Drinking Water Program Intern (Worcester) - UNPAID
About The Position
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Drinking Water Program (DWP) implements the federal Lead and Copper Rule (LCR) for public water systems in Massachusetts. Some water supplies are naturally corrosive which can cause metals such as lead and copper to leach from the pipes and household plumbing used to convey water to consumer taps. To address this, many public water suppliers in Massachusetts implement corrosion control treatment, which involves adjusting the water chemistry to minimize the leaching of metals into the drinking water. Water suppliers record treatment process data on Chemical Addition (C-ADD) Reports forms, which are submitted to MassDEP monthly. Water suppliers also monitor lead and copper levels in drinking water at consumers’ taps from high-risk sites on a semiannual, annual, or triennial basis. The Central Region DWP is looking for an intern to assist with compiling and analyzing data for key corrosion control parameters representing treated water at the entry point(s) and locations throughout the distribution system for public water systems. The project will entail compiling relevant water quality data in Excel, performing basic statistical analysis, and evaluating the relationship between water quality and lead and copper levels in system tap samples. Correlations between corrosion control treatment performance and ability to meet lead and copper standards, both current and future (in 2027 the lead action level is being reduced to 10 ppb), will be used as MassDEP designates optimal water quality parameters for these water systems in the future.
Requirements
- Minimum Requirements: NONE
- Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Microsoft Excel in particular).
- Experience with information management.
Nice To Haves
- Basic knowledge of MassDEP Drinking Water Regulations 310 CMR 22.00 or other environmental regulations.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Proficient reading and writing skills.
- Interest in Massachusetts regulatory programs.
Responsibilities
- Data entry of water quality parameters (WQP) for specified monitoring periods for a subset of public water systems into Excel.
- For each water system's dataset, perform basic statistical analysis and compare with reported 90th percentile values for lead and copper tap samples for the same monitoring periods.
- Evaluate WQPs that correlated with best treatment performance to meet the current and future action levels. This will involve time plots/graphs and some file document review.
- Review available corrosion control treatment study reports for included recommendations that identify operational targets for WQPs.
- Scanning of these reports may be necessary.
Benefits
- Comprehensive Benefits
- An outstanding suite of employee benefits that add to the overall value of your compensation package.
- A work experience that supports you, your loved ones, and your future.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
