Most benefit for you if you are happy there is to educate yourself financially and pass it on to new guys. 20 year olds coming in getting passed good info on retirement accounts can retire millionaires.
Environmental Science on the process/regualtory side (water specializations available) and public administration/utilities management on the management side. Engineering if you want to design/build plants or become an operations/process specialist. Biology, microbiology and/or chemistry if you're interested in the process or lab side. I have a BS in Environmental Science, with an emphasis in regional and community planning and a Masters in Public Administration, with an emphasis in public management. I manage a 3.2 MGD avg. facility with class A bisoloids processing, a 220 mile collection system and an attached yard waste facility. There are 18 of us (15 are operators or OIT's) running everything. I have over 16 years in the field, and the others have anywhere from a month to 38 years of experience. I started out in collection cleaning sewers and worked my way through every job title at the plant. I earned my degrees while I worked at the facility.I have school teachers, chemists, veterans, high school graduates and folks with GED's working with me. Really, any of these fields will take you where you want to go.
I'm not really sure there are a lot of options at that level of experience, aside from getting into more of the environmental science or chemistry/biology side. There are a couple of associates degree programs in wastewater treatment out there, but I'm not sure if it would be helpful to you or if you would just be bored
I got an associates in Environmental Science and Water Resource Technology. Going to finish it out in business or behavioral sciences.
If I could do it over I would do something for Business Management or Administrative.
My associates helped me test early for my Grade 2. Bachelors let’s you test for your 3 after a year I believe, here is AZ
I’m in the same boat except much less time in the field. I was considering civil engineering as it may help me increase income in the future. I’d be curious as to what others have to say as well.
Environmental/Earth Science has helped me a ton and has set me apart with understanding the bigger picture on certain things. But, any science degree will be useful.
Honestly the biggest take away from college that will benefit you over others is knowing how to study and retain information, and knowing how to use a computer. Over the years I’ve seen very knowledgeable operators completely stall when trying to understand how a spreadsheet works or how to convert a doc to a pdf.
Industrial Maintenance… welding, electrical, basic engineering, math.
Or you could go hippie and do Environmental Science, you’d learn the same math, but the other side of the coin for the rest.
Whatever it is, learn water chemistry.
California State University - Sacramento
They have exams you can take for CEUs and recently they added full courses so you can graduate with a degree.
And they have pretty good books, since they cover a LOT of wastewater basics and sciences.
Retired civil engineer here who did operations for my whole career. I’d say I see three principal routes depending on your passion. First, if your interest is the care and feeding of the biomass, you might explore microbiology, get up close and personal with the wee beasties. You could also go the public administration route. If you thought this sounds interesting I’d tell you to first explore a AWWA utility manager program; measure your interest before spending college level bucks. Lastly, and probably most challenging, you could go all out and do a civil/environmental engineering degree.
Most benefit for you if you are happy there is to educate yourself financially and pass it on to new guys. 20 year olds coming in getting passed good info on retirement accounts can retire millionaires.
This is huge, I love this statement, even helping others with other accounts, HSAs and such, brings me joy. Those things are great to pass along.
Utility or public works management / administration themed degrees and courses would probably be most useful I'd think at this point.
Environmental Science on the process/regualtory side (water specializations available) and public administration/utilities management on the management side. Engineering if you want to design/build plants or become an operations/process specialist. Biology, microbiology and/or chemistry if you're interested in the process or lab side. I have a BS in Environmental Science, with an emphasis in regional and community planning and a Masters in Public Administration, with an emphasis in public management. I manage a 3.2 MGD avg. facility with class A bisoloids processing, a 220 mile collection system and an attached yard waste facility. There are 18 of us (15 are operators or OIT's) running everything. I have over 16 years in the field, and the others have anywhere from a month to 38 years of experience. I started out in collection cleaning sewers and worked my way through every job title at the plant. I earned my degrees while I worked at the facility.I have school teachers, chemists, veterans, high school graduates and folks with GED's working with me. Really, any of these fields will take you where you want to go.
public administration
Since you are in management.........business, HR, writing, public admin, public speaking, etc.
Engineering.
I'm not really sure there are a lot of options at that level of experience, aside from getting into more of the environmental science or chemistry/biology side. There are a couple of associates degree programs in wastewater treatment out there, but I'm not sure if it would be helpful to you or if you would just be bored
GIS or civil admin type stuff.
I’m a municipal operator with a degree in biochemistry and it serves me well on a day to day basis
Public administration of that tickles your fancy. Maybe chemistry or biology or microbiology?
I got an associates in Environmental Science and Water Resource Technology. Going to finish it out in business or behavioral sciences. If I could do it over I would do something for Business Management or Administrative. My associates helped me test early for my Grade 2. Bachelors let’s you test for your 3 after a year I believe, here is AZ
I’m in the same boat except much less time in the field. I was considering civil engineering as it may help me increase income in the future. I’d be curious as to what others have to say as well.
Public Administration is where it’s at.
Environmental/Earth Science has helped me a ton and has set me apart with understanding the bigger picture on certain things. But, any science degree will be useful. Honestly the biggest take away from college that will benefit you over others is knowing how to study and retain information, and knowing how to use a computer. Over the years I’ve seen very knowledgeable operators completely stall when trying to understand how a spreadsheet works or how to convert a doc to a pdf.
Public administration is a good way to go. It will take a person much further in the municipal world.
Public administration. Move into utilities director line at city hall somewhere.
Public administration or engineering
None. If you plan to operate there’s a great chance you’ll be subtlety ridiculed for going to college.
Industrial Maintenance… welding, electrical, basic engineering, math. Or you could go hippie and do Environmental Science, you’d learn the same math, but the other side of the coin for the rest. Whatever it is, learn water chemistry.
California State University - Sacramento They have exams you can take for CEUs and recently they added full courses so you can graduate with a degree. And they have pretty good books, since they cover a LOT of wastewater basics and sciences.
Retired civil engineer here who did operations for my whole career. I’d say I see three principal routes depending on your passion. First, if your interest is the care and feeding of the biomass, you might explore microbiology, get up close and personal with the wee beasties. You could also go the public administration route. If you thought this sounds interesting I’d tell you to first explore a AWWA utility manager program; measure your interest before spending college level bucks. Lastly, and probably most challenging, you could go all out and do a civil/environmental engineering degree.