There are more than just people who love the water. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to survive, let alone thrive. As such, jobs that involve working with or around water are among the most popular job choices. Water treatment specialists have an extraordinary variety of roles to choose from.
From being a generalist, who will find you in any company that deals with water and wastewater, to specializing in a specific sector or industry. If you’re looking for your next job as a specialist in one area of water treatment, here are five top-paying water treatment jobs.
Environmental Engineer
An environmental engineer is a specialist who works with water issues, such as wastewater, drinking water, and wastewater treatment. They work for many different industries, including the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and mining industries. Environmental engineers work with both on- and off-site clients, so you may spend a lot of time traveling, but there are also many opportunities to work from home, depending on the client.
Environmental engineers are typically paid a base salary with bonuses and benefits included. What’s more, you can also earn some extra money by taking on consulting projects, providing services to individuals and businesses. If you have an interest in nature and the environment, this could be a great job for you.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
A wastewater treatment plant operator is in charge of a wastewater treatment plant, where wastewater collects and is processed. This can be a seasonal job, as the plant is usually only in operation during the summer months, when higher temperatures increase the demand for water.
The position may also experience high demand during holidays and special events, when people use more water as they clean their yards and landscapes. The wastewater treatment plant operator ensures that water treatment is performed properly, and that any issues that may affect the quality of the water are addressed.
Water Softening Specialist
Water softening is the process of removing minerals from water. In some regions, the demand for water is higher than the capacity of the water supply, causing salt and minerals to become a part of the water. Most regions use chlorinated water from a combined water system. Softeners remove these minerals from the water, enabling it to be used for consumption. Softeners work by using electricity to break up minerals into a less soluble form, so that it can then be filtered out.
General Manager of a Municipal Water/Wastewater Company
A water company manager oversees the day-to-day operations of a water company. This may involve managing a team of staff members and budget, as well as monitoring the quality of water and wastewater, and ensuring the delivery of water and wastewater services is up to standard. Water companies may have a variety of customers, including residential, commercial, and agricultural customers.
You may also be responsible for providing certain services, such as billing, customer relations, and managing operations. As with any management role, you’ll need to have sound business acumen and an understanding of finance. You may also need to have some experience in a customer service environment.
Groundwater Expert
A groundwater expert examines groundwater resources and the power to extract water from the ground. Groundwater resources include aquifers and fossil water resources, such as coal bed aquifers, which are located below the surface.
The main focus of the job is to assess the amount of water available in the ground, and find out how much is extractable. This may involve using scientific equipment, such as a Groundwater Acoustic Network (GAUN) device to measure subsurface geology.
Summary
Finding your next job as a specialist in one area of water treatment can be a challenge. When you’re looking for the right jobs in water treatment, consider the top five jobs in this field, including environmental engineers, wastewater treatment plant operators, water softening specialists, general managers of municipal water/wastewater companies, and groundwater experts.
When you’ve found the right jobs for you, work hard and make the most of your opportunity. And, of course, enjoy the water.
