Description
Groundwater monitoring technician monitor the environment, gathering data in the form of samples and performing tests in a laboratory or field, to investigate potential sources of pollution. They also perform maintenance tasks on the monitoring equipment.
Duties
Groundwater monitoring technicians typically do the following duties:
- Travel to required field sites and collect groundwater samples
- Work in varying site conditions where steep slopes and rugged terrain may be present
- Label and properly store samples collected
- Produce technical reports of sampling information collected that accurately reflects findings
- Use GPS (Global Positioning Systems) to locate field-sampling sites
- Enter sampling information into databases
- Provide groundwater consultation to clients
Other titles
The following job titles also refer to groundwater monitoring technician:
groundwater protection technician
groundwater technician
groundwater sampling technician
environmental protection technician
groundwater monitoring system technician
groundwater laboratory technician
environmental conservation technician
Minimum qualifications
At the minimum, candidates are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in an environmental related science. Botany, biology, microbiology, ecology or conservation are fairly standard choices. Many of these are suitable degree types. Minors and electives in math, physics and chemistry will be beneficial, as will statistics. This will depend on to what extent the candidate will expect to work with quantitative data. Extensive fieldwork should be a part of a degree, whether in a lab or collecting samples.
ISCO skill level
ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:
- the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
- the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
- the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.
Groundwater monitoring technician is a Skill level 3 occupation.
Groundwater monitoring technician career path
Similar occupations
These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to groundwater monitoring technician.
environmental technician
wastewater treatment operator
water plant technician
wastewater treatment technician
industrial waste inspector
Long term prospects
These occupations require some skills and knowledge of groundwater monitoring technician. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of groundwater monitoring technician with a significant experience and/or extensive training.
water quality analyst
hydrogeologist
environmental expert
hydrologist
environmental policy officer
Essential knowledge and skills
Essential knowledge
This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of groundwater monitoring technician.
- Water chemistry analysis: Principles of complex water chemistry.
- Laboratory techniques: Techniques applied in the different fields of natural science in order to obtain experimental data such as gravimetric analysis, gas chromatography, electronic or thermic methods.
- Chemistry: The composition, structure, and properties of substances and the processes and transformations that they undergo; the uses of different chemicals and their interactions, production techniques, risk factors, and disposal methods.
Essential skills and competences
These skills are necessary for the role of groundwater monitoring technician.
- Interpret scientific data to assess water quality: Analyse and interpret data like biological properties to know the quality of water.
- Perform laboratory tests: Carry out tests in a laboratory to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific research and product testing.
- Analyse various types of water: Design boreholes; sample and analyse surface water and groundwater.
- Measure water quality parameters: Quality assure water by taking into consideration various elements, such as temperature.
- Record test data: Record data which has been identified specifically during preceding tests in order to verify that outputs of the test produce specific results or to review the reaction of the subject under exceptional or unusual input.
- Collect samples for analysis: Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
- Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
- Test samples for pollutants: Measure concentrations of pollutants within samples. Calculate air pollution or gas flow in industrial processes. Identify potential safety or health risks such as radiation.
- Test chemical samples: Perform the testing procedures on the already prepared chemical samples, by using the necessary equipment and materials. Chemical sample testing involves operations such as pipetting or diluting schemes.
- Study groundwater: Prepare and conduct field studies in order to determine groundwater quality. Analyse and interpret maps, models and geographical data. Compose a picture of area groundwater and land contamination. File reports on issues with landfill groundwater, e.g. area pollution caused by coal combustion products.
- Monitor water quality: Measure water quality: temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, N2, NO2,NH4, CO2, turbidity, chlorophyll. Monitor microbiological water quality.
- Perform water chemistry analysis: Perform water chemistry analysis
- Prepare chemical samples: Prepare the specific samples such as gas, liquid or solid samples in order for them to be ready for analysis, labeling and storing samples according to specifications.
- Perform water testing procedures: Conduct testing procedures on water quality, such as pH tests and dissolved solids. Understand instrumentation drawings.
Optional knowledge and skills
Optional knowledge
This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of groundwater monitoring technician. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Microbiology-bacteriology: Microbiology-Bacteriology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
- Environmental legislation: The environmental policies and legislation applicable in a certain domain.
- Understand fresh water ecosystems: Understand fresh water ecosystems.
- Pollution prevention: The processes used to prevent pollution: precautions to pollution of the environment, procedures to counter pollution and associated equipment, and possible measures to protect the environment.
Optional skills and competences
These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of groundwater monitoring technician. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.
- Ensure compliance with environmental legislation: Monitor activities and perform tasks ensuring compliance with standards involving environmental protection and sustainability, and amend activities in the case of changes in environmental legislation. Ensure that the processes are compliant with environment regulations and best practices.
- Use water disinfection equipment: Operate equipment for water disinfection, using different methods and techniques, such as mechanical filtration, depending on needs.
- Investigate pollution: Identify the cause of pollution incidents, as well as its nature and the extent of the risks, by performing tests on the site of pollution as well as in a laboratory and performing research.
- Assess contamination: Analyse evidence of contamination. Advise on how to decontaminate.
- Operate water purifying equipment: Operate and adjust equipment controls to purify and clarify water, process and treat wastewater, air and solids, recycle or discharge treated water, and generate power.
- Advise on soil and water protection: Advise on the effects of soil and water management practices in controlling pollutant loss, nitrate leaching and reduce soil erosion.
- Advise on pollution prevention: Advise individuals and organisations on the development and implementation of actions which aid in the prevention of pollution and its related risks.
- Report test findings: Report test results with a focus on findings and recommendations, differentiating results by levels of severity. Include relevant information from the test plan and outline the test methodologies, using metrics, tables, and visual methods to clarify where needed.
- Analyse environmental data: Analyse data that interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.
- Calibrate laboratory equipment: Calibrate laboratory equipment by comparing between measurements: one of known magnitude or correctness, made with a trusted device and a second measurement from another piece of laboratory equipment. Make the measurements in as similar a way as possible.
- Promote environmental awareness: Calculate the carbon footprint of business processes and other practices in order to promote sustainability and to raise awareness for the environmental impact.
- Maintain test equipment: Maintain equipment used for testing the quality of systems and products.
- Advise on environmental remediation: Advise on the development and implementation of actions which aim to remove sources of pollution and contamination from the environment.
- Manage water treatment: Treat contaminated water using a variety of techniques such as lagoons and reed beds.
- Report pollution incidents: Examine the extent of the damage and consequences when an incident causes pollution, and report it to the relevant institution following pollution reporting procedures.
- Investigate contamination: Perform tests to investigate the properties of contamination in an area, or on surfaces and materials, in order to identify the cause, its nature, and the extent of the risk and damage.
- Develop environmental remediation strategies: Develop strategies for the removal of pollution and contaminants from soil, groundwater, surface water, or sediment, taking into account environmental remediation regulations and available technologies.
- Assess groundwater environmental impact: Estimate environmental impact of groundwater abstraction and management activities.
- Report on environmental issues: Compile environmental reports and communicate on issues. Inform the public or any interested parties in a given context on relevant recent developments in the environment, forecasts on the future of the environment, and any problems and possible solutions.
ISCO group and title
3111 – Chemical and physical science technicians
References
- Groundwater monitoring technician – ESCO
- How to Become a Groundwater Sampling Technician | EnvironmentalScience.org
- Featured image: By U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District – Savannah Corps receives high-tech sonic drill rig, Public Domain