Hydrogeologists normally work with other professionals to form teams that investigate particular sets of issues. For example, they might analyze how various climatic changes affect or will affect aquatic life, and also how such changes will affect the distribution of water and water levels underground.
There are lots of opportunities for hydrogeologists to advance their careers. One career hydrogeologist recently said that he has done his present job for several years and has not once thought of quitting.
Hydrogeologists use various methods to purify water and make it safe for human consumption. A hydrogeologist job will frequently involve studying the chemical composition of the water from a given source, determining how healthy or harmful the water is to drink and providing relevant advice. Basically, the hydrogeologist must determine whether the water is safe for human consumption or not.
Hydrogeologist jobs require one to have an undergraduate degree in a science-related discipline, such as a Bachelor of Science degree in earth science. A master's degree in a related field always provides more opportunity for career advancement.
Most hydrogeologists don't go past the master's degree level — as few as 20% have doctoral degrees. In academia, however, a hydrogeologist will be required to have a doctoral degree.
Hydrogeologist jobs are always in high demand, which might lead one to conclude that their salaries must be high as well. This is not the case, however; the salaries of hydrogeologists are up to 20% lower than those of other geoscientists. Some hydrogeologists have tried to justify this disparity by saying that hydrogeologist jobs are more secure than those of other geoscientists.
Other sources of water have to be found as the world's population continues to grow. Hydrogeologists have to come up with ways of managing these additional sources by ensuring that they are free from contamination.
Hydrogeologist jobs also include a lot of research. In academic circles, hydrogeologists are nowadays working hand in hand with meteorologists at trying to find ways of minimizing the effects of climate change. They are also involved in the process of determining the actual relationships between surface water and ground water.
Extensive academic research and collaborations with other disciplines have brought a lot of benefits. Courses that will enable hydrogeologists to carry out their jobs more efficiently and understand their fields more deeply have been introduced. This is occurring at both the graduate school level and the undergraduate level. This development, however, has not gone down well with some industry players who think that the core subjects required for hydrogeologist jobs are not being given enough attention. They reckon that trying to make students jacks of all trades is not helping the industry.
The companies that employ hydrogeologist graduates fresh from universities say they want individuals who can work on projects immediately. This is not possible, though, they say, if the core subjects for hydrogeologists are not extensively taught at the universities.
Some academics beg to differ, however. They contend that it is the duty of the corporate sector to mould graduates into the job specifications that they would like them to carry out. One professor has noted that there are some oil exploration companies that have recruited hydrogeologists and subsequently trained them on oil exploration. Thus, he argues, it doesn't matter what area of specialization a geoscientist studied at his or her university.
Conclusion
As the demand for water increases, there is always a need to keep it supplied sustainably. Hydrogeologist jobs entail the professional management of water resources to make such sustainability possible.
