What Do Water Treatment Plant and System Operator Do?
Example of Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Job Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or wastewater.
Daily Life Of a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator
- Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
- 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.
- 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.
- Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
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Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Water Treatment Plant and System Operators say are important on the job.
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.
Other Water Treatment Plant & System Operator Job Titles
- Watershed Tender
- Purification Operator
- Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator (WWTP Operator)
- Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
- Water Supply Technician
Is There Going to be Demand for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators?
There were about 119,200 jobs for Water Treatment Plant and System Operator in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
What is the Average Salary of a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator
The typical yearly salary for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators is somewhere between $28,300 and $76,200.

Water Treatment Plant and System Operators who work in California, Connecticut, or Nevada, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Water Treatment Plant and System Operators 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 & Technology do Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Water Treatment Plant and System Operators:
- 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
How to Become a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator
What kind of Water Treatment Plant and System Operator requirements are there?

How Long Does it Take to Become a Water Treatment Plant & System Operator?

Where do Water Treatment Plant and System Operators Work?

Below are examples of industries where Water Treatment Plant and System Operators work:

Other Jobs You May be Interested In
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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