Water Resource Specialists
People classed as Water Resource Specialists design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues. The skills rated most useful are writing, speaking, and reading comprehension. You may also need to perform hydrologic, hydraulic, or water quality modeling. Its interest code is IRC. Investigative leads at 5.8 out of 7, so expect research, analysis and working through hard problems, with Realistic next at 4.5. Getting in usually takes a bachelor’s degree plus a period of work experience, a level O*NET calls considerable preparation. Expect to analyze storm water systems to identify opportunities for water resource improvements. People who want research, analysis and working through hard problems usually fit better here than those who need creative work with room for original expression.
What they do
Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.
Main tasks
- Perform hydrologic, hydraulic, or water quality modeling.
- Analyze storm water systems to identify opportunities for water resource improvements.
- Conduct, or oversee the conduct of, investigations on matters such as water storage, wastewater discharge, pollutants, permits, or other compliance and regulatory issues.
- Develop strategies for watershed operations to meet water supply and conservation goals or to ensure regulatory compliance with clean water laws or regulations.
- Conduct technical studies for water resources on topics such as pollutants and water treatment options.
- Review or evaluate designs for water detention facilities, storm drains, flood control facilities, or other hydraulic structures.
Skills
- Writing
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Time Management
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You enjoy working out why something happens, not just what happened.
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You are ready to spend around four years on a degree, then build experience.
- You are comfortable relying on writing and speaking.
May not suit you if
- You lose interest when a job asks for long stretches of analysis.
- You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.8 out of 7 here.
- You want to avoid a four-year degree or its equivalent.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code IRC takes the three highest, and Investigative comes first here.
Preparation
Considerable preparation. Most jobs here ask for a bachelor’s degree, and employers usually expect a few years of related experience as well.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: Master's Degree. This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Water Resources Planner
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.