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Wastewater Engineer - A Financially Secure Job in a Growing Industry

A Wastewater Engineer is a person who designs and oversees projects involving the provision of fresh water and the disposal of wastewater and sewage. Their duties are usually many and varied. Part of their job duties, they must provide various documentation on environmental concerns, program compliance and data analysis. They must also design and implement a large variety of systems related to water treatment including pumping systems, pipelines, sewers, sludge treatment plants, water distribution systems, lift stations, run-off collection stations, water supply networks, and storage tanks and other storage facilities.

Some of the other job duties of a wastewater engineer are to analyze and recommend treatment methods and disposal methods and to participate in the design and implementation of drainage systems to control storm water, flooding and erosion, and to stabilize river banks and repair river channels.

Wastewater Engineers spend a good deal of their time outdoors and often take a "hands-on" approach to job duties, as overseeing construction is usually part of their duties. They may also be expected to oversee a large staff and must be efficient at delegating duties.

If you want to become a wastewater engineer, be prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up, as most of these positions require experience. Many wastewater engineers start off as interns or junior staff members and eventually advance to the position. A bachelor's degree is usually required, although a master's degree will possibly enable you to start higher at the top. Regardless, you'll need several years of experience in the field, along with your college degree, in order to advance to this senior level position.

As a wastewater engineer in charge of a project, you may be required to speak in front of audiences in order to explain the project and to achieve funding and approval. If you are in charge of a junior staff (and it's a sure bet that you'll be in charge of at least a few people in the lower ranks), you may have to speak in front of them and should be able to delegate duties and state your position clearly. If you have trouble communicating or getting your ideas across successfully, this isn't the best position for you. You may also be expected to travel occasionally and should be prepared to work some weekends and evenings if the job requires it.

Wastewater engineers usually make upwards of $75,000 a year, so it's definitely a job worth pursuing. And with the growing movement towards environmental concerns, the jobs in this industry are here to stay. It's a growing industry and according to Onet Online, the projected growth rate through the year 2018 in this industry is 20%, well above average. That means there's no lack of jobs, so if you have the patience required in order to gain the experience necessary to obtain this job, as well as the required educational background, you might find this to be the ideal career.

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