Rapid changes that take place in the world today, along with increasing urbanisation and industrialisation culminated in environmental problems.  Engineers and other professionals are continually facing the daunting task of managing water resources, waste and wastewater issues.

Recognizing the need for education and training of personnel that can handle such problems efficiently, the Water and Environmental Engineering Department was set up in 1976.  It aims to train students to become leaders in civil engineering with environment and sustainability concerns in mind. The department has developed and promoted forward-looking academic research and internationalisation by having academic staff and research fellow from overseas, as well as establishing joint-research efforts with foreign institutions. The expansion within the last four years has increased the strength of the department to 40 academic staffs.

The department has been progressively reforming its curriculum to include emerging technologies and their applications in environmental engineering. Along with the Faculty, the department has introduced many courses to be chosen as elective courses in the senior years, towards producing graduates with various levels expertise with a specialised background.