Intern - Environmental Health (Wastewater Proviso)

Island County • Whidbey Island, WA

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

Island County’s Environmental Health Division is seeking a motivated and detail-oriented intern to conduct a comprehensive Wastewater Proviso Literature and Policy Review. Building upon the 2025 Biohabitats Island Region Innovative Solutions Report, this project aims to develop the technical and regulatory framework necessary to approve alternative, nitrogen-reducing wastewater treatment technologies. The findings from this internship will directly inform local efforts to advance wastewater solutions that support affordable housing solutions while protecting ground and surface water from nitrates in Island County.

Requirements

• Background in Environmental Health, Environmental Science, Public Health, Civil/Environmental Engineering, Public Policy, or a related field.
• Strong research skills with experience reviewing administrative codes, technical publications, and scientific literature.
• Excellent technical writing skills capable of synthesizing complex data into clear reports.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively while managing a structured project timeline.
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
• Island County does not provide visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

• Evaluate approved public domain and proprietary nitrogen-reducing wastewater technologies in Washington State, as well as unapproved public domain systems (e.g., carbon-fed systems, passive inground biofilters, constructed wetlands) that could benefit the region through product development and registration.
• Analyze treatment capabilities (CBOD5 – mg/L, TSS – mg/L, fecal coliform, E.coli) and suitability for COSS design flows between 1,000 and 3,500 gallons per day.
• Identify performance envelopes (pH, temperature, flow, NSF/ANSI status) and maintenance costs.
• Conduct a policy analysis comparing Washington State Department of Health (DOH) regulations with a representative sample of 10–15 other U.S. state health departments regarding alternative treatment system approvals.
• Evaluate local Island County health jurisdiction regulations to identify code revision opportunities that support COSS implementation.
• Design and execute an anonymous industry survey with local stakeholders (designers, installers, maintenance service providers) to assess real-world installation, operational, and lifespan costs.
• Evaluate the suitability of using the Island County wastewater treatment facility as a test cell for testing new denitrification systems and technologies.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed