The environment has the ability of self-purification. However, if the concentration and variety of waste generated are intolerable, the nature will be unable to do such self-purification. Therefore, technical assistance is needed, either in the form of curative or preventive actions.
Environmental Engineering is a science which studies various curative and preventive measures that can be carried out to save the environment whose scope includes water, soil, air, and environmental health through engineering approaches. Efforts are made in the form of engineering on tools and methods which are used to minimize the negative impacts of (both industrial and domestic) waste on the environment and public health.
This study program offers the course of potable water engineering, such as potable water supply system, planning of potable water facilities, and various others. Also studied in this study program the engineering of wastewater i.e. the distribution of wastewater, planning, construction, and operation and maintenance of wastewater processing facilities (sewerage and water channels), management of liquid, solid, and hazardous and toxic waste including urban waste management and industrial waste. Furthermore, the students will also learn the management of environmental health which studies the epidemiology, health, safety and environment, including environmental quality management.
The students can also perform social experiments by conducting approach to community and giving them understanding about environmental problems. Environmental issues are related to everyone because the degradation of environmental quality is a result of everyone's activity. Therefore, the solution must also be carried out by the whole society by firstly changing the paradigms and behavior. It is an environmental engineer task to simplify the existing problems and to become the mediator between the government and society.