Water and Wastewater Engineers

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.
• Design pumping systems, pumping stations, pipelines, force mains, or sewers for the collection of wastewater.
• Design water runoff collection networks, water supply channels, or water supply system networks.
• Analyze the efficiency of water delivery structures, such as dams, tainter gates, canals, pipes, penstocks, or cofferdams.
• Provide technical support on water resource or treatment issues to government agencies.
• Review and critique proposals, plans, or designs related to water or wastewater treatment systems.
• Design sludge treatment plants.
• Analyze and recommend chemical, biological, or other wastewater treatment methods to prepare water for industrial or domestic use.
• Identify design alternatives for the development of new water resources.
• Design water or wastewater lift stations, including water wells.
• Design or select equipment for use in wastewater processing to ensure compliance with government standards.
• Analyze and recommend sludge treatment or disposal methods.
• Conduct water quality studies to identify and characterize water pollutant sources.
• Conduct environmental impact studies related to water and wastewater collection, treatment, or distribution.
• Oversee the construction of decentralized or on-site wastewater treatment systems, including reclaimed water facilities.
• Develop plans for new water resources or water efficiency programs.
• 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.
• Design water storage tanks or other water storage facilities.
• Write technical reports or publications related to water resources development or water use efficiency.
• Evaluate the operation and maintenance of water or wastewater systems to identify ways to improve their efficiency.
• Design water distribution systems for potable or non-potable water.
• Analyze storm water or floodplain drainage systems to control erosion, stabilize river banks, repair channel streams, or design bridges.
• Conduct cost-benefit analyses for the construction of water supply systems, runoff collection networks, water and wastewater treatment plants, or wastewater collection systems.
• 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.