National
| Median wages (2008) |
$18.48 hourly, $38,430 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
111,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Faster than average (14% to 20%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
35,000 additional employees |
51-8031.00 - Water and Liquid Waste Treatment Plant and System Operators
Operate or control an entire process or system of machines, often through the use of control boards, to transfer or treat water or liquid waste.
Sample of reported job titles:
Operator, Water Treatment Plant Operator, Wastewater Operator, Waste Water Operator, Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator (WWTP Operator), Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, Water Operator, Water Plant Operator, Process Operator, SCADA Operator (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition Operator)
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.
- 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.
- Maintain, repair, and lubricate equipment, using hand tools and power tools.
- Clean and maintain tanks, filter beds, and other work areas using hand tools and power tools.
- Direct and coordinate plant workers engaged in routine operations and maintenance activities.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Chlorine handling equipment — Dechlorination equipment; Disinfection chlorinators; Sulphonators |
| Microcontrollers — Ion exchangers; Remote terminal unit pump control equipment |
| Mixers or agitators — Aerators; Agitators; Flocculators |
| Turbidimeters — Suspended solid measurement equipment; Turbidity meters; Turbidity testing equipment |
| Ultrafiltration equipment — Backwash filters; Microstrainers; Trickling filter beds; Vacuum filters |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Compliance software — Material safety data sheet MSDS software |
| Data base user interface and query software — Data logging software; Database software |
| Industrial control software — Human machine interface HMI software; Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software; Wastewater expert control systems |
| Office suite software — Microsoft Office software |
| Time accounting software — Timekeeping software |
