Water and Wastewater Engineers
Water and Wastewater Engineers design and manage systems that bring clean drinking water to homes and businesses and safely remove and treat dirty water and sewage. They use tools like hydraulic modeling software, 3D simulation programs, and computer-aided design (CAD) to plan treatment plants, pumping stations, pipelines, and flood-control structures such as dams and storm drains. They also lead teams, review project plans for safety and environmental impact, and make cost and design decisions that help protect communities from pollution and flooding.
Did you know?
Obtaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license is essential for career advancement and the ability to approve engineering plans and take legal responsibility for projects.
At a glance
Typical average pay
$96,900 Avg/yr
Growth
Fast growing
Top skill
Judgment and Decision Making
Things to consider
Environmental Regulatory Compliance
Staying current with EPA regulations and state-specific water quality standards is crucial as non-compliance can result in significant legal and financial consequences.
Aging Infrastructure Opportunities
The widespread need to modernize America's aging water and wastewater systems creates substantial job opportunities but requires expertise in both legacy and modern technologies.
Key responsibilities
Design domestic or industrial water or wastewater treatment plants, including advanced facilities with sequencing batch reactors (SBR), membranes, lift stations, headworks, surge overflow basins, ultraviolet disinfection systems, aerobic digesters, sludge lagoons, or control buildings.
Conduct feasibility studies for the construction of facilities, such as water supply systems, runoff collection networks, water and wastewater treatment plants, or wastewater collection systems.
Perform mathematical modeling of underground or surface water resources, such as floodplains, ocean coastlines, streams, rivers, or wetlands.
Gather and analyze water use data to forecast water demand.
Provide technical direction or supervision to junior engineers, engineering or computer-aided design (CAD) technicians, or other technical personnel.