Full Answer
How long does it take to become a water operator?
Work Experience: eight years experience in public water system operations, six of which must be "hands-on". Applicants with a High School diploma or GED may substitute up to two years of experience with college hours or additional TCEQ approved water operator training.
How much does a water and wastewater treatment plant operator make?
Additionally, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains that in 2018 the average salary for water and wastewater treatment plant operators was $46,780 USD per year. “I became an operator first and foremost because of my love of the environment and desire to be a part of protecting it."
How many water and wastewater treatment operators pass state certification each year?
Only half of the water and wastewater treatment operators pass their state certification exams each year. 99% of American Water College students who put in the work and complete their course, pass their exams the first time.
How do I become a certified wastewater treatment technician?
Certification is also required typically through state agencies. These agencies often offer training courses and study materials that help students prepare for their certification examinations. Certain colleges and universities also offer wastewater treatment classes through certificate programs in the field.
How do I get a Class C water treatment license in Texas?
To become licensed as a public water system operator, an applicant must: complete the required course training, meet the required education, meet the required experience, complete the TCEQ application and pay the fee ($111), and pass the applicable exam (minimum score of 70 percent).
How do I become a water treatment operator in Canada?
To become a certified Class I drinking water operator, you must:hold, or have previously held, an Operator-in-Training certificate.complete the entry-level drinking water operator course.work at least 1 year in a municipal drinking water system.pass the applicable Class I examination.
How do I get a Class C water treatment license in Illinois?
Class “C” Certification Education and Experience Class "C" Water Supply Operator Certificates require graduation from high school* or the equivalent (GED) and not less than 1780 hours of acceptable study, training, and responsible experience in Class C water supply operation or management.
How do you get a Class C water license in Florida?
An applicant for a class C water license must pass educational and examination standards, plus work in the industry, before applying for the license. Complete a class approved by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) in water or wastewater treatment.
How do you get into water treatment?
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators need long-term on-the-job training to become fully qualified. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically need at least a high school diploma or equivalent and a license to work. They also complete on-the-job training.
What is OIT exam?
Exam Prep Review for Operator-in-Training (OIT): Water Treatment and Distribution (WT-11-CT): This five-day course prepares participants to write and pass the Operator-in-Training for Water Treatment and Water Distribution licensing examinations.
What is a Class A water?
By designation, the Cambridge Water Supply is a "Class A" water source that shall also be an excellent habitat for fish, other aquatic life, and wildlife, and shall be suitable for primary and secondary contact recreation even if not allowed.
What is a Class D water license Oklahoma?
Class "C" Water/Wastewater Operator. Class "D" Water/Wastewater Operator.
What is a Florida operator license?
The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles issues the following classes of licenses: Class A, B, C, D, and E. Classes A, B, and C are for drivers of commercial motor vehicles such as large trucks and buses. Classes D and E are for drivers of non-commercial vehicles.
What are the duties and responsibilities of water treatment plant operator?
Water Plant Operators are responsible for managing and monitoring the processes of a water treatment plant. Their duties include operating treatment plants and apparatus, cleaning screens and filters, adding chemicals, monitoring gas and water levels, taking reading as well as inspecting wastewater and water samples.
What Does A Wastewater Treatment Operator do?
Working as part of a dedicated team Wastewater Treatment Operators support the successful operation and maintenance of the wastewater treatment pla...
Where Does A Wastewater Treatment Operator Work?
Wastewater Treatment Operators work mainly for government or developers and work within a treatment plant facility. Wastewater Treatment Operators...
What Is The Average Wastewater Treatment Operator Salary?
The median salary range for a Wastewater Treatment Operator is $42,760 USD per year or $20.56 per hour. Employment for Wastewater Treatment Operato...
Wastewater Treatment Jobs & Job Description
Wastewater treatment operators are critical to public health. Together with engineers, administrators and scientists, they work toward the manageme...
What Do Wastewater Treatment Operators Study?
Wastewater Treatment Operators must have a degree in Science or Engineering. Certification is also required typically through state agencies. These...
What Kind of Societies and Professional Organizations Do Wastewater Treatment Operators have?
1. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) is the largest association dedicated to managing and treating water. The AWWA provides education to...
What is wastewater treatment operator?
A Wastewater Treatment Operator maintains a variety of plant equipment in connection with the operation of a large wastewater treatment plants, directs lower level operators and performs related work as required.
What are the skills required to be a wastewater operator?
Wastewater treatment operator roles do vary from organization to organization, but most will have the following tasks as part of their scope: Strong mathematical, mechanical and science skills. Ability to engage in logical processes for troubleshooting. Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
What are the duties of a wastewater operator?
Senior wastewater treatment operators have a depth of experience and management skill that illustrate a ‘leader' mentality and skillset. In addition to the standard role, wastewater treatment managers may be required to perform the following as part of the scope of senior duties: 1 Evaluate and troubleshoot operations at various water and wastewater sites 2 Identify risks and opportunities for efficiencies and improvement 3 Support existing contract operations sites, including evaluations and troubleshooting 4 Implement new technical solutions or best operating practices 5 Periodic auditing of overseer and/or supervisor roles at contract operations sites 6 Develop and implement processes to meet customer needs. 7 Implement best operating practices 8 Train operations staff on new and innovative operational approaches 9 Support business development activities 10 Conduct due diligence checks amongst human resource and mechanical processes 11 Prepare operational plans and strategies 12 Develop operational budgets 13 Writing operational and/or technical sections for proposals and manuals 14 Managing transitions for new contract operations sites
What is the American Water Works Association?
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) is the largest association dedicated to managing and treating water. The AWWA provides education to water professionals, advocates for safe and sustainable water, collects and shares journals and scientific reports and creates volunteering opportunities.
How much does a water treatment plant operator make?
Additionally, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains that in 2018 the average salary for water and wastewater treatment plant operators was $46,780 USD per year.
Why do I need to be a certified water operator?
Becoming a certified operator also offers individuals the opportunity to make a difference in society on a daily basis . Clean and safe water is essential to everyday life and operators have the ability to regularly impact that need.
What is HTO course?
Review information management technologies, both server-based and Web-hosted. Participants will discuss and compare management systems, as well as applications available for collecting and managing performance data and methods available for securing and storing online information. HTO courses can be taken in any order.
How many hours of training is on WSO?
The WSO Channel includes 60+ full length videos covering 20 hours of certification and training content for operators. Strengthen the practices and procedures of your operator employees.
What is the job of an operator?
Operators can work in various areas, such as water, wastewater, distribution and reuse. These operators maintain equipment and processes to monitor and affect water as it moves through the treatment and distribution cycles.
What is a certified operator?
Certified operators are a critical part of providing an adequate and safe supply of water. Operators are typically responsible for a variety of tasks centered around operating and maintaining a system or plant. They typically work in a selection of capacities: water treatment, distribution, water collection, or wastewater.
What degree do utilities need?
Some positions may require a high school diploma, while others demand a stronger math and chemistry background, or an Associate’s or Undergraduate degree.
How much does a water treatment operator make?
Water Treatment Operators in America make an average salary of $41,243 per year or $20 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $57,000 per year, while the bottom 10 percent under $29,000 per year.
What are the best states to work in water treatment?
The best states for people in this position are Washington, California, Idaho, and Kansas. Water treatment operators make the most in Washington with an average salary of $72,658. Whereas in California and Idaho, they would average $71,350 and $59,746, respectively. While water treatment operators would only make an average of $57,427 in Kansas, you would still make more there than in the rest of the country. We determined these as the best states based on job availability and pay. By finding the median salary, cost of living, and using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Location Quotient, we narrowed down our list of states to these four.
When did the USEPA start certifying water systems?
In 1998, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) established guidelines for the certification and re-certification of operators of community and non-transient non-community public water systems. On January 1, 2001, new state regulations were adopted to comply with these guidelines and the existing water treatment operator ...
What is the DWOCP?
The DWOCP was originally under the Department of Health Services and then the California Department of Public Health. In 2014, the DWOCP was transferred to the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) in the Division of Financial Assistance. The DWOCP is responsible for the testing and certification of approximately 35,000 water treatment ...
What is a wastewater treatment operator?
A wastewater treatment operator is a STEM professional who monitors, controls and operates machinery and testing processes at a water treatment plant. Wastewater treatment operators help make water safe to drink and use by implementing effective treatment processes. These practices identify and eliminate pollutants in an area's water supply.
What does a wastewater treatment operator do?
Wastewater treatment operators work in water treatment facilities to ensure their area's water is safe to drink and use. Here's a list of their primary duties:
How to become a wastewater treatment operator
A professional's journey to becoming a wastewater treatment operator can vary depending on the state they live in and the organization they wish to work for. However, you can follow these steps to meet the general qualifications of a wastewater treatment operator:
FAQ about wastewater treatment operators
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about being a wastewater operator:
Education and Work Experience
- Education: degree major must be in chemistry, biology, engineering, microbiology, bacteriology, or another similar discipline as approved by the TCEQ Executive Director.
- Work Experience: four years of "hands-on" experience in public water system operations.
- Education: degree major must be in chemistry, biology, engineering, microbiology, bacteriology, or another similar discipline as approved by the TCEQ Executive Director.
- Work Experience: four years of "hands-on" experience in public water system operations.
Training Courses
- Core Courses:Basic Waterworks Operation, Surface Water Production I, Surface Water Production II, Groundwater Production, Water Distribution, Water Laboratory, Water Utility Management, and Water U...
- Elective Course: Plus an additional 20 hours of training to meet the 184 hour requirement.
Application and Examination
- Submit an application and fee ($111) to the TCEQ. Once your application is approved, sign up for an exam at the Austin Region, your local computer-based testing center or any TWUA regional schoolthat the TCEQ is attending (currently this includes all locations except for Fort Stockton). Due to the six-hour length of the exam, paper-based exams are only available at the Austin Regio…
Education and Work Experience Requirements
- Education: degree major must be in chemistry, biology, engineering, microbiology, bacteriology, or another similar discipline as approved by the TCEQ Executive Director.
- Work Experience: 2.5 years of "hands-on" experience. At least one half of the work experience must be obtained in the specific field for the license that is requested.
Class D Exceptions
- Most Class D licenses are not renewable. See Continuing Education and Renewal Requirementsfor details. An individual who previously held a Class D license shall not apply for a new Class D license if the individual: 1. currently operates facilities at groundwater treatment systems of 250 connections or more; 2. currently operates facilities at groundwater treatment s…
Renewal Requirements
- Occupational licenses are valid for three years then must be renewed with TCEQ. Renewal applicants must have completed the required CE requirements, submit a renewal application and criminal history attestation, and pay the renewal fee. Detailed information can be found on the renewalwebpage. 1. A public water operations company must initially register, and renew every t…