What You Need to Know About Water Treatment Plant and System Operator
Occupation 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.
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.
- Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
- Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
What a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Should Know
These are the skills Water Treatment Plant and System Operators say are the most useful in their careers:
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
- Water Treatment Specialist
- Water Supply Technician
- Biosolids Management Technician
- Industrial Waste Treatment Technician
- Waterworks Employee
Job Opportunities for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators
In the United States, there were 119,200 jobs for Water Treatment Plant and System Operator in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Water Treatment Plant and System Operator. There will be an estimated 9,200 positions for Water Treatment Plant & System Operator per year.
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.
How Much Does a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Make?
The salary for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators ranges between about $28,300 and $76,200 a year.
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
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Water Treatment Plant and System Operators may use on a daily basis:
- 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
How to Become a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator
What education is needed to be a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator?
What work experience do I need to become a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator?
Where Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Are Employed
Water Treatment Plant and System Operators work in the following industries:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator might also be interested in the following careers:
- Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
- Mechanical Door Repairers
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers
Are you already one of the many Water Treatment Plant and System Operator in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Ryan Conroy via Public domain
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