
Water treatment plant operators typically do the following:
- Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect water or other liquids
- Inspect equipment on a regular basis
- Monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges
- Collect and test water and sewage samples
- Record meter and gauge readings, and operational data
- Operate equipment to purify and clarify water, or to process or dispose of sewage
How to become a water plant operator?
Oct 02, 2020 · 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 are the different plant operator jobs?
A water treatment plant operator works with a team of other operators to oversee the treatment of wastewater and production of drinking water at a treatment plant. As a water treatment plant operator, your responsibilities include monitoring the treatment system to ensure that plant processes are working as expected. While the majority of treatment and testing is automated, …
What is the job of a plant operator?
Oct 11, 2019 · Water treatment plant operators play an important role in society. They are on the frontlines of protecting public health by ensuring that the water that is delivered to their customers is safe and wholesome. To accomplish this they use a skill set that includes critical thinking, mechanical ability, mathematics, and problem solving.
What does a water treatment plant operator do?
A water treatment operator has the duties of cleaning and maintaining equipment, filter beds, tanks, and other work areas. They must follow U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and ensure safety standards are met. Since water plants are open 24-7, these worker’s schedules vary.

What is the primary responsibility of water treatment plant operators?
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 is the job description of a plant operator?
A plant operator's primary role is to supervise and oversee operations in an industrial setting. They are responsible for controlling machinery and equipment, coordinating with fellow officers, monitoring the quality of progress among a particular unit or department, and maintaining daily operations records.
What happens at a water treatment works?
As sewage enters a plant for treatment, it flows through a screen, which removes large floating objects such as rags and sticks that might clog pipes or damage equipment. After sewage has been screened, it passes into a grit chamber, where cinders, sand, and small stones settle to the bottom.
How much does a wastewater treatment plant operator make in Canada?
The average salary for a wastewater operator is $28.23 per hour in Canada.
Is plant operator a good job?
Jobs are reliable Job opportunities within the construction industry are continuously increasing, and employers are known to favour those who are certified in plant machinery. If you're looking for job security, this is the career for you.
How long does plant operator course take?
Duration: 3 Months (1 month driving, 2 months Plant operator) This fee is inclusive of tuition fee and exam fee.
What are the 5 stages of water treatment?
The 5 major unit processes include chemical coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection (described below). There are chemicals added to the water as it enters the various treatment processes.
What are the 4 steps of water treatment?
4 Steps of Community Water TreatmentCoagulation and Flocculation. ... Sedimentation. ... Filtration. ... Disinfection. ... Learn More. ... Recommended Readings.
Where does water go when it goes down the drain?
Where does the water go after you flush the toilet or drain the sinks in your home? When the wastewater flushed from your toilet or drained from your household sinks, washing machine, or dishwasher leaves your home, it flows through your community's sanitary sewer system to a wastewater treatment facility.
Water Treatment Plant Operator: Is it a good career?
A career as a water treatment plant operator is meaningful, engaging, and very rewarding. Water treatment plant operators play an important role in society. They are on the frontlines of protecting public health by ensuring that the water that is delivered to their customers is safe and wholesome.
What does a water treatment plant operator do?
As the job title says, they spend their time operating water treatment plants to produce drinking water! This means they may be physically operating different water treatment processes of the plant by turning valves to control the flow of water.
Where do water treatment operators work?
Water treatment operators often work for local public governments. This includes both big cities and small towns. Many other operators are employed by other public or private utilities that provide drinking water and wastewater services.
How much do water treatment operators get paid?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the median water operator salary in 2018 was $46,780. The average starting salary for a new operator with no experience was around $28,300, while the average for a very experienced operator was $76,200.
What is the difference between water operator treatment grades?
The different water operator treatment grades may be confusing when you are first learning about the career. Each state has slightly different ways that they breakdown the different operator grades. Most states have somewhere from four to five different grades.
What is required to become a certified water treatment operator?
As discussed above, there are anywhere from four to five different water treatment operator classifications, depending on your state. Water treatment operator I certification is the easiest to obtain and has the least amount of prerequisites.
How to find a job as a water treatment operator?
A google search with “water operator jobs” followed by your city or state should reveal a number of possibilities. There are services that aggregate verified water job postings, such as BC Water Jobs (which is nationwide) or California Water Jobs . Your state may have similar type of websites.
What is water treatment operator?
A water treatment operator manages a system of machines to transfer or treat water or wastewater. They monitor meters, operating conditions, and gauges through the use of control boards. They also document and track data from the gauge and meter readings. They work for local governments on a full-time basis.
What are the duties of a plant operator?
However, they typically have the job of adding chemicals to disinfect water or other liquids. They must regularly inspect equipment and monitor operating conditions, gauges, and meters. They collect and test sewage and water samples in addition to them keeping ...
What do water operators do?
Most operators work for local governments, while some work for utilities. Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators work in conditions that are at times noisy and odorous. Slippery walkways, dangerous gases, and the potential of equipment to malfunction present significant hazards. They must prepare for emergencies ...
What is wastewater treatment?
Wastewater treatment plant and system operators run systems that remove pollutants from domestic and industrial waste from sewer pipe to treatment plants until it is returned to streams and oceans or is used for irrigation. Most operators work for local governments, while some work for utilities.
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 is location quotient?
Location Quotient is a measure used by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to determine how concentrated a certain industry is in a single state compared to the nation as a whole. You can read more about how BLS calculates location quotients here
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.
What is wastewater treatment?
Wastewater treatment plant and system operators remove pollutants from domestic and industrial waste. 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. <- Summary Work Environment ->.
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.
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.
