Program Overview

Introduction to the Water Technology Program

The Water Technology program is an award-winning, up-to-date technical training opportunity that opens doors to a career in the water field anywhere in the United States. Graduates of this program have found work in various locations, including New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, Arizona, California, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iraq, and Puerto Rico.

Program Overview

More than 400 graduates have begun careers in the water field, working in diverse areas such as:

• The semiconductor industry
• The food processing industry
• Aerospace industry
• Electrical power industry
• City water and wastewater departments
• Municipal or contract analytical laboratories
• Water reuse or recycling plants
• Metal plating companies
• Engineering consulting firms
• State planning offices

Curriculum and Instruction

Students in this program learn how to:

• Clean water to make it safe for drinking
• Purify water to a high quality for use in computer chip manufacturing, food processing, or steam generation
• Treat wastewater so it can be safely returned to the environment or reclaimed for beneficial use Instruction also includes:
• Maintaining equipment such as pumps, motors, valves, and chemical feeders
• Laboratory testing and analysis
• Water and wastewater chemistry and microbiology
• Applied math
• Basics of supervising and managing a water utility, including budgets, preventive maintenance schemes, and billing

Course Assignments and Skills Development

Various course assignments, such as:

• Laboratory data sheets
• Simple process control spreadsheets
• Term papers enable students to sharpen their computer and writing skills. General studies in basic algebra, speech, and technical writing round out the curriculum.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

Students enrolled in this program will be required to perform the same job duties and meet the same physical requirements as graduates in the field. Depending on the employment location, graduates may be required to:

• Work in inclement weather
• Lift up to 50 pounds from the ground
• Work safely around hazardous chemicals using appropriate safety equipment, such as a self-contained breathing apparatus
• Work safely in confined spaces
• Ascend and descend stairs and ladders to reach equipment
• Work safely around heavy equipment
• Work safely and effectively on uneven surfaces
• Stand for long periods of time on concrete floors

Certification and Licensing

Some positions in the field require certification, and the licensing agency may not provide special testing accommodations.

Training and Internship Opportunities

Opportunities for students to gain new knowledge and skills in operations, maintenance, and laboratory areas are provided through:

• Classroom training
• Hands-on laboratories
• Field trips
• Guest lectures
• Training on the program's own water and wastewater plants Before graduating, students will spend a minimum of 180 hours at an internship site with a municipality or industry.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Financial aid beyond loans, grants, work-study monies, and DACC scholarships includes nine private scholarships specifically for Water Technology students:

• Max Summerlot Memorial Scholarship
• Cynthia Hiers-Robinson Current-Use Scholarship
• Pruett Family Water Technology Scholarship
• Col. Raymond Madson Memorial Scholarship
• Two scholarships presented by the New Mexico Water and Wastewater Association
• One scholarship presented by the Southwest Section of the New Mexico Water and Wastewater Association
• Two scholarships presented by the Central Section of the New Mexico Water and Wastewater Association

Program Requirements and Graduation

Students must achieve a cumulative grade-point average of 2.0 with a final grade of C- or better in ENGL 1110G Composition I and a final grade of C- or better in all required WATR courses.

Transferable Credits

The remaining courses are applicable toward the bachelor of applied studies degree offered by the NMSU College of Extended Learning. At least 36 hours of the technical requirements are applicable toward the bachelor's degree in agricultural and extension education offered by the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at New Mexico State University.