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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators

(D.O.T.  954.382-010, -014; 955.362-010, .382, and .585)

Nature of the Work

Clean water is essential for many things: Health, recreation, fish
and wildlife, and industry.  Water treatment plant operators treat
water so that it is safe to drink.  Wastewater treatment plant
operators remove harmful pollution from domestic and industrial
wastewater.

   Water is pumped from wells, rivers, and streams to water treatment
plants where it is treated and distributed to customers.  Waste
materials are collected from customers, carried by water through
sewer pipes to wastewater treatment plants where it is treated and
returned to streams, rivers, and oceans.  Operators in both types of
plants control processes and equipment to remove solid materials,
chemical compounds, and micro-organisms from the water or to render
them harmless.  Operators control pumps, valves, and other
processing equipment to move the water or wastewater through the
various treatment processes, and dispose of the waste materials
removed from the water.

   Operators read and interpret meters and gauges to make sure plant
equipment and processes are working properly and adjust controls as
needed.  They operate chemical-feeding devices; take samples of the
water or wastewater; perform chemical and biological laboratory
analyses; and test and adjust the amount of chemicals such as
chlorine in the water.  Operators also make minor repairs to valves,
pumps, and other equipment.  They use gauges, wrenches, pliers, and
other common handtools, as well as special tools.

   Water and wastewater treatment plant operators increasingly are
relying on computers to help them monitor equipment, make process
control decisions, and produce reports.  They may use specialized
software to store sampling results.  When problems occur, operators
may retrieve data in order to determine the cause of the
malfunction.

   Occasionally operators must work under emergency conditions.  A
heavy rainstorm, for example, may cause large amounts of wastewater
to flow into sewers, exceeding a plant's treatment capacity.
Emergencies also can be caused by conditions inside a plant, such as
chlorine gas leaks or oxygen deficiencies.  To handle these
conditions, operators are trained in emergency management response
using special safety equipment and procedures to protect public
health and the facility.  During these periods, operators may have
to work under extreme pressure to correct the problem as quickly as
possible.  These periods may create dangerous working conditions and
operators must be extremely cautious.

   The specific duties of plant operators depend on the type and size
of plant.  In smaller plants, one operator may control all
machinery, perform tests, keep records, handle complaints, and do
repairs and maintenance.  Some operators may handle both a water
treatment and a wastewater treatment plant.  In larger plants with
many employees, operators may be more specialized and only monitor
one process.  The staff may also include chemists, engineers,
laboratory technicians, mechanics, helpers, supervisors, and a
superintendent.

   Water pollution standards have become increasingly stringent since
adoption of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, which
implemented a national system of uniform controls on the discharge
of pollutants.  Under the 1972 law and subsequent reauthorizations
in 1977 and 1987, it is illegal to discharge any pollutant without a
permit.  Industrial facilities that send their wastes to municipal
treatment plants must meet certain minimum standards and ensure that
these wastes have been adequately pretreated so that they do not
damage municipal treatment facilities.  Municipal treatment plants
also must meet stringent discharge standards.  Operators must be
familiar with the guidelines established by the Federal Clean Water
Act and how they affect their plant.  In addition to Federal
regulations, operators also must be aware of any guidelines imposed
by the State or locality in which the plant operates.

   Suburban water treatment plants are often staffed by a small staff
and use manual controls in the treatment process.

Working Conditions

Water and wastewater treatment plant operators work both indoors and
outdoors and may be exposed to noise from machinery and some
unpleasant odors, although chlorine and other chemicals are used to
minimize these.  Operators have to stoop, reach, and climb and
sometimes get their clothes dirty.  They must pay close attention to
safety procedures for they may be confronted with hazardous
conditions, such as slippery walkways, dangerous gases, and
malfunctioning equipment.  Because plants operate continuously for
24 hours every day, operators work one of three 8-hour shifts and on
a rotational basis, weekends and holidays.  Whenever emergencies
arise, operators may be required to work overtime.

Employment

Water and wastewater treatment plant operators held about 86,000
jobs in 1992.  The vast majority worked for local governments; some
worked for private water supply and sanitary services companies,
some of which provide operation and management services to local
governments on a contract basis.  About half worked as water
treatment plant operators and half worked as wastewater treatment
plant operators.

   Water and wastewater treatment plant operators are employed
throughout the country.  Geographically, employment is distributed
much like the Nation's population, with most jobs in larger towns
and cities.  Although most work full time, those who work in small
towns may only work part time at the water or wastewater treatment
plant the remainder of their time may be spent handling other
municipal duties.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Trainees usually start as attendants or operators-in-training and
learn their skills on the job under the direction of an experienced
operator.  They learn by observing the processes and equipment in
operation and by doing routine tasks such as recording meter
readings; taking samples of wastewater and sludge; and doing simple
maintenance and repair work on pumps, electric motors, and valves.
They also clean and maintain plant equipment.  Larger treatment
plants generally combine this on-the-job training with formal
classroom or self-paced study programs.

   Operators need mechanical aptitude and should be competent in basic
mathematics.  Because of the introduction of computer-controlled
equipment and more sophisticated instrumentation, a high school
diploma generally is required.  In addition, employers prefer those
who have had high school courses in chemistry, biology, and
mathematics.

   Some positions, particularly in larger cities and towns, are covered
by civil service regulations, and applicants may be required to pass
written examinations testing elementary mathematics skills,
mechanical aptitude, and general intelligence.

   Some 2-year programs leading to an associate degree in wastewater
technology and 1-year programs leading to a certificate are
available; these provide a good general knowledge of water pollution
control as well as basic preparation for becoming an operator.
Because plants are becoming more complex, completion of such courses
increases an applicant's chances for employment and promotion.

   Most State water pollution control agencies offer training courses
to improve operators' skills and knowledge.  These courses cover
principles of treatment processes and process control, laboratory
procedures, maintenance, management skills, collection systems,
safety, chlorination, sedimentation, biological treatment, sludge
treatment and disposal, and flow measurements.  Some operators take
correspondence courses on subjects related to wastewater treatment,
and some employers pay part of the tuition for related college
courses in science or engineering.

   As operators are promoted, they become responsible for more complex
treatment processes.  Some operators are promoted to plant
supervisor or superintendent, while others advance by transferring
to a larger facility.  Some postsecondary training in water and
wastewater treatment coupled with increasingly responsible
experience as an operator may be sufficient to qualify for
superintendent of a small plant, since at many small plants the
superintendent also serves as an operator.  However, educational
requirements are rising as larger, more complex treatment plants are
built to meet new water pollution control standards.  With each
promotion, the operator must have greater knowledge of Federal,
State, and local regulations.  Superintendents of large plants
generally need an engineering or science degree.  A few operators
get jobs with State water pollution control agencies as technicians,
who monitor and provide technical assistance to plants throughout
the State.  Vocational-technical school or community college
training generally is preferred for technician jobs.  Experienced
operators may transfer to related jobs with industrial wastewater
treatment plants, companies selling wastewater treatment equipment
and chemicals, engineering consulting firms, or vocational-technical
schools.

   In 49 States, operators must pass an examination to certify that
they are capable of overseeing wastewater treatment plant
operations.  A voluntary certification program is in effect in the
remaining State.  Water plant operators must also be certified in
most States.  Typically, there are different classes of
certification for different size treatment plants, and certification
requirements vary by State.

   There is no nationally mandated certification program for operators,
and relocation may mean having to become certified in a new
location.  However, many States have begun accepting other States'
certifications.

Job Outlook

Employment of water and wastewater treatment plant operators is
expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations
through the year 2005.  The increasing population and growth of the
economy are expected to increase demand for water and wastewater
treatment services.  As new plants are constructed to meet this
demand, employment of water and wastewater treatment plant operators
should increase.  In addition, some job openings will occur as
experienced operators transfer to other occupations or leave the
labor force.

   Although local government is the largest employer of water and
wastewater treatment plant operators, increased reliance on private
firms specializing in the operation and management of water and
wastewater treatment facilities should shift some employment demand
to these companies.  Increased pre-treatment activity by
manufacturing firms should also create new job opportunities.

   Water and wastewater treatment plant operators generally have steady
employment because the services they provide are essential even
during economic downturns.

Earnings

Annual salaries of water and wastewater treatment plant operators
averaged $26,200 in 1992; the lowest paid 10 percent of the
occupation earned about $15,700, the middle 50 percent of the
occupation earned between $19,600 and $33,100, and the top 10
percent earned about $39,200.  Salaries depend, among other things,
on the size and location of the plant, the complexity of the
operator's job, and the operator's level of certification.

   In addition to their annual salaries, water and wastewater treatment
plant operators generally receive benefits that include health and
life insurance, a retirement plan, and educational reimbursement for
job-related courses.

Related Occupations

Other workers whose main activity consists of operating a system of
machinery to process or produce materials include boiler operators,
gas-compressor operators, power plant operators, power reactor
operators, stationary engineers, turbine operators, chemical plant
operators, and petroleum refinery operators.

Sources of Additional Information

   For information on certification, contact:

   Association of Boards of Certification, 208 Fifth St., Suite 1A,
Ames, IA 50010-6259.

   For information on opportunities as a water treatment plant
operator, contact:

   American Waterworks Association, 6666 West Quincy, Denver, CO 80235.

   Additional information is available from:

   Water Environment Federation, 601 Wythe St., Alexandria, VA 22314.

   For information on jobs, contact State or local water pollution
control agencies, State water and waste water operator associations,
State environmental training centers, or local offices of the State
employment service.


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