Jobs .. Science Alep .. Environmental engineer – wastewater treatment
Education programmes of job

Nature of work

Wastewater treatment engineer provides high quality technical expertise in wastewater treatment and his duties vary according to his work field:
Study and design field:
  •       Study and design the wastewater sewers.
  •         Design the various units of the treatment plant (screens, sand removal, floatation, primary and secondary sedimentation tanks, aeration tanks, filtration, disinfection and sludge treatment units) based on the treatment method, the standards of design, the pollution degree, the required level of treatment and the legislative standards governing the releasing of treated water into the environment.
Operation field
  •   Control the treatment process for the different units of treatment plant and discover the defects.
  •       Assess the treatment plant efficiency and control the stability of treatment process.
  •      Work with applicable wastewater strategies that maximize operating flexibility and reduce the costs.
Administrative field:
 
  • Prepare the technical report of wastewater treatment.
  • Participate in the specialist technical teams.
  • Providing the appropriate work environment, public health and technical safety requirements.

Education field:
  • Prepare the environmental programs and activate the environmental education.

Environment of work

  • Environment engineer who study and design the wastewater treatment plant works in the public section (governmental authorities) for 8 hours per day during the week except the end week holiday, and he may work extra time if there is necessity. In private section he works from 8 to 12 hours per day according to the work nature.
  • Engineer who works at the treatment plants (open area) must wear a safety clothes, gloves, mask and helmet. For the official work he wears normal clothes.
  • The facilities used to achieve the official work: computer, design programs and references.
  • He can work individually via Order of Syrian Engineers by opening engineering office for environmental consultations, or he can work in a comprehensive engineering office with different specialists engineers.
  • He must design according to the world standard specifications of wastewater treatment and achieve it to ensure the work quality (the Syrian standards specification no. 2752/2008 of treated wastewater for irrigation purposes issued by the Syrian Arab Measurements and Specifications Staff at Industry Ministry – International references for treatment plants design such as Metcalf, Eddy, 2003 - Wastewater Engineering, Treatment, Disposal, Reuse, 4th edition)

Professional life

  • Environment engineer can work individually or with work team either in private section or public section. He can work individually via Order of Syrian Engineers by opening engineering office for environmental consultations, or he can work in a comprehensive engineering office with different specialists of engineers.
  • In private projects he can work with a comprehensive work team contains all engineering specialists to prepare the sanitary study of any structure, in addition to design and operate the  drinking water, industrial wastewater treatment plants for the industrial projects.
  • In general project he prepares the sanitary study for infrastructure projects and he can work in drinking water and wastewater treatment plants.
  • In general section the professional life of environmental engineer develops with the time, when he gets experience from designer engineer to head of engineering section or manager of design/supervision team and maybe he becomes a general manager of water treatment plant.
  • His monthly salary when he starts at general section about 20000 Syrian Pound.
  • He can travel abroad to follow training programs or to give experience in water and wastewater treatment field.

Sectors of careers

Environmental engineer can work in the following sections:
  • Comprehensive engineering offices to prepare the sanitary study of any structure (residential, industrial and commercial), in addition to design and operate the industrial wastewater treatment plants for the industrial projects.
  • General section companies.
  • Private companies for engineering consultations.
  • Environmental engineer can participate in the environmental education and awareness (primary, secondary and undergraduate educations).

Getting the job

  • A bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from faculty of civil engineering or faculty of technology engineering.
  • Master's and PhD degree in environmental engineering.
  • Becoming a member at Order of Syrian Engineers.
  • Using computer programs such as design of water and wastewater networks and treatment plants, Microsoft Office and AutoCAD.
  • Knowledge of the following subjects (study and design the networks of water supply and wastewater collection system, design and operate drinking water, industrial and wastewater treatment systems and maintains their pipe networks, management of hazardous and solid wastes, environmental impact assessment (EIA) of strategic projects, air pollution and public health problems).
  •  Knowledge of the national and international specifications and codes for hydraulic and environmental design of wastewater treatment plants and understand the principles of treatment (the Syrian standards specification no. 2752/2008 of treated wastewater for irrigation purposes issued by the Syrian Arab Measurements and Specifications Staff at Industry Ministry – International references for treatment plants design such as Metcalf, Eddy, 2003 - Wastewater Engineering, Treatment, Disposal, Reuse, 4th edition)

Skills

  • Show effective character skills in work environment and capability to invent solutions and participate in choosing work methods and tools.
  •   Present the project details and technical information to colleagues/clients
  • Prepare, review, and revise environmental regulations and monitor the progress of certain environmental programs.
  • Achieve the required works at its time and manage effectively the time.
  • Manage effectively the resources and duties possibility of development.
  • Obligation by the professional standards and ethics and assess the workers performance and always work to develop their skills.
  •   Communication and analytical skills.
  •   Using special computer applications.
  • Teamwork spirit (work effectively with engineers and draughtsman) and participate on project teams in planning, design and construction of wastewater treatment plants.
  •  Supervise the junior design crew and works on the site and provide the support to develop the work crew.
  •   Ensure that the design will be according to the wastewater treatment design standards and take account of environmental issues, health and safety requirements and achieve the world standard specifications to ensure the work quality.

Sources and references

  • Internal list of Civil Engineering Faculty – Aleppo University – Syria - 2010.
  • Standards Arab Specification of Professions – Arab Work Organization – 2008.
  • National Academic Referential Standards (NARS) – ministry of high education - Syria – 2012.
  • Order of Syrian Engineers – Aleppo branch – 2012.

Summary

Environmental engineer uses the scientific and engineering applications to protect the environment. He strives to solve environmental problems such as water, wastewater and air pollution. He is qualified to work on a variety of serious environmental issues, for example he designs and operates water and wastewater treatment systems and maintains their pipe networks, solid wastes management, environmental impact assessment (EIA). He assesses the compliance of industrial and municipal projects with environmental regulations. He also develops the procedures which reduce any potential damage from projects to preserve the public health and safety.