Picture this: You’re standing beside a rushing river, carefully measuring water flow rates and collecting samples while monitoring sophisticated equipment that tracks water quality in real-time. Think about every time you’ve turned on a tap or heard about flood warnings – hydrologic technicians are the professionals working behind the scenes to ensure water resources are properly managed and monitored.
Hydrologic technicians are field specialists who collect, analyze, and interpret data about water resources, including surface water, groundwater, and precipitation. They play a crucial role in understanding water systems, managing water resources, and protecting environmental water quality.
Total Employment: 3,000 (2023)
Common Names for Hydrologic Technicians
- Water Resource Technician
- Hydrology Technician
- Water Quality Technician
- Environmental Technician
What Hydrologic Technicians Do
Hydrologic technicians collect water samples, maintain monitoring equipment, and gather/analyze data about water quality, quantity, and movement in streams, rivers, lakes, and groundwater to support water resource management and environmental protection efforts.
Primary responsibilities include:
- Data Collection: Gather water-related measurements and samples from rivers, streams, and groundwater sources to monitor water quality and quantity for environmental assessment and regulatory compliance.
- Field Monitoring: Install, maintain, and operate specialized monitoring equipment to track water levels, flow rates, and environmental conditions, ensuring accurate long-term data collection for water resource management.
- Sample Analysis: Process water samples in laboratories using standardized testing procedures to determine chemical composition, contamination levels, and other key water quality indicators.
- Documentation Management: Record and organize detailed field observations, test results, and measurement data using standard reporting formats to maintain accurate records for scientific analysis and regulatory requirements.
- Equipment Maintenance: Perform regular calibration, cleaning, and maintenance of monitoring instruments and sampling equipment to ensure accuracy and reliability of collected data.
- Quality Control: Follow established protocols and procedures for sample collection and analysis to maintain data integrity and meet quality assurance standards required by regulatory agencies.
- Safety Compliance: Implement proper safety procedures and protocols when working in field conditions or handling potentially hazardous materials to protect personnel and maintain environmental standards.
- Data Reporting: Prepare technical reports and present findings to supervisors and stakeholders, translating complex data into clear, actionable information for decision-making purposes.
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