Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wastewater Consultant

💰 $80,000 - $150,000

Environmental ConsultingWater ResourcesCivil/Environmental Engineering

🎯 Role Definition

A Wastewater Consultant provides technical leadership and client advisory services across planning, design, permitting, compliance, operations optimization, and construction support for municipal and industrial wastewater and biosolids systems. This role combines wastewater process engineering, regulatory knowledge (NPDES, Clean Water Act), field investigation and sampling, feasibility and pilot studies, cost estimating, and clear client communication to deliver practical, regulatory-compliant, and cost-effective solutions.

Keywords: wastewater consultant, wastewater treatment design, NPDES permitting, effluent limits, process optimization, wastewater compliance, biosolids management, MBR, SBR, activated sludge, stormwater, wastewater modeling, pilot testing.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior/Staff Environmental Engineer (Wastewater focus)
  • Wastewater Process Engineer or Operations Specialist
  • Project Engineer in Water/Wastewater consulting

Advancement To:

  • Senior Wastewater Consultant / Technical Lead
  • Project Manager / Program Manager (Water Resources)
  • Principal Engineer / Department Lead (Water/Wastewater)
  • Regional Director / Practice Lead (Water)

Lateral Moves:

  • Water Reuse / Reclamation Specialist
  • Regulatory Compliance or Permitting Specialist
  • Process Optimization / Plant Operations Advisor

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  1. Lead process design and engineering for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants, including activated sludge, sequencing batch reactors (SBR), membrane bioreactors (MBR), trickling filters, lagoons, and chemical treatment systems; produce process flow diagrams, mass and hydraulic loadings, equipment sizing, and design narratives.

  2. Prepare and manage NPDES and state-level wastewater discharge permit applications and renewals, interpret effluent limits, develop monitoring plans, and prepare permit compliance strategies linked to the Clean Water Act and local regulations.

  3. Conduct wastewater process modeling (e.g., BioWin, GPS-X, STOAT) and load/capacity analyses to predict performance, evaluate upgrade options, and support compliance and optimization studies.

  4. Perform wastewater process troubleshooting and operational optimization: evaluate aeration control, nutrient removal (nitrogen/phosphorus), solids handling, sludge age control, and chemical dosing to improve effluent quality and reduce O&M costs.

  5. Design and specify solids handling and biosolids management systems, including thickening, stabilization (aerobic/anaerobic digestion), dewatering, drying, and beneficial reuse or disposal options; prepare biosolids management plans and cost estimates.

  6. Develop comprehensive design packages including calculations, technical specifications, instrumentation & control (SCADA) requirements, equipment procurement documents, and construction drawings that meet client, regulatory, and code requirements.

  7. Lead treatability and pilot testing programs to validate technology selection (e.g., MBR, advanced oxidation, biological nutrient removal), design pilot systems, manage field testing, and interpret results to inform full-scale design.

  8. Prepare engineering reports, feasibility studies, preliminary and final design reports, and technical memoranda that clearly articulate alternatives, risks, regulatory impacts, lifecycle costs, and recommended approaches.

  9. Provide construction administration and field engineering support: review submittals, RFI responses, shop drawings, inspect construction progress, perform startup commissioning, and validate contractor performance against design intent.

  10. Conduct wastewater sampling and field investigations, supervise laboratory analysis for influent/effluent characteristics (BOD, TSS, TN, TP, NH3, metals), and interpret results to support modeling, permitting, and process decisions.

  11. Develop capital and O&M cost estimates, life-cycle cost comparisons, and economic evaluations to support client decisions and budgeting for upgrades, retrofits, or new facilities.

  12. Maintain up-to-date knowledge of federal, state, and local wastewater regulations, emerging technologies, funding mechanisms (e.g., SRF loans, grants), and best practices; translate regulatory changes into actionable project impacts.

  13. Prepare and deliver client-facing presentations, proposals, and technical briefings; manage client expectations, scope negotiations, and communicate technical concepts in non-technical terms.

  14. Manage project schedules, budgets, and multi-disciplinary teams; assign tasks, mentor junior staff, and ensure deliverables meet quality, schedule, and budget targets.

  15. Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies related to process reliability, permit compliance, odour control, and environmental liabilities.

  16. Coordinate with stakeholders including municipal staff, industrial facility managers, regulatory agencies, contractors, and community groups to resolve permitting, routing, and public outreach issues.

  17. Integrate watershed and sewer system considerations into treatment planning, including combined sewer overflow (CSO) control, stormwater impacts, sewer inflow/infiltration mitigation, and source control strategies.

  18. Support industrial pretreatment program development and compliance: assess industrial discharges, develop discharge limits, sample and monitor industrial sources, and design pretreatment solutions.

  19. Provide SCADA and instrumentation integration recommendations for effective process control, performance monitoring, alarm management, and data-driven process optimization.

  20. Prepare and support grant and funding applications, environmental assessments (NEPA/CEQA scopes when applicable), and assist clients with regulatory approvals and public outreach materials.

  21. Evaluate and recommend sustainable and energy-efficient technologies, including nutrient recovery, energy recovery from biogas, heat integration, and green infrastructure options to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and operational costs.

  22. Maintain and expand technical resources, standard details, and design templates for wastewater projects; capture lessons learned and continuously improve design procedures and QA/QC practices.

  23. Support emergency response and contingency planning for wastewater treatment incidents, spills, or permit excursions, including root cause analysis and corrective action plans.

  24. Lead multidisciplinary proposals and business development activities for wastewater practice growth, including preparation of scopes, technical approaches, and client relationship development.

Secondary Functions

  • Support cross-functional teams with water reuse feasibility, stormwater management integration, and watershed planning inputs.
  • Assist internal knowledge-sharing sessions, training junior staff on regulations, modeling tools, and design standards.
  • Collect, clean, and analyze operational and monitoring data to produce performance dashboards and trend reports for clients.
  • Contribute to corporate sustainability initiatives by evaluating energy recovery and GHG reduction projects at wastewater facilities.
  • Participate in industry conferences, technical committees (WEF, AWWA), and publish whitepapers or case studies to support thought leadership.
  • Help prepare safety plans and enforce health, safety and environmental requirements during field work and construction oversight.
  • Maintain client billing, project documentation, and support proposal pricing with accurate scope and resource estimates.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Wastewater process design and hydraulic/sizing calculations for treatment units (clarifiers, aeration basins, filters, digesters).
  • NPDES permitting, Clean Water Act regulatory interpretation, and state-level discharge compliance experience.
  • Wastewater process simulation/modeling (BioWin, GPS‑X, WEST, STOAT) and mass balance modeling.
  • Pilot testing design and execution for full-scale technology validation (MBR, advanced oxidation, nutrient removal).
  • Solids handling and biosolids management design (thickening, dewatering, digestion, beneficial reuse).
  • Wastewater sampling protocols, laboratory QA/QC, and data validation for BOD, TSS, nutrients, metals, and toxics.
  • SCADA/instrumentation specification, process control strategy development, and data historian integration.
  • Construction contract administration, shop drawing review, commissioning, and field startup support.
  • Cost estimating, life-cycle cost analysis, and financial evaluation of wastewater projects.
  • Knowledge of industrial pretreatment programs, pollutant source control, and toxic discharge mitigation.
  • Odor control technologies and air permitting experience related to wastewater facilities.
  • Familiarity with GIS, asset management systems, hydraulic modeling of collection systems (EPA SWMM), and inflow/infiltration assessment.
  • Proficiency with engineering software (AutoCAD Civil 3D, MicroStation), Microsoft Office suite, and proposal-writing tools.
  • Experience with green technologies (energy recovery from biogas, nutrient recovery, water reuse systems).

Soft Skills

  • Strong client-facing communication and presentation skills; ability to translate technical findings into actionable recommendations.
  • Project management and team leadership; ability to prioritize tasks across multiple projects and mentor junior staff.
  • Problem-solving mindset with analytical rigor and attention to regulatory detail.
  • Negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills, including working with permitting authorities and community groups.
  • Time management and adaptability in dynamic consulting environments.
  • Report writing and technical documentation skills tailored to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Collaborative mindset and experience working in multi-disciplinary project teams.
  • Initiative and business development capability to identify opportunities and support proposal development.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's degree in Environmental, Civil, Chemical Engineering, Water Resources Engineering, or closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master's degree in Environmental/Civil/Water Resources Engineering or specialized wastewater technologies.
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license or eligibility; state wastewater operator certification desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Civil Engineering (Water/Wastewater)
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Water Resources Engineering
  • Environmental Science / Microbiology (for process and lab emphasis)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 3–12 years of progressive experience in wastewater engineering, with demonstrated design, permitting, or operations experience.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years in consulting or municipal/industrial wastewater practice with a track record of leading design projects, NPDES permitting, pilot studies, and construction support. Experience with public-sector clients, grant-funded projects, and demonstrated business development contributions preferred.
Explore More Careers