11-9121.02 - Water Resource Specialists
Green occupations will likely change as a result of the green economy. Green economy activities and technologies are increasing the demand for occupations, shaping the work and worker requirements needed for occupational performance, or generating new and emerging occupations.
This is a Green New & Emerging occupation — the impact of green economy activities and technologies is sufficient to create the need for unique work and worker requirements, which results in the generation of new occupations.
Water resource specialists work in the following green economy sectors:
- Environment Protection — This sector covers activities related to environmental remediation, climate change adaptation, and ensuring or enhancing air quality.
They perform these tasks important to the green economy:
- Analyze storm water systems to identify opportunities for water resource improvements.
- Compile and maintain documentation on the health of a body of water.
- Compile water resource data, using geographic information systems (GIS) or global position systems (GPS) software.
- Conduct cost-benefit studies for watershed improvement projects or water management alternatives.
- Conduct technical studies for water resources on topics such as pollutants and water treatment options.
- Conduct, or oversee the conduct of, chemical, physical, and biological water quality monitoring or sampling to ensure compliance with water quality standards.
- Conduct, or oversee the conduct of, investigations on matters such as water storage, wastewater discharge, pollutants, permits, or other compliance and regulatory issues.
- Develop or implement standardized water monitoring and assessment methods.
- Develop plans to protect watershed health or rehabilitate watersheds.
- Develop strategies for watershed operations to meet water supply and conservation goals or to ensure regulatory compliance with clean water laws or regulations.
- Identify and characterize specific causes or sources of water pollution.
- Identify methods for distributing purified wastewater into rivers, streams, or oceans.
- Monitor water use, demand, or quality in a particular geographic area.
- Negotiate for water rights with communities or water facilities to meet water supply demands.
- Perform hydrologic, hydraulic, or water quality modeling.
- Present water resource proposals to government, public interest groups, or community groups.
- Provide technical expertise to assist communities in the development or implementation of storm water monitoring or other water programs.
- Recommend new or revised policies, procedures, or regulations to support water resource or conservation goals.
- Review or evaluate designs for water detention facilities, storm drains, flood control facilities, or other hydraulic structures.
- Supervise teams of workers who capture water from wells and rivers.
- Write proposals, project reports, informational brochures, or other documents on wastewater purification, water supply and demand, or other water resource subjects.