Hey there, water explorers! Have you ever wondered
where your water comes from or where it goes after you use it? Behind the
scenes, water engineers work hard to keep it clean, safe, and available to everyone!
This Engineers Week (February 16-22, 2025),
we’re celebrating the amazing work of water engineers, especially those at the Inland
Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), who treat, recycle, and protect our water every
day. Water engineers help keep our communities healthy, our environment clean,
and ensure we have water for the future!
Let’s dive into what they do and how YOU can
help protect this vital resource!
What Do Water Engineers Do?
The field of Engineering within the water industry
varies depending on the location and specific role the engineers are hired
onto. Generally, water engineers’ work helps manage and protect our water in
many ways, including:
💧
Cleaning and Treating Water – They can design systems to remove pollutants from
water, so our water ways are clean! (IEUA) (EPA)
🌱
Recycling Water – Instead of letting water go to waste, engineers play a role
in ensuring clean water standards are met. Recycled water is used for parks,
farms, and even groundwater replenishment! (Learn
more about recycled water!)
🌧
Managing Rainwater – They can develop ways to capture and clean rainwater
(often referred to as stormwater) to prevent flooding or polluted runoff into
rivers and other bodies of water. (ASCE)
🔬
Inventing Water-Saving Technology – Engineers can use smart sensors, AI, and
renewable energy to reduce water waste and create new sources of drinking water!
(Water Research Foundation)
Meet a Real-Life Water Engineer!
At IEUA, our Engineers work on projects that treat and
recycle water, protect local water supplies, and help our communities use water
wisely.
This year, we’re featuring David, an Assistant Engineer,
who helps keep our water resources safe and sustainable.
What
inspired you to pursue a career in water engineering?
My initial
point of inspiration for water engineering came when I took a field trip to a
local wastewater treatment plant as part of my high school’s AP Environmental
Science class. I was hooked when we toured the different treatment processes
that took wastewater and turned it into recycled water.
How do you
see the role of water engineering evolving with advancements in technology?
As technologies
advance, it will allow for more efficient and automated engineering solutions
to wastewater. Treatment technologies can come to the point where it will allow
for wider applications of recycled water.
What advice
would you give to students interested in pursuing a career in water
engineering?
I highly
encourage students to visit a public water agency and speak with the
professionals that work there to get firsthand insight into the day-to-day
responsibilities of an engineer. Don’t be afraid to send a message to water
engineers on LinkedIn, too!
Why is water
stewardship critical for future generations?
Instilling
water stewardship in our youth allows them to have a sense of responsibility in
preserving the precious resource that is water. Water demand continues to
increase, especially in IEUA’s service area. Having a sense of responsibility
for water as they grow older and passing this mindset onto the next generation
will be crucial to how we approach water resource management in the future.
Engineers like David ensure we have clean, safe
water now and for future generations!
How Can YOU Be a Water Steward?
Water is a precious resource, and even small actions
can make a big difference! Try these easy ways to save water at home:
🌿
Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
🚿
Take shorter showers to save gallons of water!
🌊
Share water-saving tips with your family and friends!
Every drop counts, and YOU can help make sure we have
water for the future!
Try These Fun Water Experiments at Home!
🔬
DIY Water Filtration Experiment – Learn how Engineers filter water using simple
household materials!
- Follow
this link for full instructions and details on this DIY
Water Filtration Experiment!
💧
Water Footprint Challenge – Find out how much water your family uses and
discover ways to conserve more!
-
Follow this link to take the Water Footprint Challenge!
You can also find more fun at-home activities on IEUA’s
website! Check them out here!
Want to Learn More?
This free event includes:
🌿
Tours of the park
💡
Environmental exhibits
🎨
Educational activities
🐍
Animal encounters
🎁
Giveaways and more!
Don’t miss this fun-filled day of learning, exploring,
and celebrating our planet!
Engineers
help
protect our future,
and maybe one day, YOU could become one too! Keep learning, keep
exploring, and most importantly—keep saving water.
Your Friend,
Wally
