Water Treatment Plant Operator
A Water Treatment Plant Operator is responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe, clean water to residential, commercial, and industrial consumers. They oversee the treatment process of water sourced from reservoirs and other locations, applying chemical treatments to meet health standards. The work environment can vary from small municipal facilities to larger plants, with operators performing daily tasks such as monitoring systems, managing chemical treatment processes, conducting inspections, and maintaining equipment.
Operators typically work long hours and may be on call for emergencies, emphasizing the need for discipline and organization. Educational requirements generally include a high school diploma, with further training often gained through long-term, on-the-job experience or relevant technical programs. The profession also involves familiarity with technology, as operators utilize computer systems for monitoring and data collection. Despite the essential role of Water Treatment Plant Operators, employment opportunities in this field are projected to decline, highlighting the shifting landscape of water management careers.
Water Treatment Plant Operator
Snapshot
Career Cluster(s): Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources
Interests: Mechanical engineering, chemistry, technology, public works and infrastructure, computer science, inspection and data collection
Earnings (Yearly Median): $54,890 per year $26.39 per hour
Employment & Outlook: -6% (Decline)
Entry-Level Education High school diploma or equivalent
Related Work Experience None
On-the-job Training Long-term on-the-job training
Overview
Sphere of Work. Water treatment plant operators oversee the provision of fresh water for residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Water arrives at treatment facilities from various sources, including reservoirs and watersheds. Plant operators treat the water with chemicals so it conforms to health regulations and is safe to use and consume. Some water treatment plants provide specially treated water to chemical production facilities, such as deionized or demineralized water.
Work Environment. Water treatment plants exist where safe, consumable water is needed. They are also often located near chemical and industrial facilities. Water treatment facilities exist in large urban areas and rural cities and towns. The size of a water treatment plant varies depending on the number of people and locations it services. A water treatment plant operator might be responsible for many tasks at small facilities. At extensive facilities, tasks are more specialized and apportioned among a larger workforce.
Water treatment plant operators may be required to work in shifts or be on call during nights and the weekends. Water treatment plant operators are expected to be available twenty-four hours a day during an emergency.
Occupation Interest. Aspiring water treatment plant operators should be interested in mechanical engineering, chemistry, computer science, and technology. They should also be interested in public works and infrastructure. Operators should be organized, disciplined, and willing to work long, irregular hours.
A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. Operators are responsible for the orderly function of water treatment plants. Daily tasks include monitoring, controlling, and adjusting the plant’s operation through the system control board and other computer systems. Operators also track data related to the plant.
Routine plant work includes maintenance and emergency preparedness. This involves ensuring that all of the plant’s systems, such as pumps, motors, valves, filters, and feeders, are functioning properly and adjusted for performance as necessary. Chemicals are added to treat incoming water. Proper chemical treatment of incoming water supplies is the responsibility of the water treatment plant operator. Depending on the size and technological capability of the facility, chemicals are dispensed manually or automatically via the plant’s computer system.
Operators perform inspections of plant equipment daily. They also collect water samples and record sample data to ensure that the plant operates effectively and that water quality meets standards.
Plant equipment requires routine maintenance and repair in case of a malfunction or system failure. Regular maintenance involves the cleaning of tanks and water lines. Operators may do this work themselves or with colleagues or oversee a maintenance staff. Operators are expected to ensure their plant complies with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations. Not all water treatment plants require the presence of an operator at all times. However, operators are expected to be available in an emergency. Operators must also be aware of threats to utilities including public water supplies, for example ransomware attacks, and take necessary precautions.
Water Quality Consultants. Water quality consultants study water's biological, chemical, and physical properties and test it to ensure its safety for drinking, human contact, and within the environment.
Work Environment
Immediate Physical Environment. Operators work at water treatment facilities. They often work in offices and laboratory spaces and at computer control boards, but they may also work with outdoor water infrastructure equipment. Potentially hazardous chemicals used to treat and purify water must be handled according to regulations. The job of a treatment plant operator can also involve laboratory work and administrative work.
Human Environment. Operators employed at small water treatment facilities may work independently or with a small staff. At larger treatment facilities, an operator may supervise a team of colleagues. Less experienced operators often work under the supervision of more senior colleagues. Mechanical and chemical safety hazards are present at all water treatment facilities.
Technological Environment. Water treatment plants utilize computer operating systems. They also house water testing laboratories and an array of mechanical equipment that needs to be maintained and kept in working order. Plant operators should be familiar with typical office software and equipment for tasks such as completing reports and preparing schedules.
Education, Training, and Advancement
High School/Secondary. Most employers require water treatment plant operators to possess a high school diploma or equivalent. Aspiring water treatment plant operators should study algebra, applied mathematics, and geometry. Engineering, chemistry, physics, and computer science courses are also relevant., chemistry, physics, and computer science are also relevant.
Postsecondary. Undergraduates interested in working at a water treatment facility can benefit from an environmental science or chemistry degree. Many colleges and technical schools offer certificate or associate’s degree programs in water quality management.
Related Occupations
Bibliography
"Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023 51-8031 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators." US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 3 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes518031.htm. Accessed 27 Aug. 2024.
"Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators." Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, 17 Apr. 2024, www.bls.gov/ooh/production/water-and-wastewater-treatment-plant-and-system-operators.htm. Accessed 27 Aug. 2024.