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What is the most directive route to a boilermaker ?

I want to become a boilermaker to help make water works become better.What is the best way to get there? I don't know any experience on it but I want to learn more. What is the most successful way to get there?

#engineering #boilermaker #construction

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Peter’s Answer

Ty'ron:

Boiler Maker is a highly specific skill that is relatively rare these days but was more common 100 years ago when steam engines were in greater use. You mention "making water works become better." If by that you mean working in the Field of Water Supply and Treatment (domestic, industrial, irrigation, etc.) , this is a Field that has a high demand with great career potential. The route to this career is a Civil engineering degree with an emphasis on water-related engineering.

Good Luck, Pete Sturtevant, PE
Thank you comment icon Hi, Peter! This sounds like a really interesting field of engineering! I just had a few additional questions about this area if you would happen to know. 1.) Do you have any statistics on the outlook for these type of civil engineers? I'm curious just how high the demand is. 2.) Do you have any tips regarding how someone might go about pursuing a civil engineering degree? 3.) What are the day-to-day responsibilities of someone focusing on water-related engineering? Thanks so much! Alexandra, Admin
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Wael’s Answer

I believe mechanical engineering is the way to go! Boiler design is heavily dependent on thermodynamics and fluid dynamics. If you are still at school, pay attention to your math, physics, chemistry, and English classes. These would be the bread and butter to help you in your mechanical engineering career.

Lastly, check out youtube! There are plenty of totorials and DIY projects.

Good luck :)
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Peter’s Answer

Alexandra:

To answer your three follow-up questions:

1) I do not have statistics for engineering employment. I do know that throughout my long career, Civil Engineers have been in good demand and the pay is considerably higher than average for college graduates. There is great demand in the private sector (Engineering consulting firms), the public section (all towns and counties have publics works depts. that employ civil engineers) and industry and academia. You could go the webs site of American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). I'm sure they have statistics.

2) The best way to become a civil engineer is to complete a 4-year course in Engineering at a college or university, majoring in Civil E. and obtaining a BSCE. After 2-4 years of working experience you can take the professional engineering exam to become a licensed civil engineer. To prepare for an engineering education, I recommend that in high school you take 4 years of math (hopefully some calculus in your senior year) and four years of science, especially physics.

3) A day in the life of a Water Engineer......well that would take a lot more writing than I am inclined to do. This is best discussed with an actual water (or Civil) engineer. Ask about an Open House at a local college in your area where you can discuss this. Briefly, here is some activities that can occur working on a typical water supply project:

Analyze a water supply problem for a town; develop some general solutions
Lay out a preliminary design of one or more solutions
Perform hydraulic or related calculations to develop the designs.
Prepare a report recommending a solution
Present your findings to the local water department or town council

The above represents the day-to-day stuff. Of course there are many other interesting opportunities such as:

carrying out a study of the water quality effects of a wastewater treatment plant on a river;
leading the water impact analysis of a proposed large mining operation
presenting the regional water resource impacts of a large military project in multiple regions of the U.S.
developing drainage solutions for a major new freeway
designing fish habitat improvements in a salmon stream
building a small water supply system in a remote village in the Bolivian Andes
developing a spring water supply for a small mountain Nicaraguan village

I have personally done these and many other interesting projects during my long career

One thing is for sure...if you put your heart and soul into your Profession, Civil Engineering can be an extremely rewarding career.

Pete Sturtevant, PE
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