Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Chemist

🎯 Role Definition

A Water Chemist performs laboratory and field analyses to characterize water quality, ensure regulatory compliance, and support treatment and monitoring programs. This role includes hands-on analytical testing (metals, nutrients, organic contaminants, microbiological parameters), method development and validation, instrument maintenance and troubleshooting, chain-of-custody management, QA/QC oversight, and preparation of regulatory and technical reports for municipal, industrial, and environmental clients. The ideal candidate balances laboratory precision with clear data interpretation for operations teams, regulators, and stakeholders.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Laboratory Technician / Environmental Lab Assistant working on water sampling and basic wet-chemistry analysis
Recent graduate with a B.S. in Chemistry, Environmental Science, or related discipline completing internships in water quality laboratories
Field Sampling Technician with experience in chain-of-custody and environmental sample collection

Advancement To:

Senior Water Chemist / Lead Analytical Chemist (oversight of multiple analytical methods and laboratory staff)
Laboratory Manager / Quality Manager (responsible for QA/QC systems, accreditation, and regulatory reporting)
Environmental Scientist / Water Resources Specialist (project management and regulatory liaison)
Principal Scientist or Technical Director (method development, client relations, and business development)

Lateral Moves:

Environmental Field Specialist (sampling program leadership)
Regulatory Compliance Specialist (permitting and NPDES/SDWA compliance)
Process Chemist for water treatment operations

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Design, plan and execute routine and non-routine chemical and microbiological analyses of drinking water, groundwater, surface water, and wastewater using instruments such as ICP-MS, ICP-OES, GC-MS, LC-MS/MS, HPLC, ion chromatography (IC), and UV/Vis spectrophotometers to quantify metals, nutrients, VOCs, SVOCs, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and organic carbon.
Conduct method development and validation studies for water quality analyses (including limit of detection/quantitation, linearity, precision, accuracy, recovery, matrix effects) and prepare method validation reports aligned with EPA, ISO/ASTM, and laboratory SOP requirements.
Develop, update and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), analytical protocols, and laboratory safety documentation to ensure consistent, reproducible results and compliance with regulatory standards (e.g., EPA-approved methods such as EPA 200.7, 200.8, 524.2, 8270, 525.2, and SM methods).
Implement and manage robust QA/QC programs for water chemistry data, including calibration verification, laboratory blanks, field blanks, spiked matrix samples, duplicates, control charts, and preparation of corrective action plans when out-of-specification results occur.
Manage sample chain-of-custody, sample preservation, storage conditions and hold times for field and laboratory samples to maintain data integrity for regulatory reporting and defensible results.
Perform routine and preventative maintenance, performance verification, troubleshooting, and repair coordination for analytical instruments (ICP-MS, GC-MS, HPLC, TOC analyzers), including vendor coordination for repairs, and maintain instrument logs and maintenance schedules.
Interpret complex analytical data, perform statistical trend analysis, and convert raw instrument outputs into finalized, validated results using LIMS and data analysis tools (Excel, R, Python) for clear technical communication to clients and internal stakeholders.
Prepare technical reports, laboratory results packages, and regulatory compliance documentation (e.g., NPDES, SDWA reporting, permit support) and present findings to operations teams, clients, and regulatory agencies with actionable recommendations.
Oversee and participate in field sampling campaigns for drinking water, industrial discharge, stormwater, and ambient monitoring — perform risk assessments for sampling sites, ensure proper PPE and safety protocols, and execute sampling plans consistent with SOPs and QAPPs.
Coordinate and support third-party sample shipments, subcontractor analyses, and inter-laboratory comparisons / proficiency testing to ensure continual laboratory accreditation and performance.
Lead root-cause investigations for anomalous or trending analytical results, including laboratory audit trails, method troubleshooting, matrix interference evaluation, and implementation of mitigation strategies to restore data quality.
Train, mentor, and supervise junior laboratory staff and seasonal technicians on wet chemistry techniques, instrument operation, QA/QC practices, and safety procedures to build laboratory capability and maintain high throughput.
Maintain laboratory inventory control, reagent and standard preparation, verification and documentation, and order management to ensure uninterrupted testing operations and compliance with reagent traceability requirements.
Execute specialized analyses for emerging contaminants of concern (PFAS, pesticides, endocrine disruptors, cyanotoxins) through advanced analytical techniques and coordinate method adoption and verification activities to expand laboratory offerings.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (engineers, hydrologists, operations, clients) to design monitoring programs, interpret chemistry results in the context of treatment performance or environmental impact, and propose corrective or optimization actions.
Support regulatory inspections, internal and external audits, and accreditation assessments (e.g., State environmental lab accreditation, ISO/IEC 17025) by preparing documentation, guiding audit responses, and implementing auditor recommendations.
Maintain up-to-date knowledge of federal and state water quality regulations, EPA guidance, method updates and best practices to inform laboratory operations and client advisory services.
Perform toxicity and treatability testing support for process optimization and permit negotiations, including preparation of samples and interpretation of results in the context of treatment efficacy and discharge limits.
Prepare and manage scientific deliverables such as Standard Operating Procedures, Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs), method validation files, and technical memoranda that support client projects and regulatory compliance.
Implement data management best practices by maintaining accurate LIMS entries, metadata, QA flags, and version-controlled laboratory documents to support transparent, reproducible, and auditable analytical results.
Provide on-call or emergency response support for spill events, algae blooms, or system upsets, conducting rapid field sampling, prioritized analytical testing, and timely communication of results to emergency response teams and regulators.

Secondary Functions

Participate in cross-functional project teams to support proposal development, scope estimation, and resource planning for water quality projects and treatment studies.
Support transfer of analytical data into client databases, project dashboards, and GIS systems; produce summary charts, infographics and executive summaries to communicate water quality trends to non-technical stakeholders.
Assist in continuous improvement initiatives, cost-control measures, and workflow optimization to improve turnaround times and expand laboratory capacity while maintaining data quality.
Contribute to laboratory health & safety programs, including chemical hygiene plan updates, spill response drills, and employee safety training (HAZWOPER, PPE use).
Engage in professional development by attending conferences, workshops, and vendor trainings to stay current on analytical technologies (ICP-MS tuning, GC-MS fragmentation patterns, LC-MS workflows).
Evaluate and recommend new instrumentation, consumables, or software (LIMS, instrument control software, chromatographic columns) that align with laboratory growth strategies and client needs.
Support business development by providing technical input for proposals, client presentations, and method capability statements highlighting laboratory strengths in water chemistry and regulatory compliance.
Maintain back-up documentation and support archival of project files, supporting long-term data retrieval and potential legal/permit challenges.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient in trace metal analysis and multi-element quantitation using ICP-MS and ICP-OES, including matrix-matching, interference correction, and collision/reaction cell operation.
Experienced with chromatographic techniques (GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, HPLC) for volatile and semi-volatile organics, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and PFAS analysis.
Strong background in wet chemistry methods: titrations, colorimetry, UV/Vis spectroscopy, TOC/TIC analysis, COD/BOD understanding, nutrient analysis (nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, orthophosphate).
Familiarity with EPA and Standard Methods for water and wastewater analysis (e.g., EPA 200-series, 600-series, SM 4500-series) and ability to apply them in a regulated laboratory setting.
Hands-on experience with sample handling, preservation techniques, chain-of-custody procedures, and field QC (field blanks, trip blanks, duplicates).
Competence with LIMS/ELN platforms for sample tracking, results entry, QA flags, audit trails, and regulatory reporting.
Ability to perform method validation, instrument calibration, control charting, and statistical QC analyses to document analytical performance.
Skilled in instrument maintenance, troubleshooting, performance tuning, and coordinating preventive maintenance with vendors and service contracts.
Practical knowledge of emerging contaminant analysis workflows (PFAS methods, cyanotoxin assays) and ability to implement new methods following validation.
Proficient with data analysis tools and scientific computing: Microsoft Excel (advanced), familiarity with R, Python, or statistical packages for trend analysis and data visualization.
Experience preparing technical reports, regulatory submissions, SOPs, QAPPs, and audit-ready documentation.
Understanding of laboratory safety standards (OSHA, chemical hygiene, HAZWOPER basics) and waste management for chemical and contaminated samples.

Soft Skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills to translate complex analytical results into clear recommendations for operations, clients, and regulators.
Detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities while maintaining data integrity.
Analytical problem-solver comfortable leading root-cause investigations and implementing corrective/preventive actions.
Team player with experience supervising and mentoring junior staff and working collaboratively with cross-functional teams.
Client-facing professionalism with the ability to represent laboratory capabilities during meetings, audits, and site visits.
Adaptability to field assignments, variable schedules, and occasional emergency response requirements.
Time management and prioritization skills to ensure timely sample turnaround and regulatory reporting deadlines are met.
Ethical judgment and adherence to data integrity, confidentiality, and professional standards in laboratory practice.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Environmental Science, Chemical Engineering, or closely related scientific discipline.

Preferred Education:

Master of Science (M.S.) in Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Environmental Science or a relevant advanced degree; Ph.D. preferred for senior analytical development roles.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Analytical Chemistry
Environmental Science / Environmental Chemistry
Chemical Engineering
Microbiology (for roles with microbiological responsibilities)
Geochemistry / Hydrology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

2–7 years of hands-on laboratory experience in water chemistry, environmental testing, or industrial analytical labs for mid-level Water Chemist roles.
Entry-level: 0–2 years with internships or relevant coursework. Senior roles: 7+ years with leadership, method development, and regulatory reporting experience.

Preferred:

3–5+ years with direct experience operating ICP-MS/ICP-OES and chromatographic mass spectrometry systems in an environmental or municipal water lab.
Demonstrated experience with EPA methods, method validation, QA/QC program development, LIMS, and successful participation in accreditation programs (ISO/IEC 17025 or state certification).
Certifications such as American Chemical Society (ACS) certification, state environmental lab analyst certification, or documented completion of HAZWOPER/field safety training are advantageous.