Life As a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator
Job Description & Duties Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
A Day in the Life of a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator
- Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
- Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
- Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
- Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
- 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.
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Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Needed Skills
Water Treatment Plant and System Operators state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Types of Water Treatment Plant and System Operator
- Radioactive Waste Disposal Dispatcher
- Water Treatment Plant Operator
- Water Plant Operator
- Sewage Treatment Plant Operator
- Water System Operator
Job Outlook for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 9,200 job openings in this field each 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.
Salary for a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator
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.
How much do Water Treatment Plant and System Operators make 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?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Water Treatment Plant and System Operators may use on a daily basis:
- 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
What education is needed to be a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator?
Where Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related Careers
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
Those who work as a Water Treatment Plant and System Operator sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Airman 1st Class Ryan Conroy via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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