A water resources engineer is a civil engineer who has professionally specialized in the planning and construction of water supply systems. He is, in fact, a water systems architect. A water resources engineer deals with the laying down the design and structure of water supply systems, audit, and repair of these systems, and the daily gauging of water pressure using appropriate and efficient instruments.
A water resource engineer has to handle the technical aspects of water resource management and is concerned with the design and structure of water supply systems, audit and repair of these systems, and the daily gauging of water pressure using appropriate and efficient instruments.
A Bachelor's Degree in Civil engineering, preferably with a specialization in a field closely related to water resource engineering is the basic minimum qualification required for water resource engineering. A specialized course will help in dealing with projects linked to water-resource issues that are highly technical in nature. For example, a Bachelor's degree in environmental engineering will prove to be very valuable in the course of water resource engineering.
Advanced certification which can be obtained through institutes recognized by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) is also necessary for credibility and specialization.
A Master's degree in a similar course will have additional benefits, and though it may be optional, it has come to assume great value in these times of stiff competition.
Efficiency in Mathematics, particularly in Calculus, is absolutely necessary. School level knowledge of Biology and Physics is also required. Additional courses in the same will be considered as a valuable bonus, since it will be essential in comprehending the basics of water supply systems.
Familiarity and proficiency in computers, particularly at the Graduation level, will be of utmost use in the process of planning and designing of water systems.
One also needs to have the ability to prepare specifications and oversee the preparation of drawings, the ability to work with little direction, and ability to work with CADD operators. Apart from these technical skills, analytical skills, good communication skills, as well as leadership qualities are also required.
Practical experience at the graduate level will hold good for any water-plant job and may prove to be useful for further studies. The student must take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination while pursuing engineering so as to achieve the Engineer in Training (EIT) designation. The work experience under this designation will be counted as professional training.
The student must take the Fundamentals of Engineering examination while pursuing engineering so as to achieve the Engineer in Training (EIT) designation. The work experience under this designation will be counted as professional training.
The Principles and Practice of Engineering (PPE) examination will testify as prior experience and hence is very important.
You must also have experience with the completion of planning, design drawings, and specifications, and construction management of water and wastewater treatment facility infrastructure, piping, pump stations, lift stations, and treatment plants.
The field of water resource management is widely spread out across several water related issues, like agriculture, environmental, city water planning, etc. Thus, career prospects are varied along these dimensions, and will usually depend on the qualifications and the stream of specialization.
The jobs may deal with data collection, river-system management, water-resource planning, etc. and may span across governmental agencies at all levels: local, state, and federal.
The salaries of water resource engineers vary with the range of positions and jobs. It may also vary departmentally. Since the jobs are highly technical in nature, the salaries of water resource engineers can be equated to, and may even exceed, those of other civil and technical engineers.
A Water resource engineer has the utmost responsibility of managing and repairing from time to time the water supply systems of a metropolitan city or town. Since water crunches are a frequent problem plaguing cities and towns all over the world, water resource engineering becomes a crucial subject in carefully handling and utilizing the limited water resources. Dam sites tend to become potential centers of accidents and catastrophe if water levels are left unchecked. The water resource engineer does the crucial job of gauging water pressure and ensuring efficient water pressure control.
If today, we are able to receive uninterrupted water supply necessary for daily chores and a normal life, we have none other to thank but the water resource engineers.
