Cal Environmental Team is a civil engineering competition team focusing on wastewater treatment and engineering design. This year, our wastewater recipe consists of potting soil, salt, charcoal briquettes, distilled vinegar, blue food coloring, and vegetable oil. Our goal is to design a physical filtration system out of a given list of household materials, and a chemical treatment plan to improve the water's pH, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, and turbidity. We also balance parameter improvement with minimal cost and maximum sustainability. We will compete with other universities at the ASCE sponsored Mid-Pacific conference at the end of April, where we will be judged on our technical design report, oral presentation, and the effectiveness, cost, and sustainability of our treatment system.

This spring, we will aim to improve upon prototypes designed in the fall semester. The class aims to impart the fundamentals of water treatment and water quality to foster design and presentation skills. The class is structured around lectures, build sessions, and lab sessions. A technical report for competition is due mid-March and the actual competition is at the end of April, so this class will move at a fast pace. To achieve the amount of testing and data we need for competition, students are expected to devote at least one hour per week outside of decal towards lab sessions for the team. Aside from the technical report due for competition, there are no papers or exams for this class. More than 2 unexcused absences will result in a failing grade.

Note: Attending MidPac, though a really great experience, is not mandatory to pass the class.

Enrollment is on a first come, first serve basis. CCNs will be given out on the first day of class (Monday January 23 from 6-7:30 pm in 212 O'Brien). All majors are welcome to join!