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Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant & System Operators

Also called: Process Operator (Process Op), Wastewater Operator (WW Operator), Water Plant Operator, Water Treatment Plant Operator

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What they do:
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
On the job, you would:
  • 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.
  • Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.

Knowledge

Math and Science
  • chemistry
  • biology
Engineering and Technology
  • mechanical
  • product and service development
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • manufacture and distribution of products
Safety and Government
  • public safety and security

Skills

Basic Skills
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
People and Technology Systems
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Verbal
  • communicate by speaking
  • listen and understand what people say
Ideas and Logic
  • use rules to solve problems
  • notice when problems happen

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Integrity
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Independence
  • Concern for Others
  • Initiative

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology In Demand
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
Industrial control software
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software
  • Wastewater expert control systems

Education

Education: (rated 3 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
certificate after high school
usually needed

Get started on your career:

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Job Outlook

Below Average Outlook
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
$47,880
$30,070
$77,170
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators.