1. Introduction and Problem Statement
Sanitary engineering is a unique interdisciplinary profession that combines elements of medicine, engineering, and education. It is crucial in addressing environmental and public health challenges related to sanitation and waste management.
1.1 Introduction
Mitigating the environmental and health effects of sanitary waste disposal in urban areas has long posed a challenge for governments, health officials, and the public. Porter (1999) highlighted the historical concern over “filth diseases” such as typhus, which were associated with urban squalor. These concerns about waterborne diseases preceded broader environmental awareness, including issues like wilderness conservation, species extinction, and pesticide impacts.
Scholars such as Melosi (2000) and Tarr (2001) identify three distinct phases in the evolution of sanitation theory:
- The miasma theory, which attributed illness to bad air.
- The scientific discovery of bacteria and its impact on disease control.
- The ecological perspective, which considers the role of waste in environmental sustainability.
In this context, Schott (2004) emphasises the concept of path dependence, explaining how adopting specific sanitation technologies has long-term environmental consequences.
This research examines the historical intersections between policymakers, sanitary engineers, physicians, ecologists, and public interest groups, as outlined by Thatcher (1998). It evaluates how the relationships among these groups have evolved over time, particularly in response to growing awareness of the impacts of poor sanitation on legislation, science, and ecology.
The study focuses on two distinct periods: 1890–1900 and 1970–2010. The first period examines the actions of the city government and engineers in securing a safe water supply and managing waste removal to improve public health and aesthetics. This historical foundation sets the stage for analyzing the emergence of ecological consciousness in Halifax from 1970 to 2010. The connection between these two periods lies in their shared focus on the fate of sanitary waste, initially concerning human health and later concerning environmental health and ecology.
Study Focus: Halifax Harbour
The research investigates Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, as a focal point for exploring environmental decision-making. A key aspect of the study is the dynamic interaction between city officials, federal government agencies, environmental professionals, and public interest groups. These stakeholders, along with the harbour’s complex ecology, define the multifaceted environmental challenges facing the region.
A critical component of the study involves analyzing the formation of networks advocating for the harbour’s environmental well-being. The research examines stakeholder relationships and the complexities they introduce into environmental decision-making processes.
Federal, provincial, and municipal authorities overseeing Halifax Harbour often collaborate but sometimes operate at cross-purposes. This highlights the significance of policy networks in shaping environmental outcomes. The study reveals how political and technological factors influence current decision-making, often reinforcing existing structures and practices. It also demonstrates how feedback loops between politics and technology affect environmental policy.
Theoretical Framework
The research incorporates insights from scholars such as Bruno Latour, Michel Callon, and John Law, who offer a framework for analyzing the interplay between material and semiotic elements. This perspective is particularly valuable in understanding how policy networks form, persist, or dissolve. By examining the relationship between technology (such as the Halifax Harbour cleanup) and the ideologies of politicians, policymakers, engineers, and public interest groups, the study provides a nuanced understanding of environmental governance.
This blog post serves as the first part of a broader research proposal. Future entries will delve deeper into methodology, case studies, and policy implications.
