Overview
According to a recent report from the US Department of
Energy (DOE), better understanding of the relationship
between water availability and energy production (water-energy
nexus) and its susceptibility to climate change is
a matter of national security. This report was issued after
severe droughts affected more than 1/3 of the US and
the loss of available water constrained the ability of many
power plants to function.
It is hard to image not having access to clean water or power – growing population, urbanization, shrinking resources, and increasing standards of living are threatening these indispensable assets even within developed countries. While clean water is the most important factor, access to power is an imperative component of having a safe, productive, and comfortable society. The goal of this certificate program is to understand the critical interaction between water and energy along with related topics including biological and physical-chemical treatment processes, carbon and energy footprint analysis, and sustainable energy systems in order to guide future improvements and technical innovations to mitigate future issues with these critical resources.
Who Should Enroll
This program is designed for professionals already employed
in the workforce and those new to the subject matter who
wish to expand their career opportunities and grow professionally
by increasing their knowledge of the water-energy
nexus and preparing them to make a difference as the world
struggles with these key issues.
Professionals in the field of water and wastewater engineering
who are interested in the energy intensity, usage, efficiency,
and waste of the water treatment processes would benefit
from this program including:
- Consultants who are or are planning to work on energy-related
projects and want to deepen their knowledge of
theoretical and practical aspects of energy efficiency and
optimization in the water sector
- Utility personnel interested in understanding and curbing
energy waste in water treatment and in a deeper understanding
of energy-related aspects of their current
processes and operation
- Researchers who want to extend their knowledge related
to treatment energy consumption and power demand
dynamics
- Regulators who intend to expand their knowledge of energy
intensity and power demand efficiency of their treatment
processes
To accommodate the busy schedules of these professionals,
some courses in this program will be taught in the evenings.
Career Insight
Occupational summary for natural sciences managers in the US.
63,352
Annual Job Openings
(2019)
11%
Projected Growth
(2019-2029)
$123k
Median Salary
(Highly experienced workers can earn up to $230k)