{"schemaVersion":"1.0","exportedAt":"2026-05-15T12:40:52.979Z","occupation":{"soc":"17-2051.02","title":"Water/Wastewater Engineers","group":"Architecture & Engineering","sector":"54","jobZone":4,"jobZoneInferred":false},"framework":{"version":"v.26.05","description":"","contextCovered":"This framework covers the full career arc of water and wastewater engineers working in consulting, municipal, and industrial settings on treatment plant design, collection and distribution system engineering, water quality investigations, and regulatory compliance — from entry-level project support through executive technical leadership.","levels":{"emerging":{"label":"Emerging","statements":["Water quality study data — collect and organize under direct supervision during field sampling campaigns at municipal treatment facilities.","Engineering drawings and CAD software — produce basic layouts of water distribution or wastewater collection components following established templates and senior engineer direction.","Technical reports and design plans — read and summarize key provisions under close guidance to support proposal review cycles.","Regulatory standards and government compliance requirements — identify applicable codes for equipment selection with assistance from a licensed project engineer.","Pumping system schematics — interpret and annotate under supervision to support design documentation for force mains or lift stations.","Mathematical calculations for hydraulic loading rates — perform using standard formulas and spreadsheet tools under direction on routine treatment plant sizing tasks.","CAD and geographic information system (GIS) tools — apply basic functions to draft pipeline alignments and map wastewater collection networks under senior oversight.","Operations and maintenance logs from water or wastewater systems — review and flag anomalies for engineer evaluation during routine efficiency assessments.","Engineering meeting notes and project correspondence — draft clearly and accurately using office suite software to support project team communication.","Treatment plant unit process concepts such as SBR, UV disinfection, and aerobic digestion — recognize and describe functions when assisting senior engineers on plant design projects."]},"developing":{"label":"Developing","statements":["Water or wastewater treatment plant components — design routine elements including headworks, surge overflow basins, and sludge lagoons with reduced oversight on mid-scale municipal projects.","Proposal documents and preliminary design plans — review and provide written critique identifying technical gaps or regulatory deficiencies as part of a structured peer-review process.","Pumping stations, force mains, and gravity sewer alignments — design and size using hydraulic modeling software for standard collection system improvement projects.","Water pollutant source characterization — conduct water quality studies, analyze laboratory results, and prepare findings reports for municipal or industrial clients.","Equipment selection for wastewater processing — evaluate vendor submittals and specify compliant equipment using knowledge of federal and state discharge standards.","Potable and non-potable water distribution systems — design pressure zones, pipe sizing, and storage configurations for community-scale service areas.","Efficiency improvement recommendations — develop for existing water or wastewater operations by analyzing performance data and benchmarking against industry metrics.","Junior engineers and CAD technicians — coordinate daily task assignments and provide technical guidance on design deliverables within defined project scopes.","Analytical and scientific software tools — apply to model treatment processes and predict effluent quality outcomes under varying influent loading conditions.","Project schedules and technical deliverable timelines — manage using standard project tracking methods to meet client milestones on water infrastructure assignments."]},"proficient":{"label":"Proficient","statements":["Advanced water or wastewater treatment plants incorporating SBR, membrane bioreactors, UV disinfection, and aerobic digesters — design autonomously from conceptual layout through construction documents for complex municipal or industrial clients.","Domestic and industrial pumping systems including high-head force mains and multi-stage lift stations — design and specify fully across varied site and regulatory conditions without routine oversight.","Comprehensive water distribution systems for potable and reclaimed water service — engineer including hydraulic network modeling, storage sizing, and pressure management for large service territories.","Water quality investigation programs — lead from study design through pollutant source identification, applying scientific and statistical analysis methods to support regulatory compliance actions.","Full design and equipment compliance review packages — prepare and certify for government permitting, ensuring all treatment plant specifications meet NPDES, Safe Drinking Water Act, or equivalent standards.","Technical proposals, engineering reports, and regulatory submittals — author with clarity and precision to convey complex system designs to diverse audiences including regulators and public stakeholders.","Multi-disciplinary project teams of engineers, technicians, and subconsultants — direct and integrate technical work across civil, mechanical, electrical, and process disciplines on water infrastructure projects.","Non-routine operational failures and performance deficiencies in water or wastewater systems — diagnose root causes and engineer corrective solutions using systems analysis and operations evaluation methods.","Design review sessions for proposals submitted by junior staff or subconsultants — lead with substantive critique addressing technical accuracy, code compliance, and constructability concerns.","Risk and feasibility evaluations for alternative treatment technologies — perform independently, applying engineering judgment to recommend optimal solutions under capital and regulatory constraints."]},"advanced":{"label":"Advanced","statements":["Organizational engineering standards and design guidelines for water and wastewater infrastructure — develop and institutionalize across a practice or firm to ensure technical consistency and regulatory rigor.","Strategic direction for large-scale water resource programs — set by integrating infrastructure master planning, capital improvement priorities, and long-term regulatory compliance trajectories for client agencies.","Mentorship and professional development programs for junior and mid-level water and wastewater engineers — design and lead to build firm-wide technical capability and accelerate licensure attainment.","Novel or precedent-setting treatment plant configurations — guide from concept through commissioning, applying authoritative expertise to resolve unprecedented technical challenges at the organizational level.","Cross-sector partnerships with regulators, research institutions, and industry groups — cultivate to advance emerging treatment technologies and position the organization as a sector leader.","Enterprise-wide quality assurance and peer-review systems for engineering deliverables — establish and oversee to ensure all proposals, designs, and reports meet the highest professional and regulatory standards.","Multi-project portfolios of water and wastewater infrastructure programs — oversee simultaneously, allocating engineering resources, managing risk exposure, and ensuring schedule and budget accountability at the executive level.","Policy positions and technical testimony on water quality regulation and infrastructure investment — develop and present to government bodies, industry forums, and public stakeholders on behalf of the organization.","Organizational adoption of advanced digital tools including GIS integration, hydraulic modeling platforms, and CAD automation workflows — champion and direct to elevate efficiency and analytical rigor practice-wide.","Succession planning and senior technical leadership pipelines for the water and wastewater engineering practice — architect in alignment with long-term business strategy and workforce development objectives."]}}},"sources":{"onet":"v30.2 (CC BY 4.0)","crosswalk":"https://skillscrosswalk.com","generator":"LER.me"},"attribution":"© EBSCOed"}