Will AI replace Water/Wastewater Engineers?

Nothing in this data answers that. It measures whether an AI could halve the time a task takes, not whether an employer keeps the role. 14 per cent of the tasks listed for this occupation cannot be sped up at all.

Which parts of a Water/Wastewater Engineer job can AI already do?

4 of the 28 tasks listed for this occupation were rated as ones a chat window could finish in half the time.

How exposed to AI is a Water/Wastewater Engineer?

Of the 28 tasks O*NET lists for water/wastewater engineers, 4 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 4 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called

Consulting EngineerCounty EngineerEngineerProject Development Engineer

14%

72%

14%

Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up

28: tasks rated for this occupation
100%: hold a degree, from a survey of 23
304k: people do this job in the US
7 of 56: least protected in architecture and engineering

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

Design domestic or industrial water or wastewater treatment plants, including advanced facilities with sequencing batch reactors (SBR), membranes, lift stations, headworks, surge overflow basins, ultraviolet disinfection systems, aerobic digesters, sludge lagoons, or control buildings
Conduct feasibility studies for the construction of facilities, such as water supply systems, runoff collection networks, water and wastewater treatment plants, or wastewater collection systems
Write technical reports or publications related to water resources development or water use efficiency
Gather and analyze water use data to forecast water demand

Only with software built on top

Review and critique proposals, plans, or designs related to water or wastewater treatment systems
Design or select equipment for use in wastewater processing to ensure compliance with government standards
Design pumping systems, pumping stations, pipelines, force mains, or sewers for the collection of wastewater
Design water distribution systems for potable or non-potable water
Conduct water quality studies to identify and characterize water pollutant sources
Identify design alternatives for the development of new water resources
Design water runoff collection networks, water supply channels, or water supply system networks
Design water or wastewater lift stations, including water wells
Conduct cost-benefit analyses for the construction of water supply systems, runoff collection networks, water and wastewater treatment plants, or wastewater collection systems
Provide technical support on water resource or treatment issues to government agencies
Analyze storm water or floodplain drainage systems to control erosion, stabilize river banks, repair channel streams, or design bridges
Develop plans for new water resources or water efficiency programs
Perform hydrological analyses, using three-dimensional simulation software, to model the movement of water or forecast the dispersion of chemical pollutants in the water supply
Perform hydraulic analyses of water supply systems or water distribution networks to model flow characteristics, test for pressure losses, or to identify opportunities to mitigate risks and improve operational efficiency
Design water storage tanks or other water storage facilities
Analyze and recommend sludge treatment or disposal methods
Design sludge treatment plants
Conduct environmental impact studies related to water and wastewater collection, treatment, or distribution
Analyze the efficiency of water delivery structures, such as dams, tainter gates, canals, pipes, penstocks, or cofferdams
Perform mathematical modeling of underground or surface water resources, such as floodplains, ocean coastlines, streams, rivers, or wetlands

Cannot be sped up

Provide technical direction or supervision to junior engineers, engineering or computer-aided design (CAD) technicians, or other technical personnel
Evaluate the operation and maintenance of water or wastewater systems to identify ways to improve their efficiency
Analyze and recommend chemical, biological, or other wastewater treatment methods to prepare water for industrial or domestic use
Oversee the construction of decentralized or on-site wastewater treatment systems, including reclaimed water facilities

What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.