Careers in Water Management - CareerAlley

Careers in Water Management - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. As everybody knows, water is the source of life. Though it may not sound glamorous, working in water management can therefore be a pretty noble career. If you find yourself at a fork in the road, trying to choose a career path, consider learning more about the water industry. You just might be surprised by how much work there is to be found in this field, now and well into the future. Industry Growth There are many factors influencing the expansion of the water management industry. To begin with, in 2010, the United Nations declared that access to water for safe consumption and sanitation are considered essential human rights. Though Canada holds 7% of the worlds freshwater resources, many of its rural and aboriginal communities still lack regular access to potable water. As such, the Canadian government recently pledged 1.8 billion dollars in funding to end boil-water advisories across native communities by 2025. This means new infrastructure will be built, creating jobs in First Nations and rural communities. Even in places with regular access to water, aging infrastructure will need to be updated or replaced in the coming years. For instance, water pipes in the US will need to be replaced at a cost of at least $1 trillion US dollars over the next twenty-five years. In Canada, 1 in 4 wastewater treatments will need to be upgraded or replaced. Whether you work as a water quality technician or as the manager of leak detection company, there is no doubt that there is room for growth in this essential industry. This is especially true for a new generation of workers, given that a significant number of managerial roles in the water industry are held by people nearing retirement-age. Water Works If youre considering working in water management, the only waterworks you should be spouting are tears of joy. This is one field that benefits from millions of dollars in development and maintenance, year in and year out, due to the sheer importance of safe water to the success and safety of our society. As such, there are a range of careers for you to choose from. This means you have the freedom and the flexibility to pursue what calls to you the most. You could choose to be a consultant, a policy planner, a lab analyst, a water quality researcher and more. Governments, consulting firms and water utilities companies are especially keen to hire people with experience in this industry. Salaries in this field have vary widely, but there is undoubtedly room for lucrative growth. For example, a water quality technician can start out with a salary as low as $26,000, but earn as much as $120,00 with only 5 years of experience. As a water management professional, the more experience you gain, the more flexibility you will have to choose the right working environment for your lifestyle. In fact, many people in this field choose to shift roles over time, opting to work as consultants, in private industries, for governmental organizations and NGOs. In some cases, a more vertical career path is the logical choice, rather than shifting from one type of organization to another. For instance, municipal water systems operators can be ranked in any one of four certification classes. The more experience and certifications they gain, the higher they can move up in the classification hierarchy. Such workers can eventually become a system supervisor, an operation manager, or a facility manager with the right expertise and training. Education Many water resource centers and labs are funded by universities around the world. As companies turn to increasingly eco-friendly solutions to their businesses, trained scientists who specialize in water have become a sort of hot commodity. Nearly three-quarters of new jobs in this field require you to have a bachelors degree, so you can only benefit from pursuing higher education in this field. That said, only a quarter of professionals in the field currently hold a bachelors degree, and a number of water-related jobs are based on certifications rather than a university degree. Some jobs are even open to high school grads, though anybody entering a skilled water trade will require mandatory provincial and/or territorial training. This is true of power engineers, pipefitters, welders, and any other such person who chooses to work in water and wastewater operations, whether its for an NGO or a water leak detection company. Regardless of the path you choose to get there, working in water management means youll be granted a certain level of job security. There is also room for flexibility and growth, which means you dont have to worry about getting bored or having to arrange your life around precarious work opportunities. Furthermore, by working in water, youll be contributing to society and to the environment in a truly meaningful way that you can be proud of throughout your life As everybody knows, water is the source of life. Though it may not sound glamorous, working in water management can therefore be a pretty noble career. If you find yourself at a fork in the road, trying to choose a career path, consider learning more about the water industry. You just might be surprised by how much work there is to be found in this field, now and well into the future. Industry Growth There are many factors influencing the expansion of the water management industry. To begin with, in 2010, the United Nations declared that access to water for safe consumption and sanitation are considered essential human rights. Though Canada holds 7% of the worlds freshwater resources, many of its rural and aboriginal communities still lack regular access to potable water. As such, the Canadian government recently pledged 1.8 billion dollars in funding to end boil-water advisories across native communities by 2025. This means new infrastructure will be built, creating jobs in First Nations and rural communities. Even in places with regular access to water, aging infrastructure will need to be updated or replaced in the coming years. For instance, water pipes in the US will need to be replaced at a cost of at least $1 trillion US dollars over the next twenty-five years. In Canada, 1 in 4 wastewater treatments will need to be upgraded or replaced. Whether you work as a water quality technician or as the manager of leak detection company, there is no doubt that there is room for growth in this essential industry. This is especially true for a new generation of workers, given that a significant number of managerial roles in the water industry are held by people nearing retirement-age. Water Works If youre considering working in water management, the only waterworks you should be spouting are tears of joy. This is one field that benefits from millions of dollars in development and maintenance, year in and year out, due to the sheer importance of safe water to the success and safety of our society. As such, there are a range of careers for you to choose from. This means you have the freedom and the flexibility to pursue what calls to you the most. You could choose to be a consultant, a policy planner, a lab analyst, a water quality researcher and more. Governments, consulting firms and water utilities companies are especially keen to hire people with experience in this industry. Salaries in this field have vary widely, but there is undoubtedly room for lucrative growth. For example, a water quality technician can start out with a salary as low as $26,000, but earn as much as $120,00 with only 5 years of experience. As a water management professional, the more experience you gain, the more flexibility you will have to choose the right working environment for your lifestyle. In fact, many people in this field choose to shift roles over time, opting to work as consultants, in private industries, for governmental organizations and NGOs. In some cases, a more vertical career path is the logical choice, rather than shifting from one type of organization to another. For instance, municipal water systems operators can be ranked in any one of four certification classes. The more experience and certifications they gain, the higher they can move up in the classification hierarchy. Such workers can eventually become a system supervisor, an operation manager, or a facility manager with the right expertise and training. Education Many water resource centers and labs are funded by universities around the world. As companies turn to increasingly eco-friendly solutions to their businesses, trained scientists who specialize in water have become a sort of hot commodity. Nearly three-quarters of new jobs in this field require you to have a bachelors degree, so you can only benefit from pursuing higher education in this field. That said, only a quarter of professionals in the field currently hold a bachelors degree, and a number of water-related jobs are based on certifications rather than a university degree. Some jobs are even open to high school grads, though anybody entering a skilled water trade will require mandatory provincial and/or territorial training. This is true of power engineers, pipefitters, welders, and any other such person who chooses to work in water and wastewater operations, whether its for an NGO or a water leak detection company. Regardless of the path you choose to get there, working in water management means youll be granted a certain level of job security. There is also room for flexibility and growth, which means you dont have to worry about getting bored or having to arrange your life around precarious work opportunities. Furthermore, by working in water, youll be contributing to society and to the environment in a truly meaningful way that you can be proud of throughout your life! We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+