<p>What's the difference? A lot of colleges seem to group the departments together.</p>
<p>They're really very different. I know a lot of universities clump the two departments together into one, but the disciplines are pretty distinct.</p>
<p>Civil engineers deal more with building things... steel, concrete, buildings, bridges, utilities, land development, construction, soil mechanics, and how to get water from one place to another. It's more physics-ish.</p>
<p>Environmental engineers deal more with avoiding contaminating our water/soil/air... industrial runoff, landfills, soil contaminants, smoke plumes, underground water supplies, superfund sites, and how to keep our water clean, rather than just moving it around like civs do... Erin Brockovich sorts of things. It's more chemistry-ish and biology-ish.</p>
<p>That's sort of the nutshell version. Wikipedia actually gives a pretty good overview of the two disciplines, if you want a not-so-nutshell version.</p>
<p>Thanks! That helped a lot. Environmental is definitely more for me. I still find if weird that they're clumped together...</p>
<p>this is a classic interview question. I was asked this for 4 interviews last term.</p>
<p>Civil absorbed Enivronment to boost their numbers in school. Two different majors.</p>
<p>EE is closer to Chem ENg</p>
<p>green civil engineering is the new black.</p>
<p>(From the perspective of a chemical engineer who works at an environmental engineering firm)</p>
<p>I can't comment on what aibarr said about civil. However what aibarr said on environmental engineering is true. </p>
<p>Remediation:
Usually we deal with fluid plumes (whether it be vapor or liquid). We try to contain it and remediate it. Involves finding most effective remediation solution. Perchlorates, organic pesticides/herbicides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the the most common. </p>
<p>Compliance:
It's not necessarily Erin Brockovich, the days of her movie are no longer present. Rather, it's more of compliance so the company won't be shut down or what not. Usually it involves an EIR (environmental impact report) or some form of it (could be AFC).</p>
<p>Side note:
My job involves half chemical, half environmental. Compliance for petrochemical companies involves understanding their process whether it be hydrocracking or a chemical company with a patent process. </p>
<ul>
<li>TB54</li>
</ul>
<p>Now, my question would be: what's the difference between environmental engineering and water resources?
They seem to go hand-in-hand and are both under civil dept at my school. It's hard for me to separate the different. I see some water resource or environmental people reviewing for their PE, they have to do the review for both in-depth sessions. Just want to know what's the difference.</p>
<p>I think water resources covers hydrology and hydraulics of clean water...</p>