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“Gilbane Gold”

“Gilbane Gold”. PHIL/ENGR 482 ETHICS & ENGINEERING Gilbane Gold Case Study. Taxonomy of Obligations. To whom does an engineer have obligations? To self? To others? Family and friends Employer and fellow employees Fellow professionals Clients/Consumers/3 rd Parties

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“Gilbane Gold”

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  1. “Gilbane Gold” PHIL/ENGR 482 ETHICS & ENGINEERING Gilbane Gold Case Study

  2. Taxonomy of Obligations • To whom does an engineer have obligations? • To self? • To others? • Family and friends • Employer and fellow employees • Fellow professionals • Clients/Consumers/3rd Parties • Public; including future generations • To the environment?

  3. Gilbane Gold Background

  4. Allowable Lead and Arsenic Concentration in Wastewater Note:

  5. Assumptions: • 250,000 gal/day wastewater before expansion • Old test methods indicated 5 ppb lead, ok. • New test indicates 7.5+ ppb lead • Legal limit is 7.5 ppb lead • Planned expansion will cause 500% increase in wastewater (and lead) volume

  6. Impact of proposed expansion... • Wastewater • Current: 250,000 gal/day • Future: 1,250,000 gal/day • Lead • Current: 250,000 g/day @ 7.5 ppb = 5.7 lb/day • Future: 1,250,000 g/day @ 7.5 ppb = 28.5 lb/day

  7. A problem…? • When trying a new and more accurate test method, we discover that the plant is discharging wastewater concentrations at or above the legal limit of 7.5 ppb lead… • Regulations do not require the new test method be used... 0.25 Mgpd Wastewater @7.5ppb lead Wastewater treatment plant 7.5 ppb Sludge + treated effluent

  8. A bigger problem…? • A proposed production increase will increase the amount of wastewater 500%... 1.25 Mgpd Wastewater @7.5ppb lead Wastewater treatment plant 7.5 ppb Sludge + treated effluent

  9. A potential solution?“The solution to polution is dilution…” • It is proposed to dilute effluent to achieve an acceptable concentration, say 5.75 ppb... 1.25 Mgpd Wastewater @7.5ppb lead 0.4 Mgpd Clean H2O Wastewater treatment plant 6 ppb Sludge + treated effluent

  10. Annual cost of 0.4 Mgpd water... • Fresh water purchase • (@ $0.25/1,000 gal) = $35,000 • Incremental sewage charges • (@ $0.75/1,000 gal) = $105,000 • Total annual cost = $140,000

  11. Potential solution 2?Ion Exchange

  12. Potential solution 3?Artificial Wetland

  13. Summary of three possible solutions

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