Environmental Engineering Lab

At UNM, the environmental and water resources engineering programs are in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering. Specialization in environmental engineering or water resources engineering is offered as either a M.S. or a Ph.D. The links below provide details about our research areas, facilities, faculty, and academic requirements.

What is Environmental Engineering?

The field of environmental engineering is broad, but the common element is that environmental engineers investigate and solve problems at the interface between humans and their environment. Environmental engineers work to make water safe to drink, properly treat and dispose of wastes, improve air quality, promote recycling and solid waste management, and clean up contaminated air, land, and water. Environmental engineers are also increasingly addressing issues of sustainability, energy, and resource recovery. The problems tackled by environmental engineers range from local to global.

What is Water Resources Engineering?

Water resource engineering solves the problems of moving water to where humans or nature need or want it. Water resource engineers design dams, canals, aqueducts, and waterways to bring water to urban populations or agricultural areas. They also design the catchments, arroyos, and other structures needed to keep society safe from floods. Water resource engineers are the experts that understand the hydrologic cycle, hydrology, hydraulics, groundwater flow patterns, and other aspects of water needed to bring water to and from where it is needed most.