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Career Details

17-2051.02 - Water/Wastewater Engineers


Design or oversee projects involving provision of potable water, disposal of wastewater and sewage, or prevention of flood-related damage. Prepare environmental documentation for water resources, regulatory program compliance, data management and analysis, and field work. Perform hydraulic modeling and pipeline design.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
281,400
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
305,000
Estimate
Change in Employment
+23,600
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+8.4%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Write technical reports or publications related to water resources development or water use efficiency.
  • Review and critique proposals, plans, or designs related to water or wastewater treatment systems.
  • Provide technical support on water resource or treatment issues to government agencies.
  • Provide technical direction or supervision to junior engineers, engineering or computer-aided design (CAD) technicians, or other technical personnel.
  • Identify design alternatives for the development of new water resources.
  • Develop plans for new water resources or water efficiency programs.
  • Design or select equipment for use in wastewater processing to ensure compliance with government standards.
  • Conduct water quality studies to identify and characterize water pollutant sources.
  • Perform hydrological analyses, using three-dimensional simulation software, to model the movement of water or forecast the dispersion of chemical pollutants in the water supply.
  • Perform hydraulic analyses of water supply systems or water distribution networks to model flow characteristics, test for pressure losses, or to identify opportunities to mitigate risks and improve operational efficiency.
  • Oversee the construction of decentralized or on-site wastewater treatment systems, including reclaimed water facilities.
  • Gather and analyze water use data to forecast water demand.
  • 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.
  • Conduct environmental impact studies related to water and wastewater collection, treatment, or distribution.
  • Conduct cost-benefit analyses for the construction of water supply systems, runoff collection networks, water and wastewater treatment plants, or wastewater collection systems.
  • Analyze the efficiency of water delivery structures, such as dams, tainter gates, canals, pipes, penstocks, or cofferdams.
  • Analyze storm water or floodplain drainage systems to control erosion, stabilize river banks, repair channel streams, or design bridges.
  • Analyze and recommend sludge treatment or disposal methods.
  • Analyze and recommend chemical, biological, or other wastewater treatment methods to prepare water for industrial or domestic use.
  • Design water storage tanks or other water storage facilities.
  • Design water runoff collection networks, water supply channels, or water supply system networks.
  • Design water or wastewater lift stations, including water wells.
  • Design water distribution systems for potable or non-potable water.
  • Design sludge treatment plants.
  • Design pumping systems, pumping stations, pipelines, force mains, or sewers for the collection of wastewater.
  • 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.
  • Evaluate the operation and maintenance of water or wastewater systems to identify ways to improve their efficiency.
Supplemental
  • Perform mathematical modeling of underground or surface water resources, such as floodplains, ocean coastlines, streams, rivers, or wetlands.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 94%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
 Design
  • 90%
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
 English Language
  • 85%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Mathematics
  • 84%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Building and Construction
  • 77%
    Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
 Administration and Management
  • 71%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Mechanical
  • 70%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Physics
  • 70%
    Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
 Chemistry
  • 69%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 69%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Law and Government
  • 65%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Biology
  • 65%
    Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 64%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 63%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 60%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 59%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 58%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Education and Training
  • 54%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Clerical
  • 52%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computer data input devices
  • Computer data input scanners
  • Digitizers
 Computer printers
  • Computer laser printers
  • Large-format plotters
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Industry specific software
  • Autodesk AutoCADHOT
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3DHOT
  • Autodesk RevitHOT
  • Bentley GEOPAK Civil Engineering SuiteHOT
  • Bentley InRoads SuiteHOT
  • Bentley MicrostationHOT
  • Bentley SewerCADHOT
  • Bentley StormCAD
  • Bentley WaterCADHOT
  • Computer aided design and drafting software CADDHOT
  • DHI MIKE URBAN
  • Eagle Point LANDCADDHOT
  • EPA Storm Water Management Model SWMM
  • HEC-1
  • HEC-GeoRAS
  • HEC-RAS
  • Hydraulic modeling software
  • HydroCAD Software Solutions HydroCADHOT
  • KYPipe
  • MinitabHOT
  • MWH Soft InfoSWMM
  • NIWA Tideda
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA softwareHOT
  • Wallingford Software InfoSewer
  • Wallingford Software InfoWorks WS
  • XP Software XPSWMM
 Information exchange software
  • ESRI ArcGIS softwareHOT
  • ESRI software
  • Geographic information system GIS softwareHOT
  • MapInfo
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Network applications software
  • Google Chrome
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Web browser software
 Data management and query software
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • Structured query language SQLHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Word processing software
 Business function specific software
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • Microsoft ProjectHOT
 Development software
  • Oracle JavaHOT
  • PythonHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Brightpoint Community College
George Mason University
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
Old Dominion University
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Western Community College
Wytheville Community College