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Career Details
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Career Details
11-9121.02 - Water Resource Specialists
11-9121.02 - Water Resource Specialists
Design or implement programs and strategies related to water resource issues such as supply, quality, and regulatory compliance issues.
Key Facts

Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
55,100
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
56,900
Estimate
Change in Employment
+1,800
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+3.3%
Estimate
Tasks

Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
- Supervise teams of workers who capture water from wells and rivers.
- Review or evaluate designs for water detention facilities, storm drains, flood control facilities, or other hydraulic structures.
- Negotiate for water rights with communities or water facilities to meet water supply demands.
- Perform hydrologic, hydraulic, or water quality modeling.
- Compile water resource data, using geographic information systems (GIS) or global position systems (GPS) software.
- Compile and maintain documentation on the health of a body of water.
- Write proposals, project reports, informational brochures, or other documents on wastewater purification, water supply and demand, or other water resource subjects.
- Recommend new or revised policies, procedures, or regulations to support water resource or conservation goals.
- Provide technical expertise to assist communities in the development or implementation of storm water monitoring or other water programs.
- Present water resource proposals to government, public interest groups, or community groups.
- Monitor water use, demand, or quality in a particular geographic area.
- Identify and characterize specific causes or sources of water pollution.
- Develop plans to protect watershed health or rehabilitate watersheds.
- Develop or implement standardized water monitoring and assessment methods.
- Conduct technical studies for water resources on topics such as pollutants and water treatment options.
- Conduct, or oversee the conduct of, investigations on matters such as water storage, wastewater discharge, pollutants, permits, or other compliance and regulatory issues.
- Conduct cost-benefit studies for watershed improvement projects or water management alternatives.
- Analyze storm water systems to identify opportunities for water resource improvements.
- Develop strategies for watershed operations to meet water supply and conservation goals or to ensure regulatory compliance with clean water laws or regulations.
- Conduct, or oversee the conduct of, chemical, physical, and biological water quality monitoring or sampling to ensure compliance with water quality standards.
Supplemental
- Identify methods for distributing purified wastewater into rivers, streams, or oceans.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge

Knowledge
The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools

Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology

Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications

Licensing

Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs

Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.
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INSTITUTION
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Jobs

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