Occupation

Hydrologist

Hydrologists study how water moves through and is stored in the environment: rivers, aquifers, catchments, and the systems built around them. The work supports flood risk assessment, water supply planning, contamination investigation, and environmental permitting. It combines field measurement with modelling and a good deal of regulatory reporting.

Also known as: Hydrogeologist · Water resources scientist · Flood risk analyst

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Occupation content

Part of Natural sciences and research

A visual day in the work

What the work involves

  1. Install and maintain gauges, loggers, and monitoring boreholes

  2. Collect flow, level, and water quality measurements and check them for sensor drift

  3. Build and calibrate catchment, groundwater, or flood models

  4. Assess how proposed developments or abstractions would change water behaviour

  5. Write technical assessments for regulators, utilities, planners, or clients

  6. Interpret long monitoring records alongside rainfall and land-use information

Entry-route stepper

How people commonly enter

  1. A degree in hydrology, earth sciences, environmental science, or civil engineering

  2. Postgraduate study in hydrogeology or water resources for specialist roles

  3. Environmental technician or monitoring roles as an entry point, with further study alongside

  4. Graduate schemes with water utilities, environmental consultancies, or regulatory agencies

Typical training: Bachelor's degree

Licensing: Regulated in some jurisdictions. Confirm the current requirement with the regulator in your province, state, or country.

Work-context map

Typical work context

  • Outdoors
  • Desk based
  • Team based
  • Involves travel
  • Varied work
  • Client sites

Outdoors · Desk based · Team based · Involves travel · Varied work · Client sites

Related interests

  • Investigative (analytical)
  • Realistic (hands-on)

Investigative (analytical) · Realistic (hands-on)

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