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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wastewater Program Consultant

💰 $ - $

Environmental ConsultingWater ResourcesComplianceEngineering

🎯 Role Definition

The Wastewater Program Consultant is a subject-matter expert who designs, implements, and manages wastewater compliance and improvement programs for municipal, industrial, and regional clients. This role focuses on regulatory compliance (NPDES/State permits), pretreatment programs, process optimization, capital planning, and stakeholder engagement. The consultant translates regulatory requirements and technical data into actionable program components, prepares permit applications and reports, supports sampling and laboratory QA/QC, and provides strategic advice to minimize environmental risk and operational cost while protecting water quality.

Key SEO phrases: wastewater program consultant, wastewater compliance, NPDES permit, pretreatment program, wastewater process optimization, stormwater and sewer system management, wastewater sampling and monitoring, water quality modeling.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Wastewater Operator II/III (municipal or industrial)
  • Environmental Compliance Specialist / Technician
  • Water Resources Engineer or Engineering Technician

Advancement To:

  • Senior Wastewater Program Consultant
  • Wastewater Program Manager / Project Manager
  • Environmental Compliance Manager
  • Director of Water Resources or Senior Technical Advisor

Lateral Moves:

  • Pretreatment Program Coordinator
  • NPDES Permit Writer / Regulatory Affairs Specialist
  • Asset Management or Capital Planning Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of municipal and industrial wastewater programs, including NPDES permit compliance strategies, pretreatment plans, and sewer use ordinance reviews to ensure alignment with federal, state, and local regulations.
  • Prepare, review, and submit NPDES permit applications, renewal documentation, and compliance schedules; interpret permit limits, effluent monitoring requirements, and reporting obligations and translate them into actionable tasks for operations staff.
  • Design and manage pretreatment programs: evaluate industrial user discharges, classify categorical users, conduct significant industrial user (SIU) inspections, and enforce local limits and compliance actions, including issuance of notices of violation and enforcement agreements.
  • Develop and execute comprehensive sampling and monitoring plans for influent/effluent, biosolids, stormwater, and bypass sampling; supervise field sampling teams, ensure chain-of-custody and proper sample preservation, and collaborate with accredited laboratories for timely analyses.
  • Conduct wastewater process assessments and performance optimization studies (e.g., activated sludge, biological nutrient removal, anaerobic digestion) and recommend operational changes, chemical optimization, or capital investments to improve treatment efficiency and reduce operational costs.
  • Lead wastewater modeling and technical analyses using tools such as EPA SWMM, BioWin, GPS-X, or in-house hydraulic models to simulate collection system hydraulics, combined sewer overflows (CSOs), and treatment plant performance under varying load scenarios.
  • Prepare technical reports, compliance monitoring reports (CMRs), annual reports, and regulatory submittals with clear executive summaries, data visualizations, and actionable recommendations for clients and regulators.
  • Develop and deliver training programs and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for wastewater operators and industrial dischargers on sampling protocols, permit requirements, safety practices (confined space, HAZWOPER awareness), and pretreatment compliance.
  • Manage multi-disciplinary projects from scope definition to close-out: develop work plans, schedules, budgets, and progress reports; coordinate subcontractors, laboratory services, and client stakeholders to meet milestones and contractual deliverables.
  • Provide technical support during regulatory inspections and enforcement actions: compile documentation, perform data trending analyses, propose corrective action plans, and represent clients in meetings with EPA/state agencies.
  • Conduct sewer system evaluations, inflow and infiltration (I/I) assessments, and collection system condition assessments; recommend rehabilitation strategies, prioritization of capital projects, and asset management plans.
  • Lead emergency response and bypass management related to spills, plant upsets, and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs): coordinate sampling, notify regulators per permit requirements, and document corrective actions and root-cause analyses.
  • Perform chemical and toxic pollutant evaluations, industrial discharge characterization, and pretreatment pollutant reduction strategies to protect downstream wastewater treatment plant processes and receiving water bodies.
  • Establish and maintain QA/QC protocols for field and laboratory data, perform data validation, and create data management workflows that support defensible regulatory reporting and trend analysis.
  • Support development of sewer use ordinances, industrial discharge permits, and compliance guidance documents; advise municipalities on enforcement mechanisms, penalty structures, and legal considerations for noncompliance.
  • Conduct stakeholder engagement and public outreach: prepare presentations, participate in public meetings, and communicate complex technical and regulatory information to elected officials, utility customers, and community groups in accessible language.
  • Identify funding opportunities, prepare grant applications, and support capital financing strategies for infrastructure improvements, nutrient removal upgrades, and CSO mitigation projects.
  • Integrate SCADA, PLC, and remote monitoring data into performance analytics; support configuration of telemetry and alarm systems to enable near-real-time operational decision-making.
  • Perform wastewater treatment plant capacity assessments and influent load projections to support long-range planning and developer permitting decisions.
  • Advise on biosolids management strategies including beneficial reuse, land application compliance, drying, and disposal options, and prepare supporting permit documentation and risk assessments.
  • Coordinate inter-agency and interdepartmental programs such as watershed management, stormwater/wastewater integration, and regional pretreatment initiatives to ensure cohesive regulatory and operational outcomes.
  • Conduct cost-benefit analyses and life-cycle cost modeling for process modifications, chemical usage changes, and new treatment technologies to support capital budgeting decisions.
  • Maintain current knowledge of federal/state wastewater regulations (e.g., Clean Water Act, 40 CFR Part 403 pretreatment regulations), emerging contaminants (PFAS, microplastics), and best management practices; synthesize changes into client advisories and operational checklists.
  • Mentor junior staff and technical specialists by reviewing work products, providing field training, and contributing to professional development plans.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc regulatory data requests, public records requests, and FOIA responses related to wastewater program data.
  • Assist with grant and funding program administration, tracking performance metrics, and delivering required grant reports.
  • Participate in cross-functional planning sessions for integrated water resource management or resilience planning.
  • Contribute to wastewater-related policy reviews, internal quality assurance reviews, and continuous improvement initiatives.
  • Support development and maintenance of GIS layers for collection system assets, industrial user locations, sampling points, and monitoring stations.
  • Provide occasional on-call support for after-hours plant emergencies, regulatory notifications, and rapid-response sampling.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • NPDES permit interpretation and permit writing for municipal and industrial facilities.
  • Pretreatment program development and industrial user inspection/enforcement (40 CFR Part 403 knowledge).
  • Field sampling and monitoring techniques for wastewater, biosolids, and stormwater with strong chain-of-custody and QA/QC practice.
  • Wastewater process engineering: activated sludge, BNR, nitrification/denitrification, chemical dosing, and solids handling.
  • Hydraulic modeling and sewer system analysis using EPA SWMM, InfoWorks ICM, H2OMap, or equivalent.
  • Data analysis and visualization using Excel (advanced), SQL, Python (pandas), or R for trend analysis and regulatory reporting.
  • SCADA/PLC familiarity and integration of telemetry data for operational analytics and alarm management.
  • Laboratory methods awareness (EPA and Standard Methods), data validation, and proficiency with laboratory information management systems (LIMS).
  • Environmental compliance auditing, inspections, and enforcement case preparation.
  • Project management skills: scope development, budgeting, scheduling, and stakeholder coordination; familiarity with PM tools (MS Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent).
  • GIS proficiency for mapping assets, sampling locations, and spatial analysis (ArcGIS/QGIS).
  • Technical report writing and creation of clear, regulatory-compliant submittals and presentations.
  • Asset management and capital improvement planning, including life-cycle cost analysis and funding strategy development.
  • Knowledge of emerging contaminants (PFAS, pharmaceuticals, microplastics) and implications for monitoring and permitting.

Soft Skills

  • Clear, persuasive verbal and written communication tailored to technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Client-focused mindset with strong stakeholder engagement and facilitation skills.
  • Analytical problem-solving and critical thinking to diagnose operational issues and propose practical solutions.
  • Time management and prioritization across concurrent projects and regulatory deadlines.
  • Leadership and mentorship abilities to grow technical staff and lead multi-disciplinary teams.
  • Negotiation and conflict resolution for enforcement actions, interagency coordination, and community outreach.
  • Attention to detail and quality orientation in data management and regulatory reporting.
  • Adaptability to evolving regulations, technologies, and client priorities.
  • Ethical judgment and adherence to public safety and environmental protection standards.
  • Collaborative teamwork across operations, engineering, laboratory, and regulatory teams.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Environmental Science, or related field; OR equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Water Resources, Environmental Management, or related discipline.
  • Professional Certifications (PE, CPE, or state-licensed wastewater operator certification) and/or pretreatment/industrial wastewater training credentials.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Environmental Engineering
  • Civil Engineering (Water Resources)
  • Environmental Science / Chemistry
  • Public Administration with environmental focus
  • Water Resources Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3 – 10 years in wastewater operations, consulting, regulatory programs, or combined technical/regulatory roles.

Preferred:

  • 5+ years of direct experience working with NPDES permits, pretreatment programs, or municipal wastewater treatment plants.
  • Demonstrated experience managing regulatory compliance projects, writing permits and technical reports, and leading sampling programs.
  • Prior experience with state EPA or municipal clients, and a track record of interacting with regulatory agencies, industry stakeholders, and the public.

Keywords: Wastewater Program Consultant, NPDES compliance, pretreatment, permit writing, wastewater sampling and monitoring, wastewater process optimization, SCADA, wastewater modeling, asset management, sewer system evaluation, biosolids management, regulatory enforcement.

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