Paid Internships in Wastewater Treatment and Collection

Central San is an award-winning special district of the State of California that provides wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal services; recycled water production and distribution; and household hazardous waste collection.  We serve nearly 500,000 residents and over 15,000 businesses in Contra Costa County and have approximately 300 employees, all of whom are proud of our mission to protect public health and the environment.

Central San is committed to being an industry-leading organization known for environmental stewardship, innovation, and delivering exceptional customer service.

Our internships are six-month commitments, typically beginning in January and July, and are on-site in Martinez, California, for 40 hours per week, Monday through Friday. These assignments allow students to apply their academic preparation to practical work experience in a wastewater utility environment.

To be eligible, candidates must be an enrolled college junior (60 or more semester units), senior, or graduate student, or have graduated within the past 12 months; must possess a valid California Driver's License and have a satisfactory driving record; and must be eligible to work in the United States. Interested students can submit a cover letter, resume, and unofficial transcript(s) to intern@centralsan.org.

Operations Department

Operations Optimization Division (1 position)

Process Innovations and Efficiency

This position will assist with nutrient removal, odor control and secondary clarifier projects, other process optimization efforts, and treatment plant preliminary design and planning projects. Typical work includes engineering assistance with data collection, reviewing past project drawings and technical reports, literature review, developing presentations, and data analysis. Candidates should have knowledge of spreadsheet development, word processing, and fundamental physics and chemistry; be able to organize work assignments and learn to use industry-specific software; design and perform project-specific tasks; write clear, concise reports; aid personnel in any field work; work independently; and be self-motivated, patient, and respectful. Please include work availability and total class units with the application for this position if interested in a reduced schedule. Preferred qualifications: Pursuing a degree in environmental, civil, chemical, or mechanical engineering. 

Engineering and Technical Services Department

Planning and Development Services Division (2 positions)

Recycled Water

This position will assist with implementing Central San's commercial, residential, and recycled water distribution programs and assist staff in planning and evaluating recycled water projects. Typical work includes routine customer interaction; helping with recycled water distribution system operations and maintenance engineering support tasks; interdepartmental coordination; report writing; literature review; internet research; recycled water usage tracking and billing; regulation tracking; and assistance in developing program guidelines, documents, and manuals. Applicants may work on tasks or assignments related to collection system or treatment plant projects as needed. Candidates should be able to organize work assignments; learn to use industry-specific software; design and perform project-specific tasks; write clear, concise reports; aid personnel in any field work; work independently; and be self-motivated, patient, and respectful. Please include work availability and total class units with the application for this position if interested in a reduced schedule. Preferred qualifications: Pursuing a degree in environmental, civil, chemical, mechanical, or related engineering majors. Knowledge of computer spreadsheet development, word processing, and fundamental physics and chemistry. 

Development Services

This position will assist with various tasks associated with the design, permitting, and construction of sewers for new and infill land development. Typical work includes assisting the permit counter with administrative duties, processing of sewer service applications, and reviewing engineering plans submitted by developers, contractors, and/or consultants for conformance with Central San’s standards and ordinances. Other duties include interacting with contractors and the public at both the Permit counter and in the field for construction projects; assisting the construction inspection group to ensure contractual compliance with plans, specifications, codes, and safety requirements, including checking cut sheets for line and grade; and verifying that materials being incorporated into a project are per specification. Applicants should have the ability to communicate effectively; learn to use industry-specific software; perform project-specific tasks; write clear, concise reports; aid personnel in any field work; work independently; and be self-motivated, patient, and respectful. Please include work availability and total class units with the application for this position if interested in a reduced schedule.Preferred qualifications: Pursuing a degree in environmental, civil, chemical, mechanical, or related engineering majors. Knowledge of computer spreadsheet development, word processing, and basic physics and chemistry.

Capital Projects Division (4 positions)

Survey Support Section

This position seeks civil engineering majors to assist the Capital Projects Division with design and construction projects. The position supports the Collection System Group sewer renovation program, Treatment Plant Group, Right-of-Way, and development review projects. Duties will include performing both office and field land surveying. Typical work includes managing small consulting tasks, calculating survey maps, using CAD systems, planning and researching projects, reviewing plans and land records, reviewing legal descriptions and plats, assisting with CAD drafting, and assisting with GPS and conventional surveys. Preferred qualifications: Completion of a survey course.

Collection System Program

This position seeks environmental, civil, mechanical, or related engineering majors to assist with collection system design and construction projects. This position will work with engineering and survey staff to replace and improve critical infrastructure in the surrounding cities, utilizing trenchless technologies, such as cured-in-place lining, pipe bursting, and horizontal directional drilling. Typical work includes determining and verifying field conditions, engineering calculations, data analysis, field surveying, researching equipment and construction methods, writing project documents and memoranda, preparing design details for project drawings, and assisting design and construction management teams. Projects currently under design and construction involve the replacement and rehabilitation of sewer pipelines, maintenance access hole structures, and various improvements in the collection system and pumping stations. Please include work availability and total class units with the application for this position if interested in a reduced schedule.

Treatment Plant Program

This position seeks environmental, civil, chemical, mechanical, or related engineering majors to assist the Capital Projects Treatment Plant Group in treatment plant design and construction projects. This position will work with engineering and treatment plant operations staff to replace and improve critical infrastructure in an active wastewater treatment plant. Typical work includes determining and verifying field conditions, engineering calculations, data analysis, field surveying, researching equipment and construction methods, writing project documents and memoranda, preparing design details for project drawings, and assisting design and construction management teams. Projects currently underway include process, structural, and mechanical system rehabilitation; solids handling facilities planning and design; equipment and piping rehabilitation; energy management; recycled water; safety enhancements; electrical instrumentation and controls upgrades; fire and security alarm systems; and similar projects. Please include work availability and total class units with your application for this position if interested in a reduced schedule.