Wellpoints

Wellpoints

Wellpoints

09/14/26

“How can we hook up a series of pipes to a pump to drain groundwater?”

Groundwater dewatering is a major problem at construction sites. So how can we use our engineering mindsets to solve this? Well, what if we were to take a series of pipes with holes so small it can let water in without destabilizing an aquifer, place them in the groundwater, and connect them all to a common pipe that’s hooked up to a pump that drains the water? This is the idea behind Wellpoints, a brilliant way to dewater a construction site.

Image credit: https://crewell.it/

Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Ratings

Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Ratings

Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Ratings

09/13/26

“Why is understanding a wastewater treatment plant’s capacity rating so important?”

Wastewater treatment plants are built to treat a certain capacity of wastewater inflow. A Wastewater Treatment Plant Capacity Rating describes the average daily permitted flow of wastewater the plant can treat. For example, a 1.5 million cubic meter per day treatment plant is designed to treat 1.5 million cubic meters in one day. Wastewater treatment plants can treat more than their stated capacity for a short time, but it’s not recommended.

Vascular Plants

Vascular Plants

Vascular Plants

09/12/26

“How do we classify plants that can move water and minerals through their bodies using specialized tissues?”

Plants work in all sorts of ways. Some plants have tissues dedicated to moving water and minerals through their bodies. These Vascular Plants can grow to sizes much larger than non-vascular plants because of their quicker intra-body resource transport. Examples of vascular plants include conifer trees and flower-bearing plants. 

The Las Vegas Wash

The Las Vegas Wash

The Las Vegas Wash

09/11/26

“How does Las Vegas use a 12-mile swampy stream to recycle its wastewater?”

Las Vegas sits in a difficult place for water. The metropolis sits in one of the driest and hottest parts of the U.S., and climate change is expected to bring even less rainfall. But it turns out Vegas has a secret card up its sleeve. The Las Vegas Valley channels its wastewater into a 12-mile swampy stream called The Las Vegas Wash for purification. The plants in the Las Vegas Wash remove contaminants from the (post-treatment plant) wastewater, and the end of the stream ends at Lake Mead to connect back into the water supply system. This advanced water-recycling technique will only become more important as the climate-change-driven drought intensifies.

Image credit: https://www.lvwash.org/

Alluvium

Alluvium

Alluvium

09/10/26

“What is loose sediment deposited by flowing water?”

Flowing water erodes sediment and turns it loose. The water will then deposit the sediment as Alluvium. Alluvium soil is typically mixed from a wide range of different grain sizes.

End Caps

End Caps

End Caps

09/09/26

“What are the components that seal the ends of pipes and tubes?”

Pipes and tubes are important pieces of linear infrastructure. However, the end points are prone to intrusion by dirt, debris, and moisture. So how can we use our engineering mindsets to solve this? Well, what if we were to simply seal pipes and tubes with a cap? These End Caps are vital in sealing and protecting linear infrastructure from the outside elements. End caps are also instrumental in pressure testing and safeguarding linear infrastructure for future expansions.

Rock Outlet Protection

Rock Outlet Protection

Rock Outlet Protection

09/08/26

“How can we prevent water from culverts from eroding nearby earth using rocks?”

Water streams through culverts are channelized and pick up speed. This extra speed can erode nearby earth soils. People can prevent this by installing collections of rocks outside of the culvert exit to dampen the flow. This Rock Outlet Protection is a simple but effective way to implement erosion and sediment control for culverts.

Image credit: https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/

Conifer Trees

Conifer Trees

Conifer Trees

09/07/26

“What makes trees that hold their seeds in cones so special?”

Trees are commonly thought to hold their seeds in fruits and flowers. However, some trees hold them in cones. These Conifer Trees are typically (but not always) evergreen and tend to dominate colder-temperature climates. Conifer trees are also a vital food source for many species. Christmas trees and California Redwoods are conifer trees.

Artificial Reefs

Artificial Reefs

Artificial Reefs

09/06/26

“How can we make artificial reefs to provide homes for sea life?”

Reefs provide habitats for all kinds of sea life. But they don’t have to be natural. Artificial Reefs are human-made reefs designed to provide homes for ocean creatures. Common materials for artificial reefs include concrete, sunken ships, and even old subway cars! Artificial reefs also dissipate coastal wave energy, protecting coasts from storm surge and soil erosion.