How many water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work?
----- ESTIMATING STAFFING FOR MUNICIPAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES OPERATION & MAINTENANCE PROGRAM Office of Water Program Operations U» S. Environmental Protection Agency Washington, D. C. 20460 Contract No. 68-01-0328 MARCH, 1973 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, …
Do water and wastewater treatment plants need more skilled workers?
Sep 08, 2021 · Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to become operators. Employers may prefer applicants who have completed a certificate, an associate’s, or a bachelor’s degree program in a related field such as environmental science or wastewater treatment technology.
Should a wastewater treatment plant have a different name?
The number of people employed as Water & wastewater treatment plant & system operators has been growing at a rate of 10.9%, from 89,898 people in 2018 to 99,705 people in 2019. This graphic shows the share of Water & wastewater treatment plant & system operators employed by various industries. Water, steam, air-conditioning, & irrigation ...
What is the average age of a water treatment plant operator?
51-8031 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators. Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or …
How do you size a wastewater treatment plant?
Sizing a Sewage Treatment PlantA house with three bedrooms = a minimum 5 person system.A house with four bedrooms = a minimum 6 person system (5 + 1)A house with five bedrooms = a minimum 7 person system (5 + 2)A house with six bedrooms = a minimum 8 person system (5 + 3)
How large is a water treatment plant?
A water treatment plant is designed for 30 million gallons per day (mgd). The flocculator dimensions are length = 100 ft, width = 50 ft, depth = 16 ft.
What do you call someone who works at a water treatment plant?
Water and wastewater treatment plant operators collect and test water and sewage samples. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators manage a system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Are wastewater treatment plants profitable?
Wastewater treatment revenues in the United States have more than doubled since the turn of the century and amounted to 63.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2018.Mar 17, 2022
What are the 3 types of water treatment plant?
Types of Water Treatment PlantsWastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) ... Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) ... Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP's) ... Demineralization (DM) Treatment Plants. ... Reverse Osmosis (RO) Water Treatment.May 10, 2021
What is the largest wastewater treatment plant?
The Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment FacilityThe Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Facility in Washington DC, USA, is the largest advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant of its kind in the world. It treats 330 million gallons of waste water every day.Sep 20, 2015
Is water treatment a good career?
No matter what position you are in it is a great career to open your views to how a large number of fields combine to create one product. Since the process is slower you really get a chance to learn something and watch it work in real time which helps you understand it. It is also very hands on.
How waste water treatment plant works?
As we have seen, wastewater flows into an aeration tank and becomes mixed with water during aeration. Afterward, the wastewater flows into a settling tank or secondary clarifier. There, some of the biosolids clump together and settle to the tank bottom, forming what the waste industry calls flocs, or a sludge blanket.Jan 20, 2021
Is water technology a good career?
Great Pay! Luckily for you, a career in Water Treatment or Distribution can offer you this type of financial freedom. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the 2010 median pay for a Water Treatment Plant Operator was $40,770 which works out to about $19.60 per hour.Mar 19, 2019
What education do you need to be a wastewater treatment plant operator?
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. Education. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to become operators.
How much will the water and wastewater industry decline in 2029?
Employment of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators is projected to decline 4 percent from 2019 to 2029. As water and wastewater treatment plants become more advanced due to automation, fewer workers may be needed.
How to become a water treatment plant operator?
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 are the duties of a water treatment plant?
Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators typically do the following: Add chemicals, such as ammonia or chlorine, to disinfect water or other liquids.
Where does wastewater go?
Used water, also known as wastewater, travels through sewer pipes to treatment plants where it is treated and either returned to streams, rivers, and oceans, or used for irrigation. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators often perform physically demanding tasks.
What is the job of a sewage disposal technician?
Operate equipment to purify and clarify water or to process or dispose of sewage. Clean and maintain equipment, tanks, filter beds, and other work areas. Follow U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.
Where does fresh water come from?
Fresh water is pumped from wells, rivers, streams, or reservoirs to water treatment plants, where it is treated and distributed to customers. Water treatment plant and system operators run the equipment, control the processes, and monitor the plants that treat water to make it safe to drink.
About
Water & wastewater treatment plant & system operators are most often employed by the Water, steam, air-conditioning, & irrigation systems industry. The average yearly wage for Water & wastewater treatment plant & system operators was $53,707 in 2016.
Employment
Information on the businesses and industries that employ Water & wastewater treatment plant & system operators and on wages and locations for those in the field.
Wages
In 2019, Water & wastewater treatment plant & system operators earned an average of $53,707, $1,817 less than than the average national salary of $55,524.
Industries
The most common industries employing Water & wastewater treatment plant & system operators, by number of employees, are Water, steam, air-conditioning, & irrigation systems, Sewage treatment facilities, Construction, Waste management & remediation services, Executive offices & legislative bodies, Administration of environmental quality & housing programs, Industrial & miscellaneous chemicals, Electric power generation, transmission & distribution, Motor vehicles & motor vehicle equipment manufacturing, Electric & gas, and other combinations, and Support activities for mining..
Diversity
Demographic information on Water & wastewater treatment plant & system operators in the US.
Education
Data on higher education choices for Water & wastewater treatment plant & system operators from The Department of Education and Census Bureau.
Skills
Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for Water & wastewater treatment plant & system operators from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Water & wastewater treatment plant & system operators need many skills, but most especially Operation Monitoring, Monitoring, and Operation and Control.
How to build a plant?
A good layout can often be helpful in public acceptance of the project. Consider the following: 1 Locate the plant downwind of residences and other concerned neighbors. 2 Keep some buffer between residences and the nearest plant facility (say 500 ft.). 3 Build odorous facilities farthest from residences (i.e. headworks). 4 Cover and/or house the odor causing facilities, provide necessary ventilation and air scrubbing.
How tall are chemical scrubbers?
The chemicals oxidize hydrogen sulfide and other odorous compounds producing innocuous byproducts. If the owners prefer chemical scrubbers, they usually will be tall (10 to 15 ft.), but can be hidden behind an architecturally designed wall facing the neighbors. In exceptional cases, the wall can have a nice mural painted on it to enhance appearance. [See Figure 1]
Where is Tillman Water Reclamation Plant located?
A plant located in the Los Angeles area, owned and operated by the city of Los Angeles—the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant—houses a beautiful Japanese Garden on its property (below), which is regularly visited by tourists and has become a sought-after place for holding wedding ceremonies and receptions.
Did the citizens believe in old plants?
This is what the citizens have always believed, and they probably are right. They have likely visited some old plant designed at a time when either the odor was not an issue (remote location perhaps) or the technologies to confine and treat odors were not available.
Is membrane bioreactor better than activated sludge?
For example, membrane bioreactors (MBR), by virtue of their smaller footprint, may be a better treatment process than conventional activated sludge. In small size plants, with MBRs, it may be possible to eliminate primary clarifiers, which often generate more odors than other processes at the plant.
Should structures be off-set?
This should be avoided. Structures, if possible, should be off-set, rotated, and separated to provide a more open appearance. The bottom line is to be conscious and appreciative of the needs and concerns of the neighbors, and to build facilities that are compatible with their homes and businesses.
Should natural terrain be scarred?
Natural terrain should not be scarred to the extent possible, if the existing terrain is pleasing. Structures built in the project should blend in. Too often, treatment facilities are laid out in straight lines and pushed together, resulting in the appearance of an industrial facility. This should be avoided.
Notices & Alerts
Wastewater treatment plants range from small privately-owned facilities treating sanitary wastewater from a housing development to large regional facilities treating millions of gallons a day of sanitary and industrial wastewater. Plants owned by municipalities are commonly called Publicly-Owned Treatment Plants, or POTWs.
Lists of treatment plants by town and type
A list of treatment plants with permits to discharge wastewater to groundwater:
Gap III Energy Grant
The Massachusetts Gap Energy Grant Program provides state grant assistance to Municipal and District drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities for installing energy efficiency measures (e.g., variable speed drives; pumping, aeration, and HVAC upgrades etc.) and clean energy generation projects (solar photovoltaic, in-line hydropower, water source heat pumps etc.) at their plants and pumping stations..
Regulations for Wastewater Treatment Plants and Operators
The process for evaluation and certification of wastewater-treatment-facility operators.
Tools & Resources for Treatment Plant Owners and Operators
This webinar series is aimed at improving surface water quality and reducing potential impacts on drinking water by educating permittees on Clean Water Act - National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements.
Training Information for Treatment Plants and Operators
Training and certification exams for Massachusetts Wastewater Operators are provided by the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC).
What is an oxidation ditch?
Oxidation ditches are suitable for facilities thatrequire nutrient removal, have limitations due to thenature of the site, or want a biological system thatsaves energy with limited use of chemicals unlessrequired for further treatment. Oxidation ditchtechnology can be used to treat any type ofwastewater that is responsive to aerobicdegradation. In addition, systems can be designedfor denitrification and phosphorous removal.
What is sequencing batch reactor?
sequencing batch reactor (SBR) is a variation ofthe activated sludge process. As a fill and draw orbatch process, all biological treatment phases occurin a single tank. This differs from the conventionalflow through activated sludge process in that SBRsdo not require separate tanks for aeration andsedimentation (Kappe, 1999). SBR systems containeither two or more reactor tanks that are operated inparallel, or one equalization tank and one reactortank. The type of tank used depends on thewastewater flow characteristics (e.g. high or lowvolume). While this setup allows the system toaccommodate continuous influent flow, it does notprovide for disinfection or holding for aeratedsludge.
What is extended aeration?
The extended aeration process is one modificationof the activated sludge process which providesbiological treatment for the removal ofbiodegradable organic wastes under aerobicconditions. Air may be supplied by mechanical ordiffused aeration to provide the oxygen required tosustain the aerobic biological process. Mixing mustbe provided by aeration or mechanical means tomaintain the microbial organisms in contact withthe dissolved organics. In addition, the pH must becontrolled to optimize the biological process andessential nutrients must be present to facilitatebiological growth and the continuation of biologicaldegradation.
What are the components of an oxidation ditch?
Key components of a typical oxidation ditchinclude a screening device, an influent distributor(with some systems), a basin or channel, aerationdevices (mechanical aerators, jet mixers, ordiffusers, depending on the manufacturer), asettling tank or final clarifier (with some systems),and an RAS system (with some systems).Typically , the basin and the clarifier areindividually sized to meet the specific requirementsof each facility. These components are often builtto share a common wall in order to reduce costs andsave space (Lakeside, 1999).Concrete tanks are typically used when installingpackage plant oxidation ditches. This results inlower maintenance costs as concrete tanks do notrequire periodic repainting or sand blasting.Fabricated steel or a combination of steel andconcrete can also be used for construction,depending on site conditions (Lakeside, 1999).
What is a package plant?
Package plants are pre-manufactured treatmentfacilities used to treat wastewater in smallcommunities or on individual properties .Accordingto manufacturers, package plants can bedesigned to treat flows as low as 0.002 MGD or ashighas 0.5 MGD,although they more commonlytreatflows between 0.01 and 0.25 MGD (Metcalfand Eddy, 1991).
Where are package treatment plants used?
They are most often used inremote locations such as trailer parks, highway restareas, and rural areas.
Where is the Aldie Wastewater Treatment Plant located?
The Aldie Wastewater Treatment Plant, located inAldie , Virginia, is an extended aeration facilitywhich treats an average of 0.0031 MGD with adesign flow of 0.015 MGD. This technology waschosen because it would allow the area to meetpermit requirements while minimizing land use.The plant consists of an influent chamber whichdirects the flow to two parallel aeration basins,parallel clarifiers, and a UV disinfection system.
What is the purpose of lifting grates over waterways and tanks?
When you lift grates over waterways and tanks for access, cordon off the area and place hazard warning signs to prevent accidental falls. Water treatment plants have pumps and valves for moving water and many moving parts such as screens, belt presses, and conveyors remove debris and move sludge.
How to practice good hygiene?
Practice good hygiene by wearing gloves and washing your hands frequently. Decontaminate your clothing or change before you go home from work. Speak to your doctor and consider vaccination for some of the hazards that you may encounter. Wastewater treatment can be a challenging work environment.
What is wastewater treatment?
Wastewater treatment workers treat sewer and storm water to remove impurities and then release the water to rivers, oceans, or recycled irrigation and landscaping networks. Operators in wastewater plants use mechanical equipment, treatment tanks, and chemicals to clean the water.
What is electrical safety?
Electrical safety is key when working in a wet environment, so work carefully. Also follow lockout/tagout procedures to guard against accidental equipment startup while you are working on it. Chemicals and biological hazards abound in water treatment.
What are the dangers of water treatment facilities?
Wear shoes that have a non-slip sole. Confined spaces are a serious concern at water treatment facilities. Exposures to a low oxygen environment or high levels of hydrogen sulfide, methane gas, or ammonia can cause serious illness or death.
Is wastewater treatment a challenging job?
Wastewater treatment can be a challenging work environment. Plants often operate continuously, so shift work and emergency work are common. Long work shifts wearing PPE can be tiring. To deal with the workload and job demands, get the rest you need and maintain your overall health.