Alexa:
Two a number of engineers work on water supply. They are municipal engineers, environmental, and civil engineers.
Municipal engineers generally work for government agencies, and often prepare proposal requests; review plans, specifications and details; and review the final products. Often you will deal with complaints. If you are lucky they let you review the construction. With a lot of experience on the government side, you can work for an engineering company that specializes in the design of those things, including treatment plants.
Environmental engineers often work on modeling the water, wastewater and storm systems, provide modeling supporting the flood control systems. Specialist environmental engineers/ construction engineering companies design the plants. There are only a few of these specialist companies in the United States, so if that is what you want to do, it may require moving to another state.
My favorite for water supply is civil engineers. Civil engineering companies do most of the land development projects. As a civil engineer-in-training you will probably be exposed to water line design, storm systems, wastewater collection, package plant design, floodplain modeling, and roadway design. All his would be at a local, very small scale level. In addition, you will interact with environmental, municipal, geotechnical and other engineering disciplines. This would allow you to develop your skills, and let you figure out what you want to specialize in, if anything.
If you don't mind moving, Texas is a good place to move to. We have the three fastest growing cities in the United States, and have lots of water supply projects going on. Minnesota should also have lots of opportunities too.
I wouldn't worry too much about marketing yourself as any one of the disciplines above. I would use the loose descriptions above to help decide who you wish to market to, and sell yourself as a hardworking young engineer willing to learn. Almost nothing that you learned in school will apply to your first 2-3 years except the ability to learn new things, how to work a spreadsheet, how to work hard, and how to speak engineering.
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Dwayne Culp P.E., P.Eng, M.ASCE
Culp Engineering, LLC
Richmond TX
(713)898-1977
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Original Message:
Sent: 02-22-2017 18:27
From: Alexa Green
Subject: Unsure of how to classify what I want out of a water related job
I am currently seeking my first EIT job in Minnesota, but am unsure of how to classify the job that I want when talking to employers. Should I say that I am looking for a place in water resources, municipal engineering, hydraulics, or something else entirely? I have enjoyed working with water supply in my time working with Engineers Without Borders. During our involvement with the project we placed valves in a piping system after analysis of the high pressures that were causing pipes to break. That being said, I also like projects that I have looked into such as minimizing phosphorus in lakes with the use of limestone walls or iron shavings. Even still, I found culvert design and bridge modeling to be interesting in my time working at MnDOT. What should I say is my preference? I know that I want something in water, but am unsure of specifics. Do the titles I listed ( water resources, municipal engineering, hydraulics) mean the same thing at every consulting firm or are the titles fluid?
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Alexa Green EIT, S.M.ASCE
Rochester MN
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