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Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators

Did You Know:

  • Employment is concentrated in local government and water, sewage and other systems utilities.
  • Because of expected much faster than average employment growth and a large number of upcoming retirements, job opportunities will be excellent.
  • Completion of an associate degree or a 1-year certificate program in environmental studies or a related field may help applicants to find jobs and advance more quickly.


Industry Areas

  • Local Government (OES Designation)
  • Water, Sewage and Other Systems
  • Waste Treatment and Disposal

Day-to-Day Tasks

  • Add chemicals such as ammonia, chlorine, or lime to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids.
  • Inspect equipment or monitor operating conditions, meters, and gauges to determine load requirements and detect malfunctions.
  • Collect and test water and sewage samples, using test equipment and color analysis standards.

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Overall Kind of Work

Water is one of our society's most important resources. While most people take it for granted, it takes a lot of work to get water from natural sources-reservoirs, streams and groundwater-into our...

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Work Environment

Military

Water and sewage treatment plant operators work indoors and outdoors. They may be exposed to strong odors.

Status

What is the difference between enlisted and officer?

Enlisted:
Enlisted members enter the Military with a high school diploma (in some cases a GED), at a minimum. They are employed in almost every type of military career, often in hands-on roles.

Officers: Officers either enter the Military with a four-year college degree or greater or served previously as enlisted members, and are generally employed in management roles or highly specialized fields that require intensive training.
  • no Officer
  • yes Enlisted

Military Breakdown

The number of people who currently hold this career in the Military.

3,487 Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators in the military

Service Branches

Water and Sewage Treatment Plant Operators work in the following services:

Army Marine Corps Navy Air Force

Type of Work

The level of day-to-day involvement with data, people or things.

Data: Medium
People: Medium
Things: High

Skills at a Glance

The levels of different skills helpful in this career.

Verbal skills: Low
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Medium
Equipment Operation & Maintenance: High
Math & Science Skills: High
Technology Design & Control: Medium
Leadership: Medium

Workplace at a Glance

The level of different environmental factors you would experience on the job.

Responsibility: High
Exposure to Job Hazards: High
Physical Activity: High
Decision Making: Medium
Repetitiveness: High
Level of Competition: Medium
Time Pressure: Low