Water/Wastewater Engineers

Water/wastewater engineers spend their workdays in water treatment plants, monitoring the operations and systems. They spend time in offices on computers, reading and preparing documents and reports. They also spend time outdoors, monitoring water sources, soil, and groundwater. In larger plants with many employees, they may perform more specialized functions. In some cases, they may be responsible for monitoring only a single process. In smaller plants, they usually have a broader range of responsibilities. They work full-time usually 40 hours per week. Overtime may be required during emergencies, such as severe weather conditions and natural disasters. Water and wastewater treatment machinery can be noisy and there may be unpleasant odors despite the use of chlorine and other chemicals to control odors. Engineers wear protective clothing and gear to minimize the risk of injury.