CTE Intern-Wastewater

Internship Opportunity in Wastewater Management

Interviews for selected candidates will be held in September of 2026. The County of Nevada, Public Works Wastewater Division is offering an internship opportunity in partnership with the Nevada Joint Union High School District. Students enrolled in the CTE program are welcome to apply!

This position will be hosted in the Nevada County Public Works Wastewater Department and will report directly to the Wastewater Program Manager or the designated Supervisor.

The Nevada County Wastewater Division of the Public Works Department administers and maintains sewage collection systems and treatment facilities for Nevada County Sanitation District Number
1. There are 10 zones within the Sanitation District with facilities that collect and treat 1,245,000 gallons of wastewater each day. The Sanitation District provides sewer service to 5,230 accounts in western Nevada County with a population of 14,000.

Intern duties and responsibilities include assisting in the performance of electrical and/or mechanical work on wastewater collection system and treatment facility equipment and systems; performing semi-skilled work associated with the maintenance, construction and repair of wastewater collection systems; assisting wastewater treatment plant operators to ensure proper processing and compliance with permits; performing standard chemical and physical tests of wastewater; performing repairs, maintenance and general upkeep of equipment and facilities;

and performing related work as required. Intern duties will be assigned based on skill level and work available.

Examples of duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Working with safety protocols: personal protective equipment (PPE), hazard communication, confined space entry, etc.
• Introduction to the roles and responsibilities within a wastewater treatment plant.
• Wastewater collection system and infrastructure (sewers, pumps, etc.).
• Explanation of how wastewater moves from homes and industries to treatment plants.
• Overview of the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS)
• Explanation of the Elec/Mech work activities, role in extending service life of equipment and role in operations and cost management.
• Shadow operators, wastewater service workers, and Elec/Mech Technicians to observe day-to-day operations.
• Introduction to pumps, valves, blowers, clarifiers, and other critical equipment.
• Basic laboratory analysis: BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), TSS (Total Suspended Solids), pH, etc.
• Basic training on Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for monitoring and controlling wastewater operations.
• Accompany maintenance staff on inspection rounds and routine maintenance tasks.
• Assist in minor repairs or preventive maintenance under supervision.
• Field visit to inspect sewer lines and manholes.
• Assisting with pump station checks and routine inspections.
• Observing and assisting with smoke testing and dye testing for leak detection.
• Basic mapping exercises to locate manholes, sewer lines, and other key infrastructure.
• Participating in sampling activities and laboratory analysis.
• Conduct a mini-research project on local water quality issues or propose
• Assist with WWTP site and facilities maintenance work including painting, weed control, housekeeping and general maintenance.
• Assist with lab work and data collection
• Assist with special projects and plant equipment maintenance.
• Assisting with CCTV pipe inspections and assessment
• Assisting with sewer line, lift station and manhole inspection and cleaning
• Assisting with infrastructure locating related to 811 utility underground alert requests
• Shadowing and participating in inspections and field approvals related to new residential or commercial construction
• Assist with preventative maintenance activities related to both wastewater treatment plant and satellite locations.
• Shadow and assist in SCADA and controls
• Shadow and assist in project oversight for field work related to wastewater infrastructure.
• Exposure to programming and low voltage communications
• Assist with data collection and entry related to the District's CMMS system for work orders and completion of work reporting.

This curriculum provides a comprehensive foundation for high school students interested in wastewater management and environmental science careers. Adjustments can be made based on the student's interests, facility capabilities, available field work, mentorship availability and overall time available for the program.

Candidates selected for the position would be asked to perform a range of duties from very basic activities to those requiring higher skill levels to enhance interns' familiarity and skillset in the Wastewater industry.

Interns need to be able to stand or walk much of the time, with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, reaching, working on irregular surfaces, occasional lifting of objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds. Any disabilities preventing these standards of…