Water
This term describes water that flows across land into streams after rainfall
Runoff
These raised edges help channel water off the road surface
Curbs, gutters
This material, made by mixing cement, sand, gravel, and water, is one of the most common in construction
concrete
Modern sewer pipes are often made from this durable plastic material resistant to corrosion
PVC
This everyday action - often symbolized by three arrows - reduces waste sent to landfills
Recycling
This structure stores water behind it and controls downstream flow
Dam
These reflective poles are on the sides of highways
Delineators
These vertical supports carry the weight of a building above
Column
This structure at regular intervals in a sewer system allows workers to inspect or clean the pipes
Manhole
This term describes the contamination of air, water, or soil
Pollution
This measurement tells engineers how much water moves past a point in a stream per second
Flow rate or discharge
These structures are placed along the sides of highways to absorb impact and redirect vehicles during crashes
Guardrail
This triangular structural shape is often used because it is strong and stable
Truss
These facilities remove solids, bacteria, and pollutants from wastewater before releasing it back to the environment
Wastewater treatment plants
Environmental engineers often test this property of water to measure how acidic or basic it is
pH
These underground layers of rock or soil store and transmit groundwater
Aquifer
This is the term for the curved section of a roadway designed to facilitate vehicle turning at intersections or roundabouts
Radius of curvature
This term describes how much a beams bends when loaded
Deflection
Sewer systems are designed to use this natural force to move wastewater through pipes
Gravity
This landmark U.S. law, passed in 1970, established regulations to control air pollution nationwide
Clean Air Act
This engineering method slows stormwater by letting it soak into the ground, often using basins or permeable surfaces
Infiltration
This term refers to the banking of a road at a curve, designed to help counteract the lateral force on vehicles
Superelevation
This property measure a material's stiffness
Modulus of Elasticity
This method uses high-pressure water jets to clean sewer pipes and remove blockages
Hydro jetting
This process uses living organisms, like bacteria, to break down contaminants in soil or water
Bioremediation