What is a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator?
Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Definition 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?
- 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.
- Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
- Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
- Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
- Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
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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.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Water Treatment Technician
- Filter Tender
- Water Operator
- SCADA Operator (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Operator)
- Waterworks Employee
Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Employment Estimates
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 119,200 jobs in the United States for Water Treatment Plant and System Operator. 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.
Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Average Salary
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 |
What Tools do Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Use?
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
Learn what Water Treatment Plant and System Operator education requirements there are.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator?
Where Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Are Employed
The table below shows the approximate number of Water Treatment Plant and System Operators employed by various industries.
Other Jobs You May 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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