Life As a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator
Job Description: Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
What Do Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Do On a Daily Basis?
- Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
- Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
- Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
- Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
- Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
- Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
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Qualities of a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator
Water Treatment Plant and System Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Equipment Maintenance: Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Other Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Job Titles
- Watershed Tender
- Wastewater Operator (WW Operator)
- Basin Tender
- Water Control Dispatcher
- Disposal Operator
Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Job Outlook
There were about 119,200 jobs for Water Treatment Plant and System Operator in 2016 (in the United States). There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Water Treatment Plant and System Operator. The BLS estimates 9,200 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Water Treatment Plant & System Operator are Colorado, Washington, and Georgia. Watch out if you plan on working in New Jersey, Maine, or Ohio. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Average Salary
The average yearly salary of a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator ranges between $28,300 and $76,200.
Water Treatment Plant and System Operators who work in California, Connecticut, or Nevada, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $43,890 |
| Alaska | $63,160 |
| Arizona | $46,780 |
| Arkansas | $35,380 |
| California | $72,650 |
| Colorado | $55,890 |
| Connecticut | $66,560 |
| Delaware | $45,960 |
| Florida | $48,710 |
| Georgia | $39,280 |
| Hawaii | $53,530 |
| Idaho | $44,970 |
| Illinois | $57,310 |
| Indiana | $42,750 |
| Iowa | $45,060 |
| Kansas | $40,210 |
| Kentucky | $38,540 |
| Louisiana | $36,910 |
| Maine | $46,140 |
| Maryland | $48,080 |
| Massachusetts | $57,320 |
| Michigan | $47,540 |
| Minnesota | $53,930 |
| Mississippi | $36,760 |
| Missouri | $43,400 |
| Montana | $43,270 |
| Nebraska | $45,180 |
| Nevada | $63,110 |
| New Hampshire | $50,960 |
| New Jersey | $59,590 |
| New Mexico | $42,370 |
| New York | $59,190 |
| North Carolina | $42,730 |
| North Dakota | $38,950 |
| Ohio | $49,060 |
| Oklahoma | $35,130 |
| Oregon | $55,780 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,810 |
| Rhode Island | $51,390 |
| South Carolina | $45,240 |
| South Dakota | $42,580 |
| Tennessee | $41,910 |
| Texas | $39,360 |
| Utah | $46,480 |
| Vermont | $47,930 |
| Virginia | $46,310 |
| Washington | $63,520 |
| West Virginia | $36,480 |
| Wisconsin | $51,540 |
| Wyoming | $52,710 |
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 Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Word processing software
- Database software
- Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
- Timekeeping software
- Human machine interface HMI software
- Records management software
- Material safety data sheet MSDS software
- Data logging software
- Compliance software
Becoming a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator
What education is needed to be a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator?
Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Sector
The table below shows the approximate number of Water Treatment Plant and System Operators employed by various industries.
Similar Careers
Those interested in being a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator may also be interested in:
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
- Mechanical Door Repairers
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
Those who work as a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Ryan Conroy via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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