Hydrologist

Job overview
Hydrology is the study of the distribution, quality and movement of water in both natural and man-made environments.

Hydrologists are involved in the planning, development and utilisation of available water resources, to ensure that sufficient water of acceptable quality can be supplied in the most cost-effective manner.

What do people do in this occupation?
Water resources in Zimbabwe are limited and part of the job of hydrologists is to identify problem areas as early as possible.

Hydrologists are required to assess the available water, project future needs and make recommendations on long-term management practices.

Hydrologists should therefore understand the natural environment, the needs of various sectors of water users? (?domestic, agricultural, industrial, etc?)?, as well as the options for water resource development.

They may be involved in establishing and operating measurement networks? (?to record rainfall, runoff, evaporation, etc.)?, evaluating and analysing hydrological data, predicting future trends and determining extremes? (?floods and droughts?)?.

What kinds of people are suitable for this career?
Hydrologists should be interested in the physical environment, be willing to undertake numerical analysis and be computer literate.

A keen sense of observation, the ability to work systematically and accurately and the ability to communicate verbally and on paper are also necessary.

What qualifications are needed?
A BSc degree, together with postgraduate studies in hydrology.