Water and wastewater engineer
You’re responsible for the supply of clean water, the disposal of wastewater and sewage and the prevention of flood damage.
Also known as: civil engineer (wastewater), wastewater process engineer, design engineer (wastewater)
About the job
What it's like
Water and wastewater engineers are responsible for making sure we have clean water to drink and that it’s treated safely. They control the process of taking untreated water from rivers or ground water into the treatment plant.
You’ll help design and build structures that control water, like sea defence walls, pumping stations and reservoirs. You’ll have a responsibility for maintaining these water treatment systems. By designing systems that use less energy and produce fewer greenhouse gases, you’ll help fight global warming.
Your tasks might include:
operating equipment to treat sewage
cleaning and maintaining tank and filters
treating water with chemicals and microbes, taking readings and keeping records
checking drinking water samples for quality
making sure the site is safe and secure
keeping up to date with environmental matters and policy
presenting data to clients
monitoring flood levels at times of high risk
controlling budgets at project level
supervising the operation and maintenance of water and sewage infrastructure.
Green job
In this job you’ll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
Hours
You can expect to work full-time hours. You could work shifts but will be on a call-out rota for out-of-hours emergencies and could work overtime depending on time pressure of some jobs.
Environment
The specific work environment indoors and outdoors can vary depending on the job duty and projects. Outdoors can include construction sites, treatment plans and field sites. Indoors can include offices and control rooms.
Your working environment may be dirty, physically demanding, cramped, at height and outdoors in all weathers.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Travel
You might often travel to different sites to inspect infrastructure, oversee construction or collect data. This could involve short trips or longer trips to more remote locations.
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- wastewater
- water/wastewater engineering
- sewage treatments
- geotechnical engineering
- urban drainage
- pump stations
- environmental engineering
- process engineering
- project cycle management
- sustainable development
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- working with technology
- verbal communication
- researching
- problem solving
- innovative
- developing a plan
- building relationships
- attention to detail
- analysing
- adaptability
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Maths (Mathematics)
Engineering Science
Foundation Apprenticeship: Scientific Technologies (Laboratory Skills)
Environmental Science
Skills for Work: Engineering Skills
You can get a head start in this career by doing a Foundation Apprenticeship in S5 and S6.
You'll get an SCQF level 6 qualification which is the same level as a Higher. You'll also learn new skills and gain valuable experience in a work environment.
Discover what's on offer at your school on Apprenticeships.scot.
You’ll likely need a degree or postgraduate qualification for this job. You can work towards this after school by going to university, college or by getting an apprenticeship.
University
For many roles, you'll need a degree or postgraduate qualification.
Subjects related to engineering are very useful, such as:
Biochemistry
Chemistry/Process Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Environmental Science
Geology
Mechanical Engineering
Geography
Water Engineering
Environmental Management
What you need to enter a degree course depends on the subject and university. For minimal entry requirements, you’ll likely need at least four Highers at BBCC. These must include maths and a science subject.
Some universities will have more difficult entry requirements – these are what you'll need as a minimum. A relevant HNC or HND will allow you to apply for some courses.
For entry to a postgraduate course, you'll need an honours degree in a relevant subject.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you find work or move on to more advanced study. Subjects at college could include:
Environmental Management
Civil Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Built Environment
Social Sciences
What you'll need for a college course depends on the qualification level, subject and college. As a guide, for a HNC in environmental management, you'll likely need a minimum of one Higher at C in a science or maths-based subject. You should also have National 5 Maths and English.
Apprenticeship
You could start learning the skills you'll need in this career through a Foundation Apprenticeship (FA). While you're in S5 or S6, you'll gain work experience while you study.
You might want to consider an FA in:
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.
You might want to consider an MA in areas such as:
Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) are designed for industry and you'll spend most of your time learning on the job but you'll also go to uni or college. You'll get a job, get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time.
You might want to consider a GA in areas such as:
Getting work experience in a relevant role can help you break into the engineering sector. Search for opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
Find more volunteering through:
Have you ever heard of the Institution of Engineers in Scotland (IES)? Joining an engineering body can help you make contacts in the industry and find training opportunities.
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