Albuquerque vs. Isleta Pueblo Water Case free essay sample

Much of the arsenic being delivered to the Pueblo through the Rio Grande come from the groundwater running through the Jemez Volcanic Field added more arsenic. In 2002, the Isleta Pueblo amended its water quality standards. The Tribe’s new water quality standards were recently approved by the EPA, and have been set into law. The City did not have to spend huge sums of money to upgrade its system. However, a few glitches remain in the system. What and how is (are) the code of ethic violated by people involved (engineers, management, local authority, government) in this case?Albuquerque sewage treatment plant meets all applicable Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations including the standard for arsenic concentration in the river. Any peoples or municipality who want using river water for drinking must treat the water first. Albuquerque has violated the code of ethic because of their sewage treatment plant bring the problem to the peoples. We will write a custom essay sample on Albuquerque vs. Isleta Pueblo Water Case or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Under National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) code of ethics and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AICHE) also state that engineers shall hold the paramount the safety, health, and welfare of he public and protect the environment in performance of their professional duties. Although they have their right according to the federal law, they actually must protect the environment and healthy of the people first. They know that the Pueblo used water directly from Rio Grande River for drinking during religious ceremonies and also has been used by the peoples that live near the river. What guidance might one (or more) of the engineering society codes of ethics provide in handling or preventing the event from happening? The conflicts of Albuquerque vs.Isleta Pueblo are about conflict mediation, and to the distribution of water. Traditionally, the Pueblo used water directly from the river for drinking during religious ceremonies. The pueblo is on the banks of the Rio Grande, downstream from Albuquerque metropolitan area, which contains approximately 650,000 peoples. In 1992, the Isleta Pueblo, south of Albuquerque, New Mexico, became the first tribal entity to be approved to create its own water quality standards. The tribe’s adoption of new water quality standards in 1992 was a distress for the Albuquerque and its treatment facility.To fulfill with the Pueblo’s arsenic standard could cost the city an additional $300million in plant upgrades. In this case, one of the most important issues has been environmental protection and the rise of the environmental movement. Engineers are responsible in part of creation of the technology and also working to find solutions to the problems caused by modern technology. The environment movement has led to an increased awareness among engineers that have responsibility to use their knowledge and skills to help protect the environment.According to American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), engineers shall consider environmental impact in the performance of their professional duties. Engineers must concern themselves with the impact of their plans and designs on the environment. When the impact is a clear threat to health or safety public then the guidelines for this fundamental Canon revert to Canon 1 where engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of public in the performance of their professional duties. Professional codes of ethics tell us to consider sustainable development in the performance of their professional duties.Engineer shall consider development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. When the impact of the trade off between economic, ecological and social issues forms a clear threat to health or safety of the public, then the guidelines from this Canon revert to those of Canon 1. Use ethical theories, (utilitarianism, duty and right ethic, and/or virtual ethic) learnt to analyze the case. Consider all possible elements that are effected in the case i. e mankind, environment and society. The different of standard quality water between the City of Albuquerque and Isleta Pueblo is the major problem in this case study. The pueblo is on the banks of the Rio Grande, which they have historically used for drinking, irrigation, religious ceremonies and all other daily used. The Isleta Pueblo really concerned about the concentration of arsenic in the river water. Previously, the Albuquerque meets all the specifications that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) needs before the sewage treatment plant released the water into the Rio Grande.However, Isleta Pueblo did not satisfy with the quality water that discharged by Albuquerque because the tribes assumed that the water can used directly from the river. Because of this, Isleta Pueblo wants the standard of arsenic become twice and strict as the EPA regulations permit. Due to this problem, utilitarianism is the most suitable ethical theory. The Isleta Pueblo concerned about the health effects causes by arsenic. During the religious ceremonies, the tribes directly used the water from river for drinking. Apart from that, what we can see here is about duty ethics.