Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

What Does a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators 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.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.
• 2Operate and adjust controls on equipment to purify and clarify water, process or dispose of sewage, and generate power.
• 3Record operational data, personnel attendance, or meter and gauge readings on specified forms.
• 4Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
• 5Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
• 6Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
• 7Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas, using hand tools and power tools.
• 8Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.

Required Skills

• Monitoring
• Data logging software
• Database software
• Geographic information system GIS systems
• Human machine interface HMI software
• Material safety data sheet MSDS software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Word

Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators Salary