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Career Opportunities
In The Public Water Works Profession
This document is written from an employee's perspective. The purpose of
this document is to outline career possibilities in the public drinking
water profession. When initially evaluating a position, you may want to
consider such issues as the potential for salary advancement, degree of
job specialization, rural or urban employment setting and other issues
unique to who you are as a person. In that context, the following is offered.
Staffing categories at public water systems are substantially driven
by customer needs, legal liabilities, and state and federal health regulations.
Larger systems in New Hampshire are generally owned by municipalities while
small systems are owned by cooperatives or owned privately and operated
for profit. Larger systems have full-time staff and a hierarchy of specialized
job functions, while small systems have part-time generalists with little,
if any, job specialization. Positions with larger systems typically have
more prerequisites, higher salaries, and are in more metropolitan areas.
Personnel trends in the water works industry include the need for staff
trained in "high tech" areas such as instrumentation repair and computers.
In cases more well trained staff are being shared among multiple systems.
This "circuit rider" sharing concept is seen at both municipal and private
sector water system operation.
The WSEB requires that each community (i.e., residential) and non-transient
non-community (i.e., schools and workplace) public water system requires
at least one New Hampshire certified public water system operator.
EMPLOYMENT POTENTIAL
The following overviews the staffing needs of various types of water
systems.
Staffing of Full Complexity Water Treatment Plants
There are approximately 35 surface water filtration plants in NH (1998).
Many of these plants are new. The EPA surface water treatment rule has
created many new positions between 1985-1995. The size of these plants
in general has been smaller than those built in the 1970s and early 1980s.
Frequently needed skills at such facilities include:
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chemistry and laboratory capability;
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mechanical and electrical repair; and
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support staff.
Groundwater Treatment Staffing
In past years, many water systems used groundwater sources because
groundwater sources generally did not need extensive treatment. More recently
however, new EPA requirements have or will require treatment of groundwater
for:
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chemical addition to neutralize corrosive water; and
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aeration to remove radon.
In addition some existing systems also have treatment for:
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iron/manganese removal; or
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fluoride and chlorine additions.
Distribution System Staffing
Employment opportunities in the distribution area have generally been
driven by the state's real estate economy. Through 1998 that portion of
the state's economy has been slow and thus distribution staff openings
are primarily from attrition of the staff. Needed experience for distribution
positions includes:
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mechanical aptitude, heavy equipment operation;
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physical strength; and
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skills in safety issues and record keeping.
Employment with Commercial Firms Servicing The Water Works Field
Many water utilities hire commercial firms to provide special services.
Some possible employment examples with these commercial firms include:
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Engineers (design/field quality assurance)
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Land use specialist (watershed management)
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Accounts (financial record keeping), Lawyer
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Repair of specialized equipment
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Sales representatives (equip., piping, chemicals)
To become acquainted with these firms it is suggested that you refer to
their advertisements in any of the following water works periodicals:
Quarterly Journal of the New England Water Works Association;
Quarterly Journal of the New Hampshire Water Works Association; and
Monthly Journal of the American Water Works Association.
These Journals can be reviewed at DES's office in Concord, New Hampshire
and probably at many larger water utilities. Call first for an appointment.
Marketing Yourself To Potential Employees
The DES Water Supply Engineering Bureau can provide a list of public
water systems in New Hampshire. The standardized preprinted list of the
larger "municipal type" systems is available on request at no cost. See
fact sheet WD-WSEB-16-3. An up-to-date customized
print out from the DES's public water system data base is available for
25› per page. Such a customized "municipal" list would cost approximately
$5 and a full list of all residential type systems would cost approximately
$20. Additional lists of engineers and pump installation companies are
also available.
Aptitude Testing
If you are unsure as to your career direction you may want to clearly
identify the areas where you have natural skills and interests. Such aptitude
testing may be available from the guidance program of your local high school
or from New Hampshire Employment Security.
For More Information
For more information please call the Water Supply Engineering Bureau
at 271-3139. For an overall listing of water supply related fact sheets,
please request WD-WSEB-15-2. We would appreciate your comments on this
fact sheet. Drinking water fact sheets are available through the DES web
site at: http://www.des.state.nh.us
then select: publications, fact sheets, water division, water supply.
Last
Updated : February 10, 1999
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