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Water Conservation Consultant

A water conservation consultant helps public water systems save water. Although many municipal water systems and private water companies have their own conservation departments, it is often necessary for them to reach out to private consultants to develop new plans and programs. These consultants examine supply and demand patterns, and devise strategies to save water on a long-term basis. A conservation consultant will usually begin by researching supply and consumption statistics. Then he or she will investigate the system infrastructure - from the reservoirs or wells to the faucets and pipes that bring the water to the consumer. The consultant's advice can range from suggesting a maintenance plan to reduce leakage, to pushing for legislative changes that would govern certain types of water usage.

Prospects

Excellent, especially overseas. The trend toward water-demand management appears to be a universal outgrowth of the population explosion. Wherever water providers are wrestling with the problem of increased demand and limited supply, conservation consultants are in strong demand.

Qualifications:

A graduate degree is highly recommended, although positions for those with undergraduate degrees are available. The educational discipline can vary widely; some people enter this field with technical backgrounds in engineering or planning, while others have majored in hydrology, geology, political science, economics, or accounting. Consultants trained in marketing, in fact, are in special demand, as water utilities try to develop strategies for changing the public's consumption habits.

Characteristics

You need a combination of skills in this job. First, you have to have a technical or analytical grounding so that you'll be able to understand the problems. It's also essential, though, to have a grasp of human dynamics and even politics as you attempt to implement your ideas. You also have to be able to deal with continuing frustrations, particularly the politics associated with local and state management of water resources.

Information Source:

100 Jobs in the Environment. New York: Macmillan, pp. 62-63.