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Employment
Intern Position: Water Quality Investigator
Waterways in the Houston region sometimes have higher than acceptable levels of fecal indicator bacteria. This condition can limit the use of our beautiful bayous for contact recreation. Considerable discussion and planning has occurred to correct this water pollutant. This stakeholder driven effort, known as the Bacteria Implementation Group, is fully described here: http://www.h-gac.com/community/water/tmdl/default.aspx. During this effort, a need has been identified for more research and monitoring to determine sources of fecal indicator bacteria.
Considerable monitoring samples have been taken at established locations for many years to identify and define this unacceptable water quality condition. A next step to correcting this problem is to conduct investigative sampling upstream of locations with identified high fecal indicator bacteria to determine point sources or land uses that are responsible for the above standard levels of fecal indicator bacteria: Eschericia coli (E. coli) or Enterococcus (respective standards: 126 organisms per 100 milliliters, and 35 organisms per 100 ml).
Bayou Preservation Association desires to conduct sampling investigations of Houston area watersheds to find sources of fecal indicator bacteria so that implementation plans can be refined to address these sources. An intern position is being created as a member of an investigatory team that will seek sources through water quality sampling and analysis using instrumental and laboratory methods. These results will be used to guide additional sampling and surveillance to pinpoint sources whether they are point discharge sources or related to land use.
The qualified intern must be currently enrolled, full time students who has completed at least their freshman year and will be returning to school in the fall of 2012 as a full-time sophomore, junior, or senior. Graduate students are NOT eligible. An Enrollment Verification Form obtained from the Registrars office, is to be submitted along with the Student Profile Form to Volunteer Houston. There will be a calendar of events that are mandatory orientation for the intern to attend.
The Water Quality Investigator intern would be expected to:
- Review regional water quality monitoring data for locations of high fecal indicator bacteria.
- Design a database to record monitoring data and facilitate data analysis and reporting.
- Design a report form for recording monitoring data in the field.
- With a Bayou Preservation Association team member, conduct fecal indicator bacteria sampling at strategic locations in watersheds, record and enter instrumental water quality data results collected by the other team member, set up and read fecal indicator bacteria growth by incubation method and record bacteria levels determined in the database.
- Collect, fill out paperwork, and arrange for delivery of selected verification samples to a contract or government laboratory for determination of fecal indicator bacteria to validate results obtained by Water Quality Investigator's analytical methods.
- Assist in the decision making of determining sample locations and determining bacteria sources by vehicular and walking recognizance in public areas and using images available on the Internet and public land use databases.
- As needed, report observations of unauthorized water pollution to correct governmental enforcement agencies for their independent investigation and enforcement.
- Create exhibits and slides for a PowerPoint presentation and give an oral presentation of the investigatory findings to a small group of Houston-Galveston Area Council staff and the Bayou Preservation Association staff.
- Participate in other activities and meetings performed by Bayou Preservation Association staff members.
Position Requirements:
- Student actively engaged in B.S. degree program in a natural or environmental science major field.
- Basic familiarity with computer based databases, spreadsheets and PowerPoint.
- Physical able to safely carry up to 20 pounds of equipment and samples over rough terrain.
Optional, Preferred Requirements:
- Having GIS/CAD/mapping skills would be preferred but not required.
- Satisfactory completion of a college level Microbiology course (with lab) would be preferred but not required.
Apply by sending resume to:
Steve Hupp, M. S. Water Quality Director, Bayou Preservation Association shupp@bayoupreservation.org
fax: 713 529-6481
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