Career profile: Water resources engineering

“Water resources” broadly relates to the assessment of the quantity, quality and variability of
groundwater and surface waters.

The Thames Barrier in London. Flooding is one of the many challenges that engineers face in the water
resources sector

Understanding the natural processes of the hydrological cycle allows water resource engineers to plan,
design, procure, build, manage and operate infrastructure to meet the often-competing demands of
domestic users, industry, agriculture and navigation. Engineers are also responsible for the sustainable
return of water to the natural environment.

What does a civil engineer do in the water resources sector?

Water resource engineers are employed by organisations right across the water industry. Water suppliers
abstract water from the environment, treat it to the required standard and distribute it to household and
non-household customers. In the UK, the industry is regulated by the Environment Agency, the Water
Services Regulation Authority (Ofwat) and the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). Engineering and
hydrological consultancies and research bodies offer services to assist other organisations in planning and
managing water resources.
In the broader field, water resource engineers advise on sustainable use of resources by conserving water,
building dams and conveying water to users. Their planning ensures holistic, integrated management of
water which balances the needs of nature with those of users.

Wherever the water resources engineer works, he or she will utilise a number of fundamental skills and
specialisms:

• Analysis of observed data

• Development of conceptual and numerical models of the hydrological cycle

• Design and development of plans using industry standard methodologies

• Feasibility and option analysis

• Technical and commercial reporting

• Public consultation and presentation

• Options appraisal including cost estimation

• Programme and/or project management

• Assessment of uncertainty and risks including extreme events e.g. floods and droughts

• Root cause analysis and problem solving

• Analytical review of peers’ work

• Advising on best management of water in its natural state

More detailed information on roles within the water resources sector can be found within our water
supply, wastewater and flood risk management career profiles.

What is enjoyable about the role?

The work you do as a water resources engineer is vital, making a real difference to people’s lives and to
the environment, whether you are working in the UK or further afield. Your work impacts on hundreds of
thousands of people, sourcing water and supplying it to homes, farmland and other businesses. This can
be extremely rewarding, especially in developing countries where reliable sources of water may be scarce.

Within the sector you will meet and work with a variety of people, including clients, contractors and
consultants, all of whom work closely in the planning, delivery and management of water resource
projects. You will also work with other key stakeholders such as government, local authorities,
landowners, regulatory bodies and members of the public. You will work as part of a multi-disciplinary
team and in partnership with other engineers and specialists to deliver projects.

The water resources industry is filled with opportunities to work across the globe due to its universal
reach. Major world issues such as climate change and urbanisation are presenting greater challenges than
ever – from providing irrigation water to farmers in the developing world to building resilience into water
and wastewater networks, in some of the most advanced water systems ever constructed.

What has changed in the sector in recent years?

The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) seeks to integrate assessment of water quantity and quality
together with the ecological health of water bodies. This has led to increased use of the concept of water
security, which seeks to integrate water availability under the extremes of floods and drought with
ecological status. The work of the water resources engineer is therefore much broader than it has been
before now.

With the world’s population continuing to grow and become more urbanised, and the impacts of climate
change becoming ever more apparent leading to more variability in rainfall, higher evaporation and
greater risks from flooding and sea-level rise, the pressure on our water resources has never been greater.
Several countries around the world, both developed and developing, are suffering drought conditions,
and those tasked with sourcing and supplying our water are having to think more innovatively and
strategically. As more barriers and shortfalls occur across the world, populations will search new sources,
such as rainwater harvesting, desalination of the sea and reclamation of wastewater.

As an industry we are moving from 2D drafting towards a fully comprehensive level 3 Buildings
Information Modelling (BIM) strategy. The work of the BIM Task Group is supporting the delivery and
implementation of BIM according to the objectives of the Government Construction Strategy.

Future career potential and projects

Experienced water resource engineers may go into consultancy work or progress to senior roles within
water companies, regulatory bodies and other organisations. While the engineering aspects of major
water infrastructure projects may grab the headlines, they must be underpinned by well-argued and
presented long-term strategic plans that are robust to public scrutiny and possible challenge.

Recent extreme events (such as the deepening drought over the 2011-2012 winter, followed by
unprecedented rainfall from mid-April onwards) means that it is no longer appropriate to rely on historic
hydrological records for long-term planning. An increasing focus is being placed on research into how to
deal with uncertainty and risk in water resource management plans and drought plans so that appropriate
information feeds into the development of national and international policies and investment decisions.
Such research is undertaken by the water industry itself, together with academic organisations and
consultancies.

The global political agenda is placing an ever-increasing onus on tackling climate change, and with the
United Nations (UN) COP21 event taking place later this year in Paris the implications for water resource
engineers will be significant. Achieving the UN aim of keeping global warming below 2°C will require large-
scale international collaboration – and building climate resilience into our water infrastructure will require
similar collaboration, research and investigation, and innovation within the industry.

In the UK, recent statutory plans combined with long-term horizon scanning suggest that major new water
resource infrastructure will be required to provide the resilience now being sought by politicians and the
public alike. Water resource engineers will play fundamental roles in developing the plans for new
infrastructure and taking them through the planning and approval stages, to procurement, construction,
commissioning and operation. How do I become a civil engineer in the water resources sector?

A Bachelor's degree in Engineering is required, such as Civil Engineering or Civil Engineering Technology.
Graduates can then join engineering firms to develop specialist skills and understand the sector. Further
study can also be pursued e.g. an MSc in water resources management.