A drainage engineer is a civil engineer who specializes in drawing up blueprints and implementing drainage system improvements. A professional might specialize in diverting sewage and pollution away from water sources, controlling irrigation and flooding on farmlands, or directing rainwater runoff from highways and roads. Many engineers spend a lot of time on construction sites, overseeing the construction or maintenance of a structure. A drainage engineer may work for the government, a private consulting firm, or a non-profit environmental organization.
To avoid flooding, conserve resources, and ensure that water reserves are not contaminated with chemicals, effective drainage systems are required. To design an effective method of controlling water, a drainage engineer is consulted. He or she usually goes to a job site to determine what kind of system is required, then returns to the office to draw up a blueprint. To design and simulate structures and ditches, many engineers use computer-aided drafting (CAD) software. They design new systems and improve existing ones using their expert knowledge of physics, fluidity, and math.
An engineer must consider how much a system will cost to build, the potential negative environmental impacts it may have, its aesthetic qualities, and local construction laws when conceptualizing it. Engineers calculate the costs of materials and labor and estimate the length of time it will take to complete a project. They are frequently involved in the acquisition of funding and labor for large-scale projects.
A drainage engineer is frequently involved in the construction of his or her design on-site. A professional frequently collaborates closely with site supervisors and construction workers to ensure that systems and ditches are built to exacting standards. Following the completion of a project, the drainage engineer inspects the area and considers any final touches that might improve the system’s aesthetics or functionality.
A bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or higher is usually required to work as a drainage engineer. Many people opt for master’s degrees in specialized programs that focus on water management and drainage system design principles. The majority of states and countries require new engineers to obtain certification or licensure by passing written exams on legal issues, drainage engineering fundamentals, and safety precautions. After earning certification, an engineer typically works as an assistant for several months or even years in order to gain the experience needed to eventually manage entire projects.