Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.

Median Annual Wage: $44,100

Education: High school diploma or equivalent (50%); Post-secondary certificate (17%); Bachelor's degree (15%)

Projected Growth: Average (8% to 14%)

Related Job Titles: Operator; Process Operator; Water Treatment Plant Operator; Wastewater Operator; Waste Water Operator; Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator (WWTP Operator); Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator; Water Operator; Water Plant Operator; SCADA Operator (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Operator)

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Source: O*NET OnLine information for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators.

More Production Careers

  • Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
  • Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
  • Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
  • Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
  • Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
  • Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators.

  • Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Troubleshooting - Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Repairing - Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators.

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