What is a Water Treatment Plant Operator?

A water treatment plant operator works in water treatment plants.

Water is pumped from wells, rivers, streams, and reservoirs to water
treatment plants, where it is treated and distributed to customers. A
water treatment plant operator runs the equipment, control the
processes, and monitor the plants that treat the water.

What does a Water Treatment Plant Operator do?

Water treatment plant operators typically do the following:

Add chemicals, such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime, to

disinfect water or other liquids
Inspect equipment on a regular basis
Monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges
Collect and test water and sewage samples
Record meter and gauge readings, and operational data
Operate equipment to purify and clarify water, or to process or
dispose of sewage
Clean and maintain equipment, tanks, filter beds, and other
work areas
Stay current on environmental laws and regulations
Ensure safety standards are met

It takes a lot of work to get water from natural sources (reservoirs,

streams, and groundwater) into our taps. Similarly, it is a
complicated process to convert the wastewater in our drains and
sewers into a form that is safe to release into the environment.
The specific duties of water treatment plant operators depend on
the type and size of the plant. In a small plant, one operator may be
responsible for maintaining all of the systems. In large plants,
multiple operators work the same shifts and are more specialized in
their duties, often relying on computerized systems to help them
monitor plant processes.
Occasionally, operators must work during emergencies. For
example, weather conditions may cause large amounts of storm
water or wastewater to flow into sewers, exceeding a plants
capacity. Emergencies also may be caused by malfunctions within a
plant, such as chemical leaks or oxygen deficiencies. Operators are
trained in emergency management procedures and use safety
equipment to protect their health, as well as that of the public.

Wastewater treatment plant and system operators do similar work

to remove pollutants from domestic and industrial waste. Used
water, also known as wastewater, travels through sewage pipes to
treatment plants where it is treated and either returned to streams,
rivers, and oceans, or used for irrigation.

What is the workplace of a Water Treatment Plant

Operator like?
Most water treatment plant operators work for local governments.
Many others work for water, sewage, and other systems utilities and
for waste treatment and disposal services. They work both indoors
and outdoors. They may be exposed to noise from machinery and
are often exposed to unpleasant odours.
An operator's work is physically demanding and usually is performed
in locations that are unclean or difficult to access. They must pay
close attention to safety procedures because of hazardous
conditions, such as slippery walkways, dangerous gases, and
malfunctioning equipment. As a result, workers experience an
occupational injury and illness rate that is much higher than the
average for all occupations.
Plants operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In small plants,
operators are likely to work during the day and be on call nights and
weekends. In medium and large sized plants that require constant
monitoring, operators work in shifts to control the plant at all hours.
Operators may be required to work overtime, weekends, or holidays.

What Makes a Good Water

Treatment Plant Operator?
A career as a Water Treatment Plant Operator is best suited for someone who
is realistic. To a lesser extent, this career is well suited for someone who is
.conventional and investigative

Conventional
A good water treatment plant operator is typically careful, quiet, and pays
close attention to detail. Following a set of rules appeals to water treatment
plant operators as they like to feel secure and certain. They prefer to carry out
tasks assigned by others rather than take on a leadership role. They are
.typically neat, tidy, and enjoy working with data in structured settings

Realistic
A realistic person is someone who is very body-oriented. This individual enjoys
using their hands and eyes to solve practical problems. They like doing
outdoor, mechanical, and physical activities. Its very natural for a realistic
person to relate to the physical worldthis type of person usually does not
deal with problems concerning ideas, data, or people, but rather, they like to
.concentrate on problems they can solve with their hands

Investigative
The role of a water treatment plant operator requires someone who enjoys
visualizing and solving problems with their mind. To solve problems, they
prefer reading and studying, books and text, rather than their using their
hands. They tend to analyze situations before making decisions. Investigative
.people are independent thinkers that are both curious and insightful

What is the personality of a

Water Treatment Plant Operator?
A good water treatment plant operator is always open to change. This
openness is the result of the considerable variety that may occur in the
workplace. A water treatment plant operator must be reliable, responsible,
and dependable. It is important for a water treatment plant operator to be
able to fulfill obligations. A water treatment plant operator must be careful
.about detail and thorough in completing work tasks

The three keys to being a good Water Treatment Plant

Operator

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to detail