Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

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Also known as:  Industrial Waste Treatment Technician, Lead Sewage Plant Operator, Liquid Waste Treatment Plant Operator, Sewage Plant Operator, Waste Treatment Operator, Wastewater Operator, Water Plant Operator, Water Treatment Technician

ABOUT WATER OR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OR SYSTEM OPERATOR CAREERS

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT Expand
Water, water, everywhere: but is it safe to use? Water and waste treatment plant operators treat water so it's safe to drink, while waste treatment plant operators remove pollutants and other harmful materials from wastewater, making it safe to return to the environment.

Water and waste treat ...
ment plant operators read gauges and meters and use computers to make sure that the equipment is operation properly. They operate chemical feeding machines, test water samples, and make repairs to valves and pumps.

To handle emergencies, operators are trained in emergency management response procedures to protect the public health and the facility. Most water and waste treatment plant jobs are with local and federal governments, or with utilities and private water supply and sanitary services companies.

Operators must pass a state certification exam. Since plants operate around the clock, shift work, weekend and holiday duty is common and expected. The work can be physically strenuous and dirty. Working conditions can be noisy and foul smelling. Slippery floors and dangerous gases can make this job hazardous. However, simple safety guidelines minimize these risks.

Water and waste treatment plant operators provide essential services that everyone in the community depends on every day.
SNAPSHOT Expand
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Leadership
MED
Critical decision making
HIGH
Level of responsibilities
HIGH
Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines
HIGH
Dealing and handling conflict
LOW
Competition for this position
LOW
Communication with others
HIGH
Work closely with team members, clients etc.
HIGH
Comfort of the work setting
LOW
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions
HIGH
Exposure to job hazards
HIGH
Physical demands
HIGH
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DAILY TASKS Expand
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.
Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
Add chemicals such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
MAIN ACTIVITIES Expand
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Documenting/Recording Information Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE Expand
Mechanical Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Public Safety and Security Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Chemistry Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
Physics Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Production and Processing Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Biology Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
KEY ABILITIES Expand
Oral Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Near Vision The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Written Comprehension The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Speech Clarity The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Expression The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
TOP SKILLS Expand
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.
Quality Control Analysis Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
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.
Equipment Maintenance Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Troubleshooting Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.