Wastewater engineer

Wastewater engineers design sewage systems and networks for the removal and treatment of wastewater from cities and other residential areas. They design systems which are compliant with environmental standards, and aim to minimise impact on the ecosystem and on citizens in the vicinity of the network.

The following job titles also refer to wastewater engineer:

wastewater technology engineering consultant
waste-water engineer
wastewater technology engineering adviser
wastewater pipeline engineer
sewer pipeline engineer
wastewater technology engineering expert
wastewater engineering adviser
sewage system engineer
wastewater processing engineer
wastewater process engineer
sewer system designer
wastewater engineering consultant
wastewater system designer
wastewater engineering specialist
waste water pipeline engineer
waste water system designer
wastewater technology engineer
wastewater engineering expert
waste water system engineer
wastewater technology engineering specialist
wastewater system engineer
sewage engineer
waste water engineer

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as wastewater engineer. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

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.

Wastewater engineer is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to wastewater engineer.

drainage engineer
water engineer
gas distribution engineer
environmental mining engineer
steam engineer

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of wastewater engineer. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of wastewater engineer with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of wastewater engineer.

Engineering principles: The engineering elements like functionality, replicability, and costs in relation to the design and how they are applied in the completion of engineering projects.
Hydraulic fluid: The various types, qualities and applications of hydraulic fluids used in metalworking processes such as forging and moulding, consisting out of mineral oils and water.
Technical drawings: Drawing software and the various symbols, perspectives, units of measurement, notation systems, visual styles and page layouts used in technical drawings.
Hydraulics: The power transmission systems that use the force of flowing liquids to transmit power.
Engineering processes: The systematic approach to the development and maintenance of engineering systems.
Types of pipelines: Know various types of pipelines and their different usages. Differentiate between pipelines used to transport goods over short and long distances, and understand their respective feeding systems.

These skills are necessary for the role of wastewater engineer.

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.
Ensure regulatory compliance in pipeline infrastructures: Ensure that the regulations for pipeline operations are met. Ensure pipeline infrastructure compliance with legal mandates, and compliance with regulations governing the transportation of goods via the pipelines.
Ensure compliance with safety legislation: Implement safety programmes to comply with national laws and legislation. Ensure that equipment and processes are compliant with safety regulations.
Adjust engineering designs: Adjust designs of products or parts of products so that they meet requirements.
Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
Use technical drawing software: Create technical designs and technical drawings using specialised software.
Mitigate environmental impact of pipeline projects: Strive to mitigate the potential impact that pipelines and the goods transported in them can have on the environment. Invest time and resources into consideration of the environmental effects of the pipeline, the actions that could be taken to protect the environment, and the potential increase in the costs of the project.
Develop sewerage networks: Develop systems and methods of construction and installation of waste water transportation and treatment equipment, which is used to transport waste water from residences and facilities through water treatment facilities, or through other sewerage systems, to ensure proper disposal or reuse. Develop such systems with environmental and sustainability concerns in mind.
Monitor legislation developments: Monitor changes in rules, policies and legislation, and identify how they may influence the organisation, existing operations, or a specific case or situation.
Create designs for pipeline engineering: Design pipeline infrastructure considering engineering principles. Create blueprints, measure sites, define materials, and present functional proposals for their construction.
Approve engineering design: Give consent to the finished engineering design to go over to the actual manufacturing and assembly of the product.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of wastewater engineer. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

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.
Ecosystems: The characteristics of the system where living organisms co-habitate and interact with non-living elements.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of wastewater engineer. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Interpret scientific data to assess water quality: Analyse and interpret data like biological properties to know the quality of water.
Inspect pipelines: Walk flow lines to identify damage or leaks; use electronic detection equipment and conduct visual inspections.
Supervise waste disposal: Supervise disposal of biological waste and chemical waste according to regulations.
Measure water quality parameters: Quality assure water by taking into consideration various elements, such as temperature.
Detect flaws in pipeline infrastructure: Detect flaws in pipeline infrastructure during construction or over the passage of time such as construction defects, corrosion, ground movement, hot-tap made by error, and others.
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.
Develop water purification methods: Develop strategies for the development and use of water purification equipment and plans, by aiding in the design of equipment, planning purification procedures, and identifying the necessary actions and potential risks.
Prepare timelines for pipeline development projects: Prepare timescales and project schedules for implementation of activities and follow up in pipeline development projects. Include in the preparation customer requests, materials required, and specification of the activities to be undertaken.
Perform pipeline routing studies: Perform routing studies designed to collect information on and analyse the characteristics of the site, the challenges of construction, and other environmental factors that should be taken into consideration in planning project development.
Advise on environmental remediation: Advise on the development and implementation of actions which aim to remove sources of pollution and contamination from the environment.
Supervise sewerage systems construction: Supervise the implementation of correct sewerage system plans and methods during construction, installation, and maintenance of sewerage systems to ensure conformity to the approved plans and safety of operations.
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.
Analyse community needs: Identify and respond to specific social problems in a community, delineating the extent of the problem and outline the level of resources required to address it and identifying the existing community assets and resources that are available to address the problem.
Supervise waste water treatments: Supervise waste water treatment according to environmental regulations.

2142 – Civil engineers

 

 

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References

1. Wastewater engineer – ESCO