Environmental control systems and Y2K

The Year 2000 (Y2K) computer crisis and its potential societal implications have been extensively reviewed. Most computers and associated applications rely on dates to make calculations to determine when to take specific actions. Several of these systems, however, use two-digit representations within data fields and consequently, the “00” that will be read when the clock rolls over at the turn of the century could result in miscalculations and additional problems, including complete computer shutdown. An area of industry that could be particularly susceptible to the Y2K problem is environmental management and pollution prevention. Efforts to minimize and manage the release of wastes from point sources has led to an increased dependence upon electronic, computerized environmental control systems—equipment that contributes to Cleaner production. Many of these, which are intricate combinations of software, hardware, and microprocessors that originate from a variety of vendors, are not Y2K compliant. A crash of a complex computer due to Y2K could lead to malfunctioning or complete shutdown of an environmental control system, which would have myriad environmental consequences. Ensuring that these and similar systems do not fail come the turn of the century will involve the locating and replacing of faulty computer chips and archaic code, and in many cases, the replacing of computer components.