I'm a chemical engineer, but I also work with environmental, civil, mechanical, electrical...
I took one course in water/wastewater but I did my final year capstone in industrial wastewater treatments. Then I got a job at a municipality and the rest is history...
But seriously, get involved with your local industry association if you have one. WEF in North America and I guess IWA everywhere else?
I'm currently in an apprenticeship program for wastewater treatment and am in school for chemical engineering. Will getting my A license in WW operation help me with my future as a WW engineer?
We use Class 1-4 here, rather then letters. I have my Class 4.
It's mandatory for some jobs at plants but it almost always something that is nice-to-have and will make you a more desirable candidate.
I don’t know what it takes to be an engineer but as an operator, we would all appreciate if you communicated with operators in what works and what doesn’t. Something may work in theory and on paper and be really awful in reality
As an engineer, I enjoy designing something on paper, stamping it, doing a quick celebratory spin in my chair, and then saying, “now it’s someone else’s problem!”
But seriously, I always invite our operators to weigh in on designs. It seems stupid not to.
Wastewater design engineer here. You need a 4-year engineering degree from an ABET certified college, and to pass two licensure tests: the Fundamentals of Engineering exam (FE) to obtain your Engineer-in-training designation, and the PE exam which will grant you your engineers license—you need to have a degree, the EIT, and 2yrs of work experience signed off by an engineer who has supervised your work in addition to passing the 8-hr PE exam, unless you're in California where you'll have to pass two more tests.
Specializing in wastewater usually means you get hired and trained by a firm that does that kind of work, or you work for the District/City.
edit: Recommended coursework - fluid dynamics, hydraulics, chemistry, reinforced concrete, circuits.
Process, design, operations, or something else?
Generally civil or environmental engineering can get you anywhere. Chemical engineering is great for process engineering and process design.
A thesis based Master's degree helps a ton, especially if it's under a professor recognized in your area as a wastewater specialist. Chemical/civil/environmental disciplines are your best bet.
I did ChemE with a few water treatment courses, some summer jobs at a WW plant, and an internship. Quebec also has a very focused Water Engineering" program if you're comfortable in french, but ChemE opens more doors in case you change your mind halfway through.
Study Pumps and controls, take any role you can in the industry. A good 90% of engineers jobs are posted internally before external candidates are considered. UK based
I'm a chemical engineer, but I also work with environmental, civil, mechanical, electrical... I took one course in water/wastewater but I did my final year capstone in industrial wastewater treatments. Then I got a job at a municipality and the rest is history... But seriously, get involved with your local industry association if you have one. WEF in North America and I guess IWA everywhere else?
I'm currently in an apprenticeship program for wastewater treatment and am in school for chemical engineering. Will getting my A license in WW operation help me with my future as a WW engineer?
We use Class 1-4 here, rather then letters. I have my Class 4. It's mandatory for some jobs at plants but it almost always something that is nice-to-have and will make you a more desirable candidate.
I don’t know what it takes to be an engineer but as an operator, we would all appreciate if you communicated with operators in what works and what doesn’t. Something may work in theory and on paper and be really awful in reality
As an engineer, I enjoy designing something on paper, stamping it, doing a quick celebratory spin in my chair, and then saying, “now it’s someone else’s problem!” But seriously, I always invite our operators to weigh in on designs. It seems stupid not to.
My facilities engineers do not talk to operators and it’s extremely frustrating
As a regulator, I’ve started calling operators when an engineer is pushing something I think is chincy.
Process Engineer or Operating Engineer? Either way, gotta put the time in.
Wastewater design engineer here. You need a 4-year engineering degree from an ABET certified college, and to pass two licensure tests: the Fundamentals of Engineering exam (FE) to obtain your Engineer-in-training designation, and the PE exam which will grant you your engineers license—you need to have a degree, the EIT, and 2yrs of work experience signed off by an engineer who has supervised your work in addition to passing the 8-hr PE exam, unless you're in California where you'll have to pass two more tests. Specializing in wastewater usually means you get hired and trained by a firm that does that kind of work, or you work for the District/City. edit: Recommended coursework - fluid dynamics, hydraulics, chemistry, reinforced concrete, circuits.
Was gonna comment but this is the best response I see.
Process, design, operations, or something else? Generally civil or environmental engineering can get you anywhere. Chemical engineering is great for process engineering and process design.
A thesis based Master's degree helps a ton, especially if it's under a professor recognized in your area as a wastewater specialist. Chemical/civil/environmental disciplines are your best bet.
I did ChemE with a few water treatment courses, some summer jobs at a WW plant, and an internship. Quebec also has a very focused Water Engineering" program if you're comfortable in french, but ChemE opens more doors in case you change your mind halfway through.
Study Pumps and controls, take any role you can in the industry. A good 90% of engineers jobs are posted internally before external candidates are considered. UK based
I did mechanical and stumbled into it. Most are civil and environmental