- Water is one of our society’s most important resources. While most people take it for granted, it takes a lot of work to get water from natural sources—reservoirs, streams, and groundwater—into our taps.
- Similarly, it is a complicated process to convert the wastewater in our drains and sewers into a form that is safe to release into the environment.
- Water treatment plant and system operators run the equipment, control the processes, and monitor the plants that treat water so that it is safe to drink.
- Liquid waste treatment plant and system operators do similar work to remove pollutants from domestic and industrial waste.
- Fresh water is pumped from wells, rivers, streams, and reservoirs to water treatment plants, where it is treated and distributed to customers.
- Used water, also known as wastewater, travels through sewage pipes to treatment plants where it is treated and either returned to streams, rivers, and oceans, or reused for irrigation.
- Operators in both types of plants control equipment and monitor processes that remove or destroy harmful materials, chemicals, and microorganisms from the water.
- They also run tests to make sure that the processes are working correctly and keep records of water quality and other indicators.
- Water and wastewater treatment plant operators operate and maintain the pumps and motors that move water and wastewater through filtration systems.
- They monitor the indicators at their plants and make adjustments as necessary.
- They read meters and gauges to make sure that plant equipment is working properly.
- They take samples and run tests to determine the quality of the water being produced.
- At times, they may adjust the amount of chemicals, such as chlorine and fluorine, being added to the water.
- The specific duties of plant operators depend on the type and size of the plant.
- In a small plant, one operator may be responsible for maintaining all of the systems.
- This operator would most likely work during the day and be on call during nights and weekends.
- In medium-size plants, operators may work in shifts to monitor the plant at all hours of the day. In large plants, multiple operators work the same shifts and are more specialized in their duties, often relying on computerized systems to help monitor plant processes.
- Occasionally, operators must work during emergencies.
- Weather conditions may cause large amounts of storm water and wastewater to flow into sewers, exceeding a plant’s capacity.
- Emergencies also may be caused by malfunctions within a plant, such as chemical leaks or oxygen deficiencies.
- Operators are trained in emergency management procedures and use safety equipment to protect their health, as well as that of the public.
- As new plants are constructed, new water and wastewater treatment plant and system operator jobs will arise.
- Local government are the largest employers of water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators.
- The number of applicants for these jobs is normally low, primarily because of the physically demanding and unappealing nature of some of the work.
- Opportunities should be best for people with mechanical aptitude and problem-solving skills.
Other workers whose main activity consists of operating a system of machinery to process or produce materials include Chemical plant and system operators; Gas plant operators; Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers; Power plant operators, distributers, and dispatchers; Stationary engineers and boiler operators.
- High school diploma
- Certificate or associate degree programs in water-quality and wastewater-treatment technology.
This career information is drawn from data provided by the U.S. Department of Labor.