Green Job Series: Careers in Water Conservation [Sixth Installment]

Workers in water operations occupations keep the water flowing by pumping water out of the ground and controlling water and wastewater treatment plants.

This installment of The Daily Leap's green job series profiles key water operations occupations in water conservation.

Water Operations Occupations

Workers in water operations occupations are employed by water utilities or local governments. Water and wastewater treatment plant operators work indoors in water or sewage treatment plants. Pump operators may work outdoors or in pumping facilities.

Job Duties

Water and wastewater treatment plant operators manage the systems of machines that transfer or treat water or wastewater. They add chemicals to disinfect water, inspect plant equipment, and monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges. These workers also collect and test water and sewage material and operate the equipment that purifies water and disposes of sewage.

Water must go through a treatment plant at some point between the original source and the local water supply. Water treatment plant operators ensure that water is clean and safe to drink before it reaches customers. After water is used, it flows through sewer systems to a wastewater treatment plant. There, it is cleaned and filtered before being released back into the environment or being reclaimed.

Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers operate the pumps that move water through pipes to another area. These pipes can be very large and move huge volumes of water over mountains or other terrain, or they may be smaller pumps that move water from one area of a treatment plant to another. Pump operators monitor the flow of water, ensuring that the pump functions properly, and do routine maintenance or repair as needed.

Education and Training

Workers in these occupations usually get on-the-job training to prepare for their jobs. Water and wastewater treatment plant operators typically need a high school diploma and receive more than 12 months of on-the-job training. Formal education is not required to become a pump operator. These workers are typically trained on the job for 1 to 12 months.

Earnings

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently does not have wage data specific to the water conservation industry. The table that follows shows wages for selected agriculture and water operations occupations in May 2012. The wages shown are median annual wages for the United States as a whole; wages vary by employer and location.

Occupation	Median annual wage
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators	$42,760
Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers	$44,610

For more detailed information on water operations occupations in the water conservation industry, follow the Occupational Outlook Handbook link.

Green Job Series: Careers in Water Conservation [Fifth Installment]

Because agriculture is the largest consumer of water resources, agricultural and grounds maintenance workers have a vital role in water conservation. Agricultural workers use more efficient irrigation techniques that provide crops with the optimal amount of water while minimizing water loss. Landscaping and grounds keeping workers maintain outdoor spaces. They ensure that these areas are properly kept up and watered.

This installment of The Daily Leap's green job series profiles key agriculture and grounds maintenance occupations in water conservation.

Agriculture and Grounds Maintenance Occupations

Most agricultural and grounds maintenance workers spend the majority of their time outdoors, and some of the work is physically demanding. Agricultural workers are employed by farms; grounds maintenance workers may be employed by a landscaping company or by any organization that has a large area of landscaped land.

Job Duties

Farmers oversee the production of crops. They supervise all steps of crop production, including planting, fertilizing, watering, and harvesting. They determine how to raise crops, taking into account the amount of water needed and the most efficient way to deliver it. They work with agricultural engineers and other workers to design irrigation systems for their fields and oversee the regular watering of crops.

Agricultural equipment operators use a variety of farm machines to plow fields, sow seeds, and maintain and harvest crops. They also operate heavy machinery to dig irrigation ditches or trenches for pipes. Some operate irrigation equipment, such as overhead sprayers. Equipment operators may also make adjustments or minor repairs.

Farmworkers and laborers handle numerous tasks related to growing and harvesting crops. They may ensure that crops receive enough water and remove weeds or unwanted plants that would consume water.

Landscaping and grounds keeping workers ensure that outdoor areas are properly and efficiently watered. For example, they may water only in the early morning or in the evening, so that water is not lost through evaporation. They may also adjust sprinkler systems so that sprinkler sprays do not overlap or waste water by spraying sidewalks or other non-planted areas.

Education and Training

Most farmers need a high school diploma, and some have a bachelor’s degree from a college of agriculture. Some farmers gain experience growing crops, tending livestock, or working part-time on a farm, others learn through an internship or other farm-based training program.

Agricultural equipment operators require between 1 and 12 months of on-the-job training or a formal training program. Farmworkers and laborers need less than a high school diploma, but may need up to a year of on-the-job training. Landscaping and grounds keeping workers typically do not need any formal education and are trained on-the-job in less than 1 month.

Earnings

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently does not have wage data specific to the water conservation industry. The table that follows shows wages for selected agriculture and grounds maintenance occupations in May 2012. The wages shown are median annual wages for the United States as a whole; wages vary by employer and location.

Occupation	Median annual wage
Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers	$69,300
Agricultural equipment operators	$25,860
Farmworkers and laborers, crop, nursery, and greenhouse	$18,670
Landscaping and grounds keeping workers	$23,570

For more detailed information on agriculture and grounds maintenance occupations in the water conservation industry, follow the Occupational Outlook Handbook link.

Thursday's final water conservation industry series installment: Water Operations Occupations.

Green Job Series: Careers in Water Conservation [Fourth Installment]

This installment of The Daily Leap's green job series profiles key construction occupations in water conservation.

Construction Occupations

Construction workers build and install the infrastructure for conserving water. They build new water delivery and storage systems. They also build new dams and reservoirs, dig wells, lay new pipes, and install water-efficient appliances and irrigation systems.

Construction workers typically are employed by construction or utilities companies and spend much of their time outdoors. Their work can be physically demanding.

Job Duties

Construction managers oversee building projects. These may include constructing reservoirs and water treatment plants or installing new pipes and water delivery systems. The primary duties of a construction manager include administering permits, contracts, and the budget, as well as monitoring project quality and safety.

On large assignments, a project manager typically oversees several construction managers who supervise individual aspects of the assignment.

Construction laborers do many of the basic physical tasks onsite. They may clean and prepare construction sites, load or unload building materials, dig trenches, backfill holes, or compact earth to prepare for construction. They do a variety of tasks, from easy to difficult and even hazardous, on almost all construction sites.

Equipment operators use heavy machinery to move construction materials, earth, and other heavy materials at a construction site. They may dig trenches for pipes or clear a large area for a planned reservoir. Equipment operators also control cranes to lift and place heavy objects, such as collectors and storage tanks for rainwater or greywater. They set up, inspect, and adjust equipment and do some maintenance and minor repair.

Pipelayers place pipes outdoors. They install large-diameter pipes, such as water mains, or smaller pipes that carry water from the main to houses or buildings. Pipelayers may also install sewage systems that carry waste to treatment plants.

Plumbers follow detailed construction drawings to install pipes and appliances in buildings and connect them to the water supply. They may remove older fixtures and replace them with water-efficient ones, such as dual-flush toilets and low-flow faucets. Plumbers may also replace leaky pipes or install plumbing systems that accommodate both drinkable and non-drinkable water and thereby allow a building to use rainwater and greywater.

Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners ensure that septic tanks—tanks that store human waste when sewers are not available—and sewer pipes are clean and that waste material is able to flow through them properly. If septic tanks or sewers become blocked, the waste material backs up and may flow up through drains or seep into the ground nearby, which can contaminate the water supply.

Education, Training, and Licensing

Construction managers typically need a degree in construction management, business management, or engineering and have experience working in construction. Experience is important for construction managers, so it may substitute for some educational requirements. Workers who have an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in construction management or engineering but do not have significant construction experience may be hired as assistants to construction managers. Construction laborers are not required to have a formal education.

Equipment operators often learn on the job, complete an apprenticeship, or do a combination of both to become certified. Becoming certified involves training and testing to ensure competence and safety. Because of safety concerns and the potential danger of operating this equipment, most construction workers are required to pass regular drug screenings.

Pipelayers typically need a high school diploma and are trained on the job in 1 month or less. Plumbers also typically have a high school diploma and receive training through an apprenticeship, which usually lasts 4 to 5 years and involves about 1,700 to 2,000 hours of paid on-the-job training and at least 246 hours of related technical instruction.

Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners need less than a high school diploma. They are normally trained on the job and are competent in performing their jobs with 1 to 12 months of training.

Earnings

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently does not have wage data specific to the water conservation industry. The table that follows shows wages for selected construction occupations in May 2012. The wages shown are median annual wages for the United States as a whole; wages vary by employer and location.

Occupation	Median annual wage
Construction managers	$82,790
Construction laborers	$29,990
Construction equipment operators	$40,980
Pipelayers	$36,180
Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters	$49,140
Septic tank servicers and sewer pipe cleaners	$34,020

For more detailed information on construction occupations in the water conservation industry, follow the Occupational Outlook Handbook link.

Next week's water conservation industry series installment: Agriculture and Grounds Maintenance Occupations.

Green Job Series: Careers in Water Conservation [Third Installment]

Water conservation requires planning, especially when new communities or large infrastructure projects in drier areas are being developed. In addition, outreach is important to inform the public about water conservation.

This installment of The Daily Leap's green job series profiles key planning and outreach occupations in water conservation.

Planning and Outreach Occupations

Water utilities and government water agencies may employ planning and outreach workers to educate the public about water conservation and to develop and implement conservation strategies. These workers typically are in offices.

Job Duties

Urban and regional planners develop strategies to ensure that there is enough water available to support development. Urban and regional planners have a broad view with respect to community development, and their preparation is essential to ensure efficient use of water.

Operations research analysts decide how to allocate water when communities or new structures are being planned, and help utilities and other organizations figure out the most effective way to distribute water. They evaluate costs and benefits of water projects and work with scientists, engineers, and others to develop solutions to water distribution, sanitation, and conservation problems.

Landscape architects may practice xeriscaping to choose the type and quantity of plants for a landscaped area. Part of their job is to determine how much water their landscapes require and to plan ways to ensure that the land is properly watered and drained. They may plan automatic sprinkler layouts that minimize overlapping spray patterns and that operate at night or in the early morning to minimize water loss through evaporation.

Public relations specialists educate people about water conservation. Because water conservation requires the participation and cooperation of the general public, public relations specialists inform people about what they can do—and what utilities and local governments are doing—to conserve water. Public relations specialists may write materials for media releases, plan and direct public relations programs, and answer media inquiries.

Education

Most urban and regional planners have a master’s degree from an accredited urban or regional planning program. These programs accept students with a variety of undergraduate backgrounds, including economics, geography, political science, or environmental design. Operations research analysts need a master’s degree for most research positions, but a bachelor’s degree may be enough for most entry-level positions. Many analysts have a degree in a related field, such as mathematics, statistics, or computer science.

Landscape architects usually need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape architecture. Many employers recommend that prospective landscape architects complete an internship with a landscape architecture firm during their formal education. Public relations specialists typically have at least a bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, communications, or a related field. They are then trained on the job for 1 month to 1 year.

Earnings

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently does not have wage data specific to the water conservation industry. The table that follows shows wages for selected planning and outreach occupations in May 2012. The wages shown are median annual wages for the United States as a whole; wages vary by employer and location.

Occupation	Median annual wage
Urban and regional planners	$65,230
Operations research analysts	$72,100
Landscape architects	$64,180
Public relations specialists	$54,170

For more detailed information on planning and outreach occupations in the water conservation industry, follow the Occupational Outlook Handbook link.

Thursday's water conservation industry series installment: Construction Occupations.

Green Job Series: Careers in Water Conservation [Second Installment]

Engineers work alongside scientists, engineering technicians, and others to apply technical solutions to water conservation. This installment of The Daily Leap's green job series profiles key engineering occupations in water conservation.

Engineering Occupations

Engineers’ role in water conservation is to apply strategies that reduce the use of water. They may develop new technologies that decrease the amount of water used for certain activities. They may also design water delivery and storage systems and water treatment facilities.

Engineers may design and test various types of machinery and water-efficient appliances. They ensure quality control and oversee compliance with standard operating procedures and federal, state, and local regulations. Engineering technicians work under the supervision of engineers to complete many engineering tasks.

Job Duties

Agricultural engineers find technological solutions to reduce water use on farms. They may design agricultural machinery and equipment or irrigation systems that use water more efficiently, and help determine how to deliver the most water for a given type of crop. Agricultural engineers may also be involved in pollution management, preventing runoff from fields that could pollute local water sources.

Civil engineers design and supervise large construction projects. They may be responsible for the design or upkeep of a city-wide water distribution system or sewer system. They are involved in significant construction projects and may design and supervise construction of a “green” building with water conservation in mind.

Environmental engineers develop ways to improve and protect the water supply. They may prepare, review, and update environmental investigation reports and design projects leading to environmental protection, such as water reclamation facilities. Environmental engineers are also involved with cleaning up pollution or hazardous materials, where they evaluate the extent of the pollution or the significance of a hazard. They may also help with the design of municipal water supply and industrial wastewater treatment systems, and they research the environmental impact of proposed projects.

Industrial engineers are involved in improving industrial practices and increasing efficiency. They devise ways to use less water more efficiently. They may design systems that contain or cleanse water that has become contaminated through industrial processes.

Mining and geological engineers use their knowledge to evaluate sources of water, particularly underground sources. Groundwater is typically in aquifers, which may be made up of porous rock, sand, or gravel. Engineers may help identify the boundaries of an aquifer and determine which sites are best for drilling wells to bring water to the surface.

Education

Engineers usually need at least a bachelor’s degree in an engineering field. Engineers in water conservation may specialize, as described above, and usually work solely in that specialty. Licensure as a professional engineer (PE) is recommended and often required, depending on an engineer’s specialty. Entry-level engineers work under the direction of senior or supervisory engineers and may assist senior engineers on sustainability projects.

Earnings

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently does not have wage data specific to the water conservation industry. The table that follows shows wages for selected engineering occupations in May 2012. The wages shown are median annual wages for the United States as a whole; wages vary by employer and location.

Occupation	Median annual wage
Agricultural engineers	$74,000
Civil engineers	$79,340
Environmental engineers	$78,690
Industrial engineers, including health and safety	$63,570
Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers	$84,320

For more detailed information on engineering occupations in the water conservation industry, follow the Occupational Outlook Handbook link.

Next week's water conservation industry series installment: Planning and Outreach Occupations.

Green Job Series: Careers in Water Conservation [First Installment]

Water conservation pertains mostly to fresh water, because it is a limited resource. It helps to ensure that available water supplies are used in the most efficient ways possible. Water conservation focuses on household, municipal, commercial, industrial, and agricultural water use.

Many different types of workers are involved in water conservation. They are employed within various industries, including federal, state, and local governments; utilities; construction; and agriculture, among others. This installment of The Daily Leap's green job series profiles key science occupations in water conservation.

Science Occupations

Scientists who work in water conservation devise technical solutions for reducing water use and develop ways to tap into new sources of fresh water. They plan strategies to conserve water resources and ensure that water is used as efficiently as possible. Scientists are also involved in reducing water use and ensuring that our water is safe. They measure levels of pollution and chemical contamination. Some scientists are involved in preserving water ecosystems and habitats.

Scientists generally work as part of a team that includes other types of scientists, engineers, and science technicians. Science technicians work under the supervision of scientists and assist them in their duties.

Scientists often work in an office or laboratory, and many spend time working outdoors. They may be employed by government agencies, universities, or private companies. Some scientists are hired as advisors for special projects.

Job Duties

Microbiologists work in laboratories studying water samples to ensure that the samples are free of harmful parasites, and that any microorganisms found in the water are not harmful to humans or the natural environment. Microbiologists study these microorganisms and their effects on the environment and human health. They may devise ways to remove harmful microorganisms from our drinking water, or use them clean up pollution.

Water conservationists are conservation scientists who give technical help to people concerned with the conservation of water. They help private landowners and governments by advising on water quality, preserving water supplies, preventing groundwater contamination, and conserving water.

Chemists analyze the chemicals found in water to make sure it is safe for use. They also handle water purification, using chemicals to kill harmful microorganisms and processes to remove harmful chemicals.

Environmental scientists and specialists protect natural water sources from pollutants and other contamination by studying the sources and effects of this pollution and determining ways to clean it up and prevent further pollution. They may also work to reclaim contaminated water by devising ways to clean the water and determining suitable uses for the water after it is cleaned.

Environmental scientists often ensure regulations are followed so that the water is healthy to use and any damage to the environment from water use is minimal.

Hydrologists study water and the water cycle and analyze how they influence the surrounding environment. They study the movement, distribution, and other properties of water and may measure bodies of water, such as volume and stream flow. They may also research how to improve water conservation and preservation.

Some hydrologists use computer models to forecast future water supplies, the spread of pollution, and to find new sources of fresh water. Hydrologists are also vital in evaluating the feasibility of water-related projects, such as hydroelectric power plants, irrigation systems, and waste treatment facilities.

Education and Skills

Most scientists need at least a bachelor’s degree from a program that includes both coursework and laboratory hours. A scientist who is leading a research team or conducting independent research typically needs a master’s or doctoral degree. Hydrologists typically need a master’s degree. It is common for scientists to pursue a specialized degree in a subfield, such as bacteriology or toxicology.

Analytical skills are important for those conducting experiments and determining an outcome or a reasonable way to continue an experiment. Scientists also need oral and written communication skills because they often work as part of a team, and must be able to share the results of their analyses with others. In addition, scientists must be detail-oriented when conducting experiments and recording data.

Earnings

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) currently does not have wage data specific to the water conservation industry. The table that follows shows wages for selected science occupations in May 2012. The wages shown are median annual wages for the United States as a whole; wages vary by employer and location.

Occupation	Median annual wage
Microbiologists	$66,260
Conservation scientists	$61,100
Chemists	$71,770
Environmental scientists and specialists, including health	$63,570
Hydrologists	$75,530

For more detailed information on science occupations in the water conservation industry, follow the Occupational Outlook Handbook link.

Next week's water conservation industry series installment: Engineering Occupations.