EGN1007Spring, 2012

Engineering Ethics – Case Study #2

Assignment: Read the case below, “SJSU Student’s Summer Job Case.” After determining the conflicting goals, propose a course of action that would address the various obligations. After you’re familiar with this case, complete the associated HW.

SJSU Student’s Summer Job Case1

Rocio Villalobos was a civil engineering student at San José State. Under the tutelage of her faculty mentor and supervisor, Henry Thompson, she landed a sought-after apprenticeship. She was assigned to monitoring water management at Yosemite National park. Profoundly committed to environmental issues, Rocio was excited about applying her civil engineering skills at the historically ground-breaking U. S. National Park, Yosemite.

But Rocio was on the job no more than a week, when she found herself in a vexing situation. She had the responsibility of collecting samples from a Yosemite wastewater treatment plant every other day. She tested them for fecal coliforms. Fecal coliforms are a form of bacteria that originate from human and animal feces. Their presence in large quantities can lead to serious illnesses such as dysentery, typhoid fever, viral and bacterial gastroenteritis, and hepatitis A.

In order for the tests to be accurate, Rocio needed to begin the analysis within 24 hours after the samples were collected. The final step of the analysis had to be completed within 48 hours after collection. Samples of effluent were placed into test tubes and then put into a warm dark environment where the bacteria can thrive. After 24 hours, techniques were used to count the number of bacteria in the colony.

If the number is very large, it indicates that the original sample has excessive fecal coliforms and does not comply with Federal and State regulations for safe water. The current EPA recommendations for body-contact recreation are fewer than 100 colonies/100 mL; for fishing and boating, fewer than 1000 colonies/100 mL; and for domestic water supply, for treatment, fewer than 2000 colonies/100 mL. The drinking water standard is less than 1 colony/ 100 mL.

For any given set of samples that Rocio analyzed, several of the samples “popped.” This means that so much gas was generated by the growing bacteria that it popped the cap off the test tube. When a sample “pops,” it indicates that the sample is very polluted.

Alarmed about the results, Rocio reported her findings to her Assistant Plant Manager, Derek Nelson. Rocio became worried by Derek’s response. Derek told Rocio to make up alternative acceptable data. Rocio protested. She pointed out that for the test tubes to “pop,” there was a strong probability that the water would sicken people who drank it. Further, the level of fecal matter was high enough that even people who swam in Yosemite River would be made ill. In fact, it was bad enough that golfers, by picking up golf balls that were wet with the polluted water, would become sick by the polluted water passing from their hands to their mouths and eyes.

Derek Nelson defended his request to alter the data. He explained that the water was polluted because of an inordinantly large amount of pack animals that had been allowed to trail behind hikers in the park. Derek said he had since strictly enforced the park’s rules limiting the number of pack animals. Derek assured Rocio that the polluted water was already diluted with enough clean water to reduce the previously polluted water to acceptable levels.

Derek also informed Rocio that the regulatory agency in question, The Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB), required sampling data on a schedule that didn’t match the schedule of water use in the park. Water tests were performed when there was no chance that people would be exposed to the tested water. Further, if the RWQCB were informed about the high coliform levels, the RWQCB would demand expensive investigations. Besides making Derek look bad, these investigations would greatly reduce the funds available for park uses. Among the many reductions in park programs, Rocio’s apprenticeship would surely be cancelled for lack of funds. Derek explained to Rocio, then, that on balance, it would be better for everyone, the people who enjoy the park as well Derek and Rocio that they tell the truth – the truth at least as Derek saw it – that the water if now tested was safe. And even if it wasn’t safe right now, it would be soon enough so that neither its recreational nor drinking use would be harmful.

What should Rocio do?

1. This case draws on actual events involving a San José State student and her supervising San José State professor. It was written up by Prof. P. Hadreas in collaboration with Prof. Thalia Anagnos.

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