Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators

Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators Earnings

Median annual earnings of water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators were $33,390 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $25,790 and $42,490. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,220, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $52,110. Median annual earnings of water and liquid waste treatment plant and systems operators in 2002 were $33,210 in local government and $32,190 in water, sewage, and other systems.

In addition to their annual salaries, water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators usually receive benefits that may include health and life insurance, a retirement plan, and educational reimbursement for job-related courses.

Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators Nature of Work

Clean water is essential for everyday life. Water treatment plant and system operators treat water so that it is safe to drink. Liquid waste treatment plant and system operators, also known as wastewater treatment plant and system operators, remove harmful pollutants from domestic and industrial liquid waste so that it is safe to return to the environment.

Water is pumped from wells, rivers, streams, and reservoirs to water treatment plants, where it is treated and distributed to customers. Liquid waste travels through customers’ sewer pipes to liquid waste treatment plants, where it is either treated and returned to streams, rivers, and oceans or reused for irrigation and landscaping. Operators in both types of plants control equipment and processes that remove or destroy harmful materials, chemical compounds, and microorganisms from the water. They also control pumps, valves, and other equipment that moves the water or liquid waste through the various treatment processes, after which they dispose of the removed waste materials.

Operators read, interpret, and adjust meters and gauges to make sure that plant equipment and processes are working properly. Operators operate chemical-feeding devices, take samples of the water or liquid waste, perform chemical and biological laboratory analyses, and adjust the amounts of chemicals, such as chlorine, in the water. They use a variety of instruments to sample and measure water quality and common hand and power tools to make repairs. Operators also make minor repairs to valves, pumps, and other equipment.

Water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators increasingly rely on computers to help monitor equipment, store the results of sampling, make process-control decisions, schedule and record maintenance activities, and produce reports. When equipment malfunctions, operators also may use computers to determine the cause of the malfunction and seek its solution.

Occasionally, operators must work during emergencies. A heavy rainstorm, for example, may cause large amounts of liquid waste to flow into sewers, exceeding a plant’s treatment capacity. Emergencies also can be caused by conditions inside a plant, such as chlorine gas leaks or oxygen deficiencies. To handle these conditions, operators are trained to make an emergency management response and use special safety equipment and procedures to protect public health and the facility. During these periods, operators may work under extreme pressure to correct problems as quickly as possible. Because working conditions may be dangerous, operators must be extremely cautious.

The specific duties of plant operators depend on the type and size of plant. In smaller plants, one operator may control all of the machinery, perform tests, keep records, handle complaints, and perform repairs and maintenance. In larger plants with many employees, operators may be more specialized and monitor only one process. The staff also may include chemists, engineers, laboratory technicians, mechanics, helpers, supervisors, and a superintendent.

Water pollution standards have become increasingly stringent since the adoption of two major Federal environmental statutes: the Clean Water Act of 1972, which implemented a national system of regulation on the discharge of pollutants; and the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, which established standards for drinking water. Industrial facilities sending their wastes to municipal treatment plants must meet certain minimum standards to ensure that the wastes have been adequately pretreated and will not damage municipal treatment facilities. The list of contaminants regulated by these statutes has grown over time. As a result, plant operators must be familiar with the guidelines established by Federal regulations and how they affect their plant. In addition to knowing and understanding the Federal regulations, operators must be aware of any guidelines imposed by the State or locality in which the plant operates.

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Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators Job Outlook

Employment of water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2012. Job prospects will be good for qualified individuals because the number of applicants in this field is normally low, due primarily to the unclean and physically demanding nature of the work.

The increasing population and growth of the economy are expected to boost demand for essential water and liquid waste treatment services. As new plants are constructed to meet this demand, employment of water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators will increase. In addition, many job openings will occur as experienced operators leave the labor force or transfer to other occupations.

Local governments are the largest employers of water and liquid waste treatment plant and system operators. However, Federal certification requirements have increased utilities’ reliance on private firms specializing in the operation and management of water and liquid waste treatment facilities. As a result, employment in privately owned facilities will grow faster than the average.

Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators Significant Points

Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators Training

A high school diploma usually is required for an individual to become a water or liquid waste treatment plant operator. Operators need mechanical aptitude and should be competent in basic mathematics, chemistry, and biology. They must have the ability to apply data to formulas prescribing treatment requirements, flow levels, and concentration levels. Some basic familiarity with computers also is necessary because of the trend toward computer-controlled equipment and more sophisticated instrumentation. Certain positions—particularly in larger cities and towns—are covered by civil service regulations. Applicants for these positions may be required to pass a written examination testing their mathematics skills, mechanical aptitude, and general intelligence.

The completion of an associate degree or a 1-year certificate program in water quality and liquid waste treatment technology increases an applicant’s chances for employment and promotion because plants are becoming more complex. Offered throughout the country, these programs provide a good general knowledge of water and liquid waste treatment processes, as well as basic preparation for becoming an operator.

Trainees usually start as attendants or operators-in-training and learn their skills on the job under the direction of an experienced operator. They learn by observing and doing routine tasks such as recording meter readings, taking samples of liquid waste and sludge, and performing simple maintenance and repair work on pumps, electric motors, valves, and other plant equipment. Larger treatment plants generally combine this on-the-job training with formal classroom or self-paced study programs.

The Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, specify national minimum standards for certification and recertification of operators of community and nontransient, noncommunity water systems. As a result, operators must pass an examination to certify that they are capable of overseeing liquid waste treatment plant operations. There are different levels of certification, depending on the operator’s experience and training. Higher certification levels qualify the operator for a wider variety of treatment processes. Certification requirements vary by State and by size of treatment plants. Although relocation may mean having to become certified in a new jurisdiction, many States accept other States’ certifications.

Most State drinking water and water pollution control agencies offer courses to improve operators’ skills and knowledge. The courses cover principles of treatment processes and process control, laboratory procedures, maintenance, management skills, collection systems, safety, chlorination, sedimentation, biological treatment, sludge treatment and disposal, and flow measurements. Some operators take correspondence courses on subjects related to water and liquid waste treatment, and some employers pay part of the tuition for related college courses in science or engineering.

As operators are promoted, they become responsible for more complex treatment processes. Some operators are promoted to plant supervisor or superintendent; others advance by transferring to a larger facility. Postsecondary training in water and liquid waste treatment, coupled with increasingly responsible experience as an operator, may be sufficient to qualify a worker for becoming superintendent of a small plant, where a superintendent also serves as an operator. However, educational requirements are rising as larger, more complex treatment plants are built to meet new drinking water and water pollution control standards. With each promotion, the operator must have greater knowledge of Federal, State, and local regulations. Superintendents of large plants generally need an engineering or a science degree.

A few operators get jobs as technicians with State drinking water or water pollution control agencies. In that capacity, they monitor and provide technical assistance to plants throughout the State. Vocational-technical school or community college training generally is preferred for technician jobs. Experienced operators may transfer to related jobs with industrial liquid waste treatment plants, water or liquid waste treatment equipment and chemical companies, engineering consulting firms, or vocational-technical schools.

Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators Employment

Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators Related Occupations

Other workers whose main activity consists of operating a system of machinery to process or produce materials include chemical plant and system operators; gas plant operators; petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers; power plant operators, distributors, and dispatchers; and stationary engineers and boiler operators.

Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators Additional Sources

For information on employment opportunities, contact State or local water pollution control agencies, State water and liquid waste operator associations, State environmental training centers, or local offices of the State employment service.

For information on certification, contact:

For educational information related to a career as a water or liquid waste treatment plant and system operator, contact:

Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators Summaries of Related Webpages

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators work with equipment to remove harmful industrial and domestic pollution from wastewater. Waste materials are transported by water through sewer pipes to treatment plants. They add specified amounts of chlorine, ammonia, lime, and other chemicals to disinfect and clarify water. Necessary protective equipment is usually supplied by employers and may include rainwear, protective clothing, and uniforms. EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division.
Summary of: http://www.calmis.cahwnet.gov/file/occguide/WATEROP.HTM

Complete our Customer Satisfaction Survey. Capitalization of letters does not matter.
Summary of: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/compliance_support/data/water_search.html

Operators must pass exams certifying that they are capable of overseeing various treatment processes. Water treatment plant and system operators treat water so that it is safe to drink. Water is pumped from wells, rivers, streams, and reservoirs to water treatment plants, where it is treated and distributed to customers. Liquid waste travels through customers’ sewer pipes to liquid waste treatment plants, where it is either treated and returned to streams, rivers, and oceans or reused for irrigation and landscaping. Operators in both types of plants control equipment and processes that remove or destroy harmful materials, chemical compounds, and microorganisms from the water.
Summary of: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos229.htm

These plants provide drinking water and safely dispose of sewage. Water and sewage treatment plant operators maintain the systems that purify water and treat sewage. Further training occurs on the job and through advanced courses. Work Environment Water and sewage treatment plant operators work indoors and outdoors. Civilian Counterparts Civilian water and sewage treatment plant operators work for municipal public works and industrial plants.
Summary of: http://www.iseek.org/sv/12120.jsp?id=73

Most offices offer the exams one day each month. Please contact your Regional Office to confirm exam dates and times. Please arrive at your designated exam site on time as scheduled. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early to allow for time to fill out an application. A, 2nd floor, Room 202 for January, March, and April Bldg.
Summary of: http://www.tceq.state.tx.us/compliance/compliance_support/licensing/w_ww_exam.html

As treatment plants become more complex, operators depend more on computers to do their job. It was pumped from a lake or other natural source to a water-treatment plant. And after you use the water, it goes to a wastewater-treatment plant. At both facilities, plant operators control processes and equipment that remove pollutants from the water. You should enjoy the sciences, math, and computers.
Summary of: http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/careers/104723.html

In 49 States, operators must pass exams certifying that they are capable of overseeing various treatment processes. Water treatment plant operators treat water so that it is safe to drink. Wastewater treatment plant operators remove harmful pollutants from domestic and industrial wastewater so that it is safe to return to the environment. Water is pumped from wells, rivers, and streams to water treatment plants where it is treated and distributed to customers. They also control pumps, valves, and other processing equipment to move the water or wastewater through the various treatment processes, and dispose of the removed waste materials.
Summary of: http://www.jobbankusa.com/ohb/ohb229.html

Wastewater treatment plant operators control the processes and equipment used to treat and dispose of sewage and industrial wastes. In small plants, they may operate water distribution and wastewater collection systems as well as treatment systems. Safety precautions are required to reduce the risk of injury from working with dangerous gases, open tanks, electrical equipment, chemicals, confined spaces and slippery walkways. Employers may require job applicants to have a valid Alberta driver's license. Employment and Advancement section revised JANUARY 2005Most water and wastewater treatment plant operators are employed by municipal governments.
Summary of: http://www.alis.gov.ab.ca/occinfo/Content/RequestAction.asp?aspAction=GetHTMLProfile&format=html&OCCPRO_ID=71002816

You depend on the water flowing from your faucet. Water treatment plant operators. Operators can actually work in two types of plants. Some work in water treatment plants that treat and purify water taken from wells, streams, rivers. Learn more with an informational interview with a local employer.
Summary of: http://www3.ccps.virginia.edu/career_prospects/briefs/T-Z/WaterTreatmentOps.shtml

In fact, feeling thirsty is a late signal that your body needs water. But wait û where does that water coming out of our kitchen faucets come from?Water is pumped from wells, rivers, and streams to water treatment plants. It may also be used for irrigation. Operators in both types of plants control equipment that removes or destroys chemicals, bacteria, or other harmful materials in the water. Work ActivitiesThe following list of occupational tasks is specific to this career.
Summary of: http://www.iseek.org/sv/13000.jsp?id=100225

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