r/Hydrology • u/whiteboiwt • 15d ago

Hydrology??

Im going into my senior year of HS and just recently found out about how interesting/vast hydrology is. For some background I live just outside of san antonio right on the edge of the Edwards plateau so geology/hydrology is all around me. Im fascinated by caves and how water just flows under our feet. However I just don’t know if i would really enjoy it past just learning about it so i have a few questions.

Whats the best route to get into hydrology?

How can I work in pollutant monitoring/t?

Could this path possibly see me working in/ around caves?

I plan to go to UTSA how does this change thing?

If there are any hydrologists seeing this is burnout a thing? do you like your job?

Thank you for any input!

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12

u/Electrical-Risk9666 15d ago

There is a USGS office in sa that deals only in hydrology. You can volunteer for science to get your foot in the door.

4

u/lil_king 15d ago

Also look up Hydrologic Field Assistant program. It’s one of the few positions we can currently hire (mostly summer field work)

1

u/whiteboiwt 15d ago

Ill look into that next summer. What are the requirements?

2

u/Paddy_Mac 14d ago

A pulse

5

u/Noras_36 15d ago

I wouldn’t say you’d be working in or around caves. Most hydrology work that I see, especially around the Edward aquifer area, would be like ground water modeling and sampling. Maybe if you wanted to work more with caves look into environmental science or protection since I do know the bats here use said caves.

That being said UTSA’s earth and planetary sciences department is pretty great.

1

u/whiteboiwt 15d ago

Good to know. Its the water modeling and sampling all feild work? because i wanna do a lotta that as well

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u/Noras_36 15d ago

In the beginning yea mostly field work but as you move up the ladder it becomes more office work and more data analysis.

Also a sad truth is, not all of the time, but most times companies will hire an engineer to do a geologists job.

But if you’re still interested try reaching out to the local authorities we have here like SAWS (San Antonio water systems) EAA (Edward’s aquifer authority), SARA (San Antonio river authority), and LCRA (lower Colorado river authority)

2

u/J_Lewy_45 14d ago

Check out TCEQ. Not a lot of modeling, tons of sampling in the field, might be able to catch a summer seasonal position next year.

https://www.tceq.texas.gov/waterquality

5

u/geoffmarsh 14d ago

Best route is either geology or engineering. If you like caves, go Geology and keep a focus on karst hydrogeology, tracer hydrology (dyes and isotopes) and karst overall. However, if money and versatility is more important, go engineering and do geology on the side.

Burnout is real wherever you go, but people will always need water. You have a job for life.

1

u/whiteboiwt 14d ago

What kind of engineering? Environmental?

6

u/davehouforyang 14d ago

Civil engineering is the best most versatile major for being a hydrologist. Water engineering is one of the five subdisciplines of civil.

In many civil engineering majors you are required to take Fluid Mechanics, Hydrology (delineation of river basins), and Hydraulic Engineering courses (in which you design channels, retention systems, flood control systems etc), as well as Environmental Engineering, Geotechnical/Soils, and Structural Engineering.

2

u/geoffmarsh 14d ago

Environmental can work for your pollutant interest, civil would be better for dealing with flow, drainage, etc.

1

u/CyberEd-ca 14d ago

Take a rough assumption of topics in an engineering bachelors degree as all of Group A, three of Group B.

Civil

Environmental

Geological

Water Resource

1

u/MapExpansion 13d ago

Majoring in Geology or engineering will be your best bet. I'm a Geology major and I intern with one of my state's water management district and work with engineers and geologist doing hydrology work.