Research & Development (R&D) Field Research Lab InternAt — Orange County Water District

This is a part-time internship position assisting Orange County Water District (OCWD) Research & Development scientists performing various projects focused on groundwater recharge. Responsibilities of this position include both laboratory(routine physicochemical analyses) and outdoor field work (water and soil sample acquisition).

Task:

Laboratory/ pilot system monitoring, soil and water sample acquisition, laboratory analyses, data collection, data entry, field/laboratory equipment maintenance.

Training:

Under supervision, the intern will assist scientists with projects at the Field Research Laboratory (FRL) located in Anaheim near OCWD’s groundwater recharge operations and Field Headquarters (FHQ). Managed aquifer recharge is central component of OCWD’s mission as a groundwater basin manager. OCWD’s groundwater recharge supply portfolio is comprised of Santa Ana River water (both base flow and storm flow), imported surface water, and advanced treated recycled water, which are applied to over 20 individual recharge basins that cover in excess of 1,200 acres.

Learning Outcome:

At FRL, R&D scientists and interns carry out applied research to maximize and optimize recharge, including activities such as sediment and water quality sampling and experimental studies evaluating monitoring and treatment technologies, instrumentation testing, and collaboration with universities and industry experts.