What is a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator?

Example of a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Job Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.

Daily Life Of a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator

• Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
• Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
• Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
• Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
• Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
• Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.

What Every Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Should Know

When polled, Water Treatment Plant and System Operators say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Types of Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Jobs

• Wastewater Technician
• Filter Tender
• Water Purifier Operator
• Disposal Operator
• Water Treatment Plant Operator

Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Job Outlook

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 119,200 jobs in the United States for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators.

Water Treatment Plant and System Operator jobs are decreasing by a rate of -3.2%. This means the total job opportunities are shrinking. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a loss of -3,800 jobs for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 9,200 job openings in this field each year.

The states with the most job growth for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators are Texas, Colorado, and Washington.

Watch out if you plan on working in California, Ohio, or Pennsylvania. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Salary for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators

The salary for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators ranges between about $28,300 and $76,200 a year. The median salary for this occupation is $46,780.

Below is a list of the median annual salaries for jobs of this type in different U.S. states.

Annual Mean Salary by State

State	Annual Mean Salary
California	$72,650
Connecticut	$66,560
Washington	$63,520
Alaska	$63,160
Nevada	$63,110
New Jersey	$59,590
New York	$59,190
Massachusetts	$57,320
Illinois	$57,310
Colorado	$55,890
Oregon	$55,780
Minnesota	$53,930
Hawaii	$53,530
Wyoming	$52,710
Wisconsin	$51,540
Rhode Island	$51,390
New Hampshire	$50,960
Pennsylvania	$49,810
Ohio	$49,060
Florida	$48,710
Maryland	$48,080
Vermont	$47,930
Michigan	$47,540
Arizona	$46,780
Utah	$46,480
Virginia	$46,310
Maine	$46,140
Delaware	$45,960
South Carolina	$45,240
Nebraska	$45,180
Iowa	$45,060
Idaho	$44,970
Alabama	$43,890
Missouri	$43,400
Montana	$43,270
Indiana	$42,750
North Carolina	$42,730
South Dakota	$42,580
New Mexico	$42,370
Tennessee	$41,910
Kansas	$40,210
Texas	$39,360
Georgia	$39,280
North Dakota	$38,950
Kentucky	$38,540
Louisiana	$36,910
Mississippi	$36,760
West Virginia	$36,480
Arkansas	$35,380
Oklahoma	$35,130

Tools & Technologies Used by Water Treatment Plant and System Operators

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Water Treatment Plant and System Operators:

• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Office

How to Become a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator

Are there Water Treatment Plant and System Operator education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator?

Where Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Are Employed

Related Careers

Those thinking about becoming Water Treatment Plant and System Operators might also be interested in the following careers:

• Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
• Mechanical Door Repairers
• Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay

Career changers with experience as a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator sometimes find work in one of the following fields:

• Forest and Conservation Workers

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics

College Factual

O*NET Online

Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons