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Water and wastewater engineers design and oversee systems that provide safe drinking water, treat and dispose of sewage, and protect communities from flood risks. They apply civil and environmental engineering principles to manage water‐resource infrastructure, treatment plants, distribution networks, collection systems, and flood‐control works. If you’re passionate about public health, environmental protection, and resilient infrastructure, this specialty offers both societal impact and technical challenge.

This guide covers:

• Key Responsibilities
• Essential Skills & Qualities
• Work Environments & Industries
• Education & Licensure
• Professional Certifications
• Salary, Employment & Job Outlook
• Career Path & Advancement
• Is This Career Right for You?
• Tips for Aspiring Water/Wastewater Engineers

1. Key Responsibilities

Water/wastewater engineers typically:

System Planning & Design:

• Perform hydraulic modeling of treatment plants, reservoir networks, and sewer systems using software like EPANET and WaterGEMS.

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• Design pipelines, pump stations, tanks, and treatment processes (coagulation, filtration, disinfection) per AWWA and EPA guidelines.

Project Development & Permitting:

• Prepare engineering reports, cost estimates, and environmental‐impact documents (e.g., NEPA/CEQA).
• Coordinate with regulatory agencies (EPA, state water boards) to secure permits for intake, discharge, and construction.

Construction Administration:

• Develop plans and specifications; oversee bidding, construction inspection, and contract administration.
• Verify that contractors adhere to design, safety, and environmental requirements on site.

Operations Support & Optimization:

• Analyze plant performance data—turbidity, BOD, nutrient removal—and recommend process improvements.
• Implement SCADA systems for real‐time monitoring of flows, pressures, and water quality.

Asset Management & Rehabilitation:

• Develop asset‐management plans, condition assessments, rehabilitation prioritization, and lifecycle costing.
• Lead rehabilitation of aging infrastructure (pipe relining, tank coatings, pump retrofits).

Flood Risk & Stormwater Management:

• Design stormwater best‐management practices (BMPs), detention basins, and green infrastructure (bioswales, permeable pavements).
• Model urban runoff and flood inundation using HEC-RAS and SWMM.

Compliance & Public Health:

• Ensure systems meet Safe Drinking Water Act standards and Clean Water Act effluent limits.
• Conduct source‐water protection studies and risk assessments to safeguard public health.

2. Essential Skills & Qualities

Success in this role requires:

Technical Expertise:

• Strong grasp of fluid mechanics, water‐chemistry treatment processes, and hydraulics.
• Proficiency with hydraulic/sanitary‐sewer modeling, GIS, and CAD tools.

Analytical & Problem-Solving:

• Ability to interpret laboratory water-quality data, troubleshoot process upsets, and optimize operations.

Project Management:

• Skills in budgeting, scheduling, and coordinating multidisciplinary teams for complex infrastructure projects.

Communication & Collaboration:

• Clear technical writing for reports and specifications; effective presentations to agencies and the public.

Attention to Detail & Ethics:

• Rigor in design calculations, safety considerations, and adherence to environmental regulations.

Adaptability & Lifelong Learning:

• Keeping pace with evolving treatment technologies (membrane filtration, advanced oxidation) and climate-resilience practices.

3. Work Environments & Industries

Water/wastewater engineers work in:

Engineering & Consulting Firms: Designing treatment plants and distribution/collection systems for municipal and industrial clients.

Public-Sector Utilities: Municipal water and wastewater departments managing operations, capital improvements, and regulatory compliance.

Industrial Facilities: Designing and operating on-site treatment systems for food processing, chemicals, and power plants.

Government Agencies & Nonprofits: State water boards, EPA, and NGOs developing policy, grant programs, and community outreach.

Construction & EPC Contractors: Building large‐scale water and wastewater infrastructure under design‐build contracts.

Work combines office tasks (modeling, design) with field visits—inspections, system start‐ups, and plant troubleshooting.

4. Education & Licensure

Academic Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in civil, environmental, or water‐resource engineering from an ABET-accredited program.

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Licensing

Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Exam: Taken after graduation to become an Engineer‐in‐Training (EIT).

Professional Engineer (PE) License: After four years of qualifying experience, passing the PE exam in civil or environmental engineering, allows sealing plans and reports for public projects.

Continuing education (PDHs) and professional development keep engineers current on evolving regulations and technologies.

5. Professional Certifications

Certifications enhance credibility:

American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE) Fellow: Recognized water‐resources expertise.

Certified Water Technologist (CWT): From AWWA for treatment and distribution knowledge.

Certified Stormwater Manager (CSM): For stormwater design and compliance.

LEED AP – Water Efficiency: For sustainable water‐use design in building projects.

Project Management Professional (PMP): For large, multi‐discipline infrastructure programs.

Membership in ASCE’s Environmental & Water Resources Institute (EWRI) offers networking and technical resources.

6. Salary, Employment & Job Outlook

According to BLS data for civil and environmental engineers, which encompass water/wastewater specialists:

Median Annual Wage: $99,590 (civil engineers)

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Median Annual Wage Implied for Water/Wastewater Engineers: $101,510 (based on $48.63/hr from BLS data)

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Employment (2023): 327,950 water/wastewater engineers nationally

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Projected Growth (2023–2033): +6.9% for water/wastewater engineers

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Annual Openings: Approximately 22,900 openings per year (civil‐engineer average; reflects growth + replacement)

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Demand Drivers:

Aging water infrastructure requiring rehabilitation and replacement

Stricter water‐quality regulations and emerging contaminants (PFAS)

Climate-resilient design for drought and flood adaptation

Development of advanced treatment (membranes, UV) and resource‐recovery systems

7. Career Path & Advancement

Typical progression:

Entry-Level: Staff Water/Wastewater Engineer, EIT

Mid-Level: Project Engineer, Process Engineer, Hydraulic Modeler

Senior Roles: Senior Engineer, Project Manager, Technical Lead

Leadership & Specialist Tracks:

Utility Director / Plant Manager

Principal Water Resources Engineer

Expert Consultant in advanced treatment or resilience

Engineers may transition into policy-making, regulatory consulting, or executive leadership within utilities and agencies.

8. Is This Career Right for You?

Water/wastewater engineering suits those who:

Are committed to public health and environmental stewardship

Excel at analytical modeling and hands-on system optimization

Thrive on multi-disciplinary collaboration, engineering, biology, chemistry, and policy

Value a tangible societal impact, clean water and safe communities

To confirm alignment, take the Free MAPP Career Assessment, it matches your personal drivers to careers like water/wastewater engineering.

9. Tips for Aspiring Water/Wastewater Engineers

Gain Plant Experience: Intern with municipal or industrial treatment plants to understand operations.

Master Modeling Tools: Become proficient in EPANET, SWMM, and WaterGEMS for hydraulic and process simulations.

Learn GIS & SCADA Systems: Integrate spatial analysis and real-time monitoring into your skill set.

Stay Current on Regulations: Follow EPA, AWWA, and state‐level rulemakings on drinking‐water and wastewater standards.

Network Professionally: Join AWWA, WEF (Water Environment Federation), and ASCE-EWRI for mentoring and job leads.

Is this career path right for you?

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