Careers in the Environmental and Water Resources Management
Featured Careers:
Water Well Drillers
Professional or Registered Geologist
Chemist
Soil Scientist
Professional or Registered Engineer
Hybrid Fields – Biology / Water (Wetlands/ Lake/ Pond Management/Forester)
Water and WasteWater Treatment Plant Operators
Private Water Companies
Watershed and River Associations (Management)
Forester/ Forest Management- Careers in Natural Resource Management
Environmental Organizations / Non-Profits
Water has a myriad of uses in our civilization. It can be used for drinking water, irrigation, commercial and industrial applications, and power generation. It is one of the most important factors in ecosystems, recreation, and regional climate. Humans directly control most surface water and significantly influence groundwater and even the oceans. As a result, there are many careers devoted to the use of and, hopefully, the appropriate management of water to the benefit of us and the other organisms that share our environment.
When you consider that more than 50% of Americans and over 90 % of rural Americans get their drinking water from groundwater, programs like The Path to Clean Water™ are critical to ensuring safe and healthy water resources for families, businesses and communities.
The following is a discussion of some occupations that involve some aspect of environmental and/or water management, and which are possible career paths.
If you are interested in climate change and sustainability, our primary recommendation would be to consider getting a BA or BS degree in earth and environmental sciences, meteorology/climatology, and environmental management and then specific training in the aspects of the field you find most interesting. Because of Flint, Michigan and the drinking water-related issues with lead and discolored water, many students appear to be interested in environmental advocacy, social change, or social justice studies. These voices are needed, but if you are interested in these areas we strongly suggest you obtain a solid foundation in one of the more classic courses of study and consider Environmental Law/ Communications and then minor in these areas or obtain some additional certifications or do an internship with a Non-government agency working in areas of advocacy and social justice.
Water Well Drillers
Drinking water has two main sources: surface water and groundwater. Even though these sources are interconnected, the kinds of careers associated with those two sources can be quite different. Unlike surface water sources, groundwater is much less affected by weather changes and it tends to change more slowly with respect to yield and pollution, largely due to its much slower flow. Getting water out of the ground requires the construction and pumping of a well that has been drilled in rock or sediment that can sustain a useful flow.
Getting the water out of the ground usually requires the drilling of a well which, these days, typically means employing rather sophisticated drilling rigs. Owning and operating a water well drilling business does not require a college degree although governments on the State level, such as Pennsylvania, typically require that the operator of such a business be licensed: Pennsylvania Well Drillers License Act (Act 610), 1956.
If you wish to start a drilling career but have little or no experience, it would be wise to talk with the owner of an established business about an apprenticeship as a driller where you can learn on-the-job under the guidance of someone who knows what they are doing. For at least another decade, there will be an increasing shortage of such entry workers and drillers, as well as plumbers, carpenters, and electricians, are all very interested in finding reliable workers.
Drilling a well is neither the beginning nor the end of the story. For an individual homeowner who needs a water well, there is usually not much choice about where to locate a well. A drilling company should have the expertise to avoid obvious problems such as not drilling the well in the middle of a septic field. Once drilled, according to State regulations, a pump must be chosen and installed with a piping system to get the water into the house. Depending on the quality of the water, the drilling company may also put in some kind of treatment system. Some companies specialize in installing water treatment systems and that could be a related career not requiring a college degree.
There are usually State Associations of workers involved in drilling water wells. In Pennsylvania it is the Pennsylvania Groundwater Association (PGWA). The purpose of the PGWA “is to provide information and support to our members, to governmental representatives, and to the public so they can make sound technical and economic decisions for the beneficial development, protection, and management of Pennsylvania’s groundwater resources.” More information about this association and other, similar associations, can be easily found on the internet.
There is also a national association, the National GroundWater Association (NGWA), which is “a community of groundwater professionals working together to advance groundwater knowledge and the success of our members through education and outreach; advocacy; cooperation and information exchange; and enhancement of professional practices.” Of special interest are the wide variety of short-courses, videos, and webinars made available to its members.
If you are a water professional, please add your listing to the Know Your H20 Water Professional Directory.
Professional or Registered Geologist
A geologist is someone who, at minimum, has a bachelor’s degree in geology from a department of geology or environmental science/engineering. Geology includes a wide variety of subfields, only some of which involve water resources. A geologist who specializes in some form of water resources through education and training is a hydrogeologist although there is not a specific degree for that – the degree would be in geology, not hydrogeology; this could change as degrees become ever more specialized. Hydrogeologists can further break down into those who work primarily with large surface water supplies (sometimes referred to as just hydrologists) and those who concentrate on groundwater. An offshoot of what was once considered geology includes oceanographers and marine scientists.
Teaching geology/hydrogeology/hydrology/ocean science does not require professional registration as a geologist, although teaching geology/earth science in secondary education does require a teaching certificate; teaching at colleges/universities requires neither a teaching certificate nor professional registration. However, practicing geology (meaning making money doing it) outside of the education system does. A growing number of states, including Pennsylvania, require professional registration similar to that of engineers and physicians.
Such professional registration is controlled by the state and typically requires a bachelor’s degree in geology, some form of apprenticeship, and the passing of a state exam. Having a degree in geology, even a PhD, is not enough. You have to take a state exam after you have completed a geology program, often with a state requirement that the program includes specific geology courses. Upon successful completion of the requirements, the applicant becomes, depending on the state, a professional geologist (P.G.) or registered geologist (R.G.), again, analogous to the professional engineer (P.E.). The professional geologist can now legally practice geology which may or may not include some kind of work in water resources.
If someone wants to construct a landfill, a quarry, or a public water supply system (especially from groundwater), the state will usually require a permit application (including system design and construction), part of which must be completed by a registered geologist. Note that the professional geologist could participate in both sides of the permitting process, working for the permit applicant or reviewing the application as a state worker. Many registered geologists specialize in working on large-scale groundwater supply and contamination projects. This could include the development of spring water sources.
An individual home does not require a large amount of water. In Pennsylvania, the typical single-home water use is about 60 gallons per day, an amount that can usually be supplied by a single well in most rock formations in Pennsylvania. A drilling contractor can usually handle all that is necessary to successfully complete a single-home water well – no registered geologist needed.
However, public, commercial, and industrial water supplies require much more water and deciding where to locate a well that can reliably supply such a large quantity of groundwater requires the specialized expertise of a professional geologist. Such projects require permitting which, in turn, requires the participation of a registered geologist.
Note, however, that the requirement is for a registered geologist, not for a registered hydrogeologist especially knowledgeable about groundwater exploitation. Theoretically, a mineralogist would meet the geology permitting requirements for a groundwater-supplied public water system. It is important that the professional geologist working with groundwater have the appropriate educational background. Some geology degree programs may not include courses especially useful for exploiting groundwater. On the other hand, a few college programs may specialize in groundwater geology. An example of the latter is the Earth and Environmental Sciences program at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. That department even has its own drilling rig.
Associations such as PGWA and NGWA include professionals (college degree) such as geologists but there are also state and national associations of registered geologists, many of whom work mostly with groundwater. Pennsylvania has the Pennsylvania Council of Professional Geologists (PCPG) whose purpose is to: “provide representation on State Advisory Boards and Commissions, as well as access to PADEP (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, a state regulatory agency), advocacy in the State Legislature, continuing education, networking opportunities for earth resource professionals, State officials, and business associates, and information regarding state and national news relevant to earth resource professionals.” The continuing education is important as Pennsylvania requires 24 hours of approved continuing education every two years to maintain the professional registration.
There is no official or required national registration of professional geologists but there is an association which offers a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) designation which it hopes to be officially recognized one day both nationally and internationally. The American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG) “certifies the competence and ethical conduct of geological scientists in all branches of the science with members employed in industry, government, and academia. AIPG emphasizes competence, integrity and ethics. AIPG is an advocate for the profession and communicates regularly to federal and state legislators and agencies on matters pertaining to the geosciences.” As with other associations, the AIPG offers short-courses, videos, and webinars, many of which are relevant to groundwater geology.
Evaluating the safe yield of a high-capacity well is part of the job of the registered geologist. Evaluating the water quality of the well water involves a water quality laboratory, staffed by trained chemists. Running such a laboratory usually requires a degree in chemistry although there can be technicians without a degree. Installing appropriate water treatment systems is yet another career path, so please review the Private Water Companies career path below. This career path requires continuing education for geologists.
Chemist
An important part of water use is ensuring that the water has the desired quality. Public water supplies, for example, are regulated on both state and federal levels and must meet certain water quality standards. In Pennsylvania, the relevant state agency is the Department of Environmental Protection (D.E.P.); most states have an equivalent agency. On the federal level, it is the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.).
State-certified or Nationally Certified laboratories are required to certify the periodic water quality tests required of all public water supplies. In Pennsylvania, the DEP maintains a public list of accredited water-testing labs. Such labs employ chemists (degree required) and lab technicians (degree not necessarily required).
Soil Scientist - APSS, CPSS, CCA, CPSC
The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) offers two levels of certification that include the Associate Professional Soil Scientist (APSS) and the Certified Professional Soil Scientist and some states have developed a licensing or certification program for Certified Professional Soil Classifiers (CPSC) (state boards). The American Society of Agronomy developed the International Certified Crop Adviser (ICCA) program which has a Certification Program for Crop Advisors (CCA). The CCA works with farmers to assist with making key decisions in agricultural application to implement sustainable, profitable, and environmentally sound agricultural supply chains.
The Certified Professional Soil Classifiers typically work on on-site septic systems and nutrient management plans for agricultural areas whereas the Certified Professional Soil Scientist has a wider career path that may include soil mapping and classification, soil physics, wetland delineation, geomorphology, agronomy, crop science, and erosion and sedimentation control. Certification as a Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS) requires passing both the Fundamentals of Soil Science and Professional Practice Examinations and requires a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree with specific training in soil science, plus up to 5 years of full-time work experience. The Associate Professional Soil Scientist requires a Bachelor’s Degree and the completion of the Fundamental exam.
The American Society of Agronomy developed the Certified Crop Adviser (CCA) program and it is necessary to meet one of the following experience requirements to apply for and become a CCA:
- Have at least two years of experience and a Bachelor of Science Degree, Master's Degree or PhD in an agronomy related field;
- Have at least three years of experience and an Associate’s Degree in an agronomy related field; or
- Have at least four years of experience with no degree.
The program also requires passing both an International Board Exam and a Local Board Exam for the region the applicant covers.
Professional or Registered Engineer
Like the professional geologist, the professional engineer requires a bachelor’s degree in some field of engineering, a form of apprenticeship leading to the Engineer In Training (E.I.T) designation, and the successful passing of an exam to become a professional engineer (P.E.). Unfortunately, having a PE certification does not guarantee any expertise in water resources. The engineer could be an electrical, civil, chemical, or mechanical engineer. For most water resource projects, what you probably want is an environmental engineer.
A professional geologist could be considered to be a kind of environmental scientist so what, then, is the difference between an environmental engineer and an environmental scientist? One basic difference is that engineers in general are tightly focused on designing practical solutions to real-world problems; design is a required part of almost every college engineering course they take.
Consider what a professional (hydro)geologist and a professional (environmental) engineer would do in a public water supply project using a groundwater source. The geologist would locate a site for the well(s), supervise the well drilling, collect drilling and water samples, supervise a well pump test, interpret water test results, and make recommendations as to pumping rate and possible water treatment needed.
The environmental engineer would design and supervise the construction of a transmission system to move the water from the source (it could be from a series of wells and/or a surface reservoir) to a central area where the water could receive any needed treatment in a system designed by the engineer. If the surface water source is a reservoir, a civil engineer may be employed to design and supervise the construction of a dam. The environmental engineer would then design a distribution system (water pipes) to move the treated water to individual users (homes, businesses, industries).
Water use generates water waste (sewage). The environmental engineer would design a sewage collection system to be centralized in a sewage treatment plant also designed by the environmental engineer. All of these activities require state permits, parts of which require the stamp of a professional engineer. In some applications, a professional geologist or soil scientist may be employed in water waste disposal projects such as spray irrigation.
There are, of course, state associations of professional engineers. In Pennsylvania it is the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers (PSPE). The national equivalent is the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). A national association more focused on water resources is the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists (AAEES). National associations usually have state chapters. This career path requires continuing education for engineers.
Hybrid Fields – Biology / Water (Wetlands/ Lake/ Pond Management/Forester)
The environmental education professional can travel many paths, but one hybrid path is the merging of biology/ecology with a strong earth science and water quality background. By following this approach, it is possible to enter a career in Lake and Pond Management, Wetlands Delineation, Water Resource Management and Watershed Management (Science), and Aquatic Pesticide Management.
In Pennsylvania, there is the PA Association of Environmental Professionals that is a state chapter for the National Association for Environmental Professionals. The purpose of the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Professionals is to promote environmental education, research, planning, assessment, review, and management through the formation and operation of a nonpolitical multidisciplinary professional society. The Association has general membership, corporate, government, and student memberships and members post Job Announcements.
The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) has over 3,000 members in more than 60 countries. SWS has members in governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia and private consulting. However, Society membership is open to anyone with an interest in wetlands. The SWS has a Professional Certification Program that helps identify qualified individuals to assess and manage wetland resources. The certification process requires a Bachelor’s Degree with sufficient credit hours in Biology, Physical Sciences, and Quantitative Sciences (math, statistics, computer sciences, etc), 15 credit hours in “Wetland” Sciences and five full-time years of professional experience.
The Pennsylvania Lake Management Society or “PALMS” or “PA Lakes” is a non-profit organization dedicated to the management, restoration, and protection of Pennsylvania’s lakes and surrounding watersheds. PALMS is not really a professional association, but more of a group of individuals, professionals, and associations in both the public or private sector with a focus on protecting Pennsylvania lakes for future generations. This organization is a chapter of the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS). It has been my professional experience that most individuals involved with Lake Management have a BS degree in physical sciences and a strong background in biology and water quality. NALMS has three types of certification programs, i.e., Certified Lake Manager (CLM), Lake Management Associate (LMA), and Lake Management Trainee (LMT); to learn more, the NALMS certification programs.
There are more requirements for those not interested in the science aspects, but more interested in the management of water resources and being able to apply aquatic pesticides. Federal law requires any person who applies or supervises the use of restricted-use pesticides (RUPs) to be certified in accordance with EPA regulations and state, territorial, and tribal laws. Pesticide applicators must know how to apply RUPs properly and effectively. The EPA has standards for private applicators and commercial applicators and for commercial applicators there are 10 federal categories of certification; states may have more categories. To apply for certification, you would go to your local state agency. For Pennsylvania residents, please follow this link. In Pennsylvania, to become certified as a commercial or public applicator, you must pass two written examinations (core and category) and be employed by a pesticide application business. Once you pass the exams, you have 12 months to apply for certification with the PA Department of Agriculture. To become certified as a private applicator, you need to pass the written private certification exam. Additional testing is required if the applicator intends to use a restricted-use fumigant.
Water and Waste Water Treatment Plant Operators
Public water treatment plants and sewage treatment plants require operators who are licensed by the state. A bachelor’s degree is not required but pre-certification training is and, once completed, is followed by a continuing education requirement. The national and international association for both water treatment and sewage treatment plants are the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Water Pollution Control Federation. These associations and others are heavily involved in national policy and legislation and they provide a series of short-courses and webinars to help plant operators maintain state certification.
Private Water Companies
It might seem a bit strange that a company that supplies water to the public can be a private company rather than a municipal or county agency but this is the situation with bottled water companies. Such companies may get their water from municipal water sources or, more commonly, springs. In either case, the water requires some form of disinfection treatment such as with ozone or ultraviolet. The point is to improve the taste by doing away with the need for residual chlorination so common in public water. Once the bottled water source is developed and the treatment system installed, someone needs to manage the operation. This includes required periodic testing of the treated water. There is also an International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) and a Water Quality Association (WQA) that offers a certification program for water treatment system installers.
If you are a water professional, please add your listing to the Know Your H20 Water Professional Directory.
Watershed and River Associations (Management)
Individuals that enter and work for Watershed and River Associations cover a wide range of educational backgrounds and careers and typically service a community of concerned citizens. In many cases, the organization may be managed by an individual or a team of professionals with a mixed background in earth and environmental sciences, environment policy, environmental advocacy, and environmental education with a BA or BS degree or higher that then rely on a team of other professionals that have more advanced degrees. Because of the many environmental laws, these Associations may also hire or utilize lawyers with a strong background in Environmental Regulations. The EPA has an online Watershed Academy that offers a certificate program in Watershed Management. The program requires the completion of 15 core education modules, plus the completion of an exit exam.
Forester/ Forest Management - Careers in Natural Resource Management
Careers in this field include: environmental educators/naturalists, foresters, park rangers, facility and resource managers, planners, horticulturalists, experts in rare and endangered species, biologists, geographers and cartographers, experts in wood and paper sciences, adventure travel guides, and conservation biologists. The range of professional activity may include: service and hospitality, policy, planning, permitting, regulatory oversight of scientists conducting investigations, research, and environmental monitoring. There are typically positions available in government agencies, consulting firms, and other education institutions. In many cases, careers in this field typically require a high school diploma and a BA or BS degree, but in many other cases, higher education and specialized training is required. The Society of American Foresters has a certified forester program that is described as follows: “SAF certification is the gold standard for forest management professionals, recognized by the forest industry, government officials, and landowners.”
Environmental Organizations / Non-Profits
In the USA and throughout the world, the number and diversity of environmental organizations and non-government agencies has grown significantly. When attending Wilkes University in the early 1980s, I had the opportunity to be involved with one of the first multi-state watershed groups in Pennsylvania known as the Susquehanna River Tri-State Association and later I became involved with ECOLOGIA, the Lackawanna River Corridor Association, other watershed groups, and, ultimately, became very involved with the Keystone Clean Water Team. Environmental Organizations range from education and outreach programs to very active advocacy groups. Just like a business, environmental organizations require management, legal advice, advocates, planners, and fact-based experts and scientists. Typically, beginning a career with an organization is associated with being interested with the mission or objectives of the organization; such organizations are always looking for volunteers and interns.
