 2012). The previous budget estimate lacked an estimated $5 million for the deactivation of the previous water system which dumps hundreds of gallons of treated water daily into the ocean. The main factor considered by the city council in the selection of the site of construction of the plant is agricultural water reuse rather than the costly groundwater injection.  The main issues surrounding this project involve the increase in a number of funds to be used and the reuse of water from the plant by the surrounding agricultural areas, leading to sustainable agriculture.

As an engineering solution, sustainable agriculture integrates the concepts of environmental condition, economic productivity, and social equity. The extensive water transfer system built to allow for water reuse by agricultural lands will enhance crop production throughout the year. The water will be saline free due to the treatment process, ensuring the vigorous growth of crops. Social Community advancement will be enhanced through varied agricultural production patterns. The economic growth is brought about by purchases of agricultural products by the consumers (Wilson, 2012). Through the improvement of agricultural patterns, the environmental conditions such as the weather conditions are regulated.

According to the article, the Morro bay project will have many advantages brought about by its site relocation for instance; the overall operational costs to yield water will reduce tremendously; there will be more water supplies throughout the year for the city occupants and the pollution hazard caused by the release of untreated wastewater into the ocean by the current water treatment plant will be minimized (Wilson, 2012). The introduction of new agricultural patterns brought about by the treated water reuse program will bring about social, economic, and environmental growth. In conclusion, the Morro bay project brings out the positive impacts of engineers solutions at economic, environmental, and societal contexts.

References

 Hyldgaard, C. S. (2012). Engineering, development and philosophy: American, Chinese and       European             perspectives. Dordrecht: Springer.

Information Resources Management Association. (2013). Industrial engineering: Concepts,             methodologies, tools, and applications. Hershey, PA: Engineering Science Reference.