Summary Report for:
17-2081.01 - Water/Wastewater Engineers
Design or oversee projects involving provision of potable water, disposal of wastewater and sewage, or prevention of flood-related damage. Prepare environmental documentation for water resources, regulatory program compliance, data management and analysis, and field work. Perform hydraulic modeling and pipeline design.
The occupation code you requested, 17-2051.02 (Water/Wastewater Engineers), is no longer in use. In the future, please use 17-2081.01 (Water/Wastewater Engineers) instead.
This title represents an occupation for which data collection is currently underway.
Tasks | Tools & Technology | Education | Wages & Employment | Additional Information
Tasks
- Design domestic or industrial water or wastewater treatment plants, including advanced facilities with sequencing batch reactors (SBR), membranes, lift stations, headworks, surge overflow basins, ultraviolet disinfection systems, aerobic digesters, sludge lagoons, or control buildings.
- Design pumping systems, pumping stations, pipelines, force mains, or sewers for the collection of wastewater.
- Design sludge treatment plants.
- Design water distribution systems for potable or nonpotable water.
- Design water or wastewater lift stations, including water wells.
- Design water run-off collection networks, water supply channels, or water supply system networks.
- Design water storage tanks or other water storage facilities.
- Analyze and recommend chemical, biological, or other wastewater treatment methods to prepare water for industrial or domestic use.
- Analyze and recommend sludge treatment or disposal methods.
- Analyze storm water or floodplain drainage systems to control erosion, stabilize river banks, repair channel streams, or design bridges.
Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Desktop computers |
| Laser printers — Computer laser printers |
| Notebook computers — Laptop computers |
| Plotter printers — Large-format plotters |
| Scanners — Computer data input scanners; Digitizers |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Analytical or scientific software — HEC-RAS *; KYPipe; NIWA Tideda; Wallingford Software InfoWorks WS |
| Computer aided design CAD software — Autodesk AutoCAD software; Bentley SewerCAD; Eagle Point LANDCADD; HydroCAD Software Solutions HydroCAD |
| Map creation software — ESRI ArcGIS software; MapInfo software |
| Office suite software — Microsoft Office software |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
* Software developed by a government agency and/or distributed as freeware or shareware.
Education
This occupation may require a background in the following science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) educational disciplines:
Wages & Employment Trends
National
Median wages data collected from Environmental Engineers.
Employment data collected from Civil Engineers.
Industry data collected from Civil Engineers.
| Median wages (2010) | $37.86 hourly, $78,740 annual |
| Employment (2008) | 278,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2008-2018) | 
Much faster than average (20% or higher)
|
| Projected job openings (2008-2018) | 114,600 |
| Top industries (2008) |
State & National
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010 wage data
and 2008-2018 employment projections
.
"Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2008-2018). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.
Sources of Additional Information
Disclaimer: Sources are listed to provide additional information on related jobs, specialties, and/or industries. Links to non-DOL Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement.
- Engineers
. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition.