Intern Water Quality and Green Hydrogen Research Support

WSP is one of Africa’s leading and most diverse consulting firms. We are committed to diversity, equity, innovation, collaboration, and delivering sustainable solutions. Our culture empowers people to grow, take ownership, and make a positive impact.

The Opportunity

WSP is offering an internship within the Water Use & Resource Management Team in Midrand.

The intern will support a Water Research Commission (WRC) project called:

"Scoping Study to Assess Effluent Water Quality Challenges and Issues Associated with Green Hydrogen Initiatives."

This project focuses on understanding water quality, treatment requirements, wastewater management, and environmental risks associated with green hydrogen development in South Africa.

You will work alongside experienced professionals, gain practical research and project experience, and contribute to national water and sustainability initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

As the intern, you will:

Conduct literature reviews on:

Green hydrogen production
Electrolysis technologies
Water treatment requirements
Wastewater and effluent quality risks

Collect and organize information on water sources such as:

Surface water
Groundwater
Seawater
Mine-affected water
Industrial effluent
Treated municipal wastewater

Assist in developing:

Water quality databases
Data gap registers
Confidence ratings on available data

Support mapping of the water lifecycle, including:

Water sourcing
Treatment
Electrolysis processes
Wastewater generation
Reuse and discharge pathways
Residual waste management

Identify:

Water quality changes during the process
Wastewater streams
Environmental impacts
Disposal and reuse options

Support stakeholder engagement activities by:

Preparing stakeholder lists
Gathering information
Recording meeting outcomes
Tracking follow-up actions

Contribute to project risk assessments covering:

Environmental risks
Technical risks
Regulatory risks
Social risks
Operational risks

Assist with:

Progress reports
Technical summaries
Tables and figures
Project documentation

Maintain accurate project records and ensure quality control of data, references, and supporting evidence.

Promote a strong safety culture by identifying and reporting hazards, incidents, and near misses.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential Requirements
Currently studying towards, or recently completed, an Honours or Master's Degree in:
Water Resources
Environmental Science
Hydrology
Civil Engineering
Environmental Engineering
Water Quality
Chemistry
Environmental Management
Related disciplines
Advantageous

Eligibility to support WRC capacity-building programmes linked to MSc student participation.

Interest in:

Green hydrogen
Water treatment
Wastewater management
Effluent quality
Water resource assessment
Environmental protection

Experience with:

GIS
Data visualization
Statistical analysis
Referencing tools

Proficiency in:

MS Word
MS Excel
MS PowerPoint
MS Outlook

Strong technical writing and research skills.

Technical Competencies

The successful candidate should be able to:

Collect, organize, and interpret water quality and wastewater data.

Understand:

Water resources management
Water treatment processes
Water reuse
Effluent management
Environmental and regulatory requirements

Support:

Literature reviews
Technical reports
Risk assessments
Data gap analyses
Process mapping

Use Excel for:

Data management
Basic analysis
Chart preparation
Quality checking

Demonstrate an interest in the water-energy nexus, particularly green hydrogen and sustainable water management.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for someone who:

Has strong problem-solving skills.
Is curious, proactive, and detail-oriented.
Can work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Has excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Manages time effectively and meets deadlines.
Is eager to learn and respond positively to feedback.
Keeps accurate and organized records.

Location

Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa

Internship Focus

Supporting a national research project on water quality and environmental management for green hydrogen development in South Africa.