Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wastewater Operator

🎯 Role Definition

The Wastewater Operator is responsible for the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of municipal or industrial wastewater treatment facilities. This role includes monitoring and controlling biological, chemical, and physical treatment processes, performing laboratory analyses and field sampling, operating pumps and mechanical equipment, maintaining accurate regulatory records and reports, performing preventative and corrective maintenance, and responding to emergencies and upset conditions. The Wastewater Operator ensures compliance with NPDES and other environmental permits while maintaining workplace safety and contributing to continuous process improvements.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Seasonal or part-time Plant Attendant / Maintenance Technician in water/wastewater facilities
Laboratory Technician or Environmental Technician with basic sample collection experience
Mechanical or Electrical Technician with municipal utilities experience

Advancement To:

Senior Wastewater Operator / Lead Operator
Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor / Shift Supervisor
Treatment Plant Superintendent / Operations Manager
Regulatory Compliance Specialist or Environmental Compliance Manager

Lateral Moves:

Collections System Operator (sewer maintenance)
Laboratory Analyst (wastewater testing)
Water Treatment Operator
Field Service Technician (equipment vendors)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate, monitor and adjust physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes (primary, secondary, tertiary treatment) to meet effluent permit limits and optimize plant performance, including controlling aeration systems, clarifiers, filters, and disinfection systems.
Perform routine and event-driven sampling and laboratory analysis for BOD, TSS, pH, chlorine residual, ammonia, nitrate, metals and other parameters using APHA/SM methods, document results, and use data to make process decisions.
Monitor SCADA/HMI systems and flow meters, interpret telemetry and alarm data, take corrective actions remotely or in the field, and document all system changes and incidents.
Maintain and calibrate field instrumentation and analytical equipment (dissolved oxygen probes, turbidity meters, flow sensors, level transmitters, chemical feed controllers) to ensure accurate process control and reporting.
Conduct preventive and corrective mechanical and electrical maintenance on pumps, blowers, motors, valves, mixers, belt presses, centrifuges, clarifiers, and chemical feed systems, performing basic shaft alignment, seal replacement, and bearing checks.
Prepare and maintain accurate operational logs, shift summaries, chain-of-custody forms for samples, and required regulatory records for NPDES reporting, sludge management, and operator certification audits.
Load, mix, apply and manage treatment chemicals (e.g., chlorine, polymer, coagulants, pH adjusters) safely and precisely according to dosing curves and safety data sheets (SDS), while tracking chemical inventories and ordering supplies.
Operate and oversee biosolids handling and dewatering processes, including sludge thickening, conditioning, centrifuge or belt press operations, and coordinate disposal or beneficial reuse in compliance with permit conditions.
Respond rapidly to alarms, process upsets, sewer backups, power outages, and hazardous material incidents; implement emergency response procedures and notify management and regulatory agencies as required.
Troubleshoot process performance deviations, perform root-cause analysis, recommend and implement corrective actions, and work with engineering staff on optimization projects and capital improvements.
Conduct confined space entry for pump stations, wet wells and tanks using proper permit procedures, atmospheric monitoring, ventilation, and safety equipment per OSHA and local regulations.
Inspect collection system mains, pump stations, lift stations, and manholes; perform preventive maintenance, unclogging, jetting or coordination with collection system crews to prevent overflows.
Perform industrial hygiene and safety tasks including lockout/tagout, PPE usage, MSDS interpretation, HAZWOPER protocols, and participate in safety meetings to maintain a zero-incident culture.
Assist in the startup, shutdown and commissioning of new equipment or process units; validate performance and integrate new assets into SCADA and maintenance programs.
Coordinate with vendors and contractors for specialized maintenance, repairs, and construction activities; review work scopes and verify as-built documentation.
Participate in development and revision of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), process control manuals and emergency response plans to ensure operational consistency and regulatory compliance.
Train and mentor junior operators, seasonal staff and temporary workers on safe operational practices, laboratory methods, equipment use, and documentation standards.
Conduct routine inspections of tanks, piping, valves and facility buildings to identify corrosion, leaks, structural concerns or safety hazards and escalate repairs through work order systems.
Execute flow equalization and load balancing strategies during wet-weather or peak-load events to protect treatment processes and maintain permit compliance.
Prepare and submit timely regulatory reports including daily logs, monthly discharge monitoring reports (DMRs), biosolids/land application documentation, and incident/overflow notifications to regulatory agencies.
Maintain and update computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) with preventive maintenance tasks, work orders, spare parts usage, and labor time for accurate asset management.
Control odor management programs through chemical dosing, equipment maintenance and process adjustments and respond to community odor complaints with corrective actions and documentation.
Ensure accurate inventory management of spare parts, chemicals and PPE; requisition materials and maintain vendor relationships to minimize downtime.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives using process data, KPIs and best practices to reduce energy consumption, chemical usage, and operating costs.

Secondary Functions

Support capital improvement planning by providing operational input on equipment selection, process design and constructability during project development.
Assist environmental compliance staff with permit renewals, sampling plans and regulatory inspections by preparing required documentation and providing on-site access or explanation.
Help coordinate community outreach and public education programs related to wastewater treatment, pretreatment requirements, and environmental stewardship.
Participate in cross-functional teams for energy efficiency or renewable energy projects such as biogas capture and utilization or solar installations.
Maintain training records, operator certification documentation and participate in continuing education and certification exam preparation.
Support after-hours on-call rotations to provide technical guidance or emergency troubleshooting when required.
Review and implement recommendations from lab or engineering staff to improve analytical methods, data quality and process control strategies.
Collaborate with purchasing and finance teams to evaluate equipment lifecycle costs and recommend cost-effective replacement strategies.
Provide field verification and acceptance testing during contractor work, ensuring compliance with contract specifications and operating needs.
Contribute to risk assessments and business continuity planning to minimize service interruptions to the community.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wastewater treatment process knowledge: activated sludge, trickling filters, oxidation ditches, membrane systems, tertiary filtration, disinfection (chlorination/UV), and sludge dewatering.
Licensed Wastewater Operator certification (e.g., Class I–III or State-equivalent) with demonstrated ability to meet regulatory responsibilities.
Proficiency with SCADA/HMI systems, PLC logic basics, and remote telemetry for process monitoring and control.
Laboratory techniques for wastewater: sample collection, preservation, and analysis for BOD, COD, TSS, TKN, NH3-N, nitrate, phosphorus, metals and microbiological indicators.
Instrumentation calibration and troubleshooting: DO probes, pH meters, turbidimeters, flow meters, and chemical dosing pumps.
Mechanical aptitude for pump, motor, gearbox and valve maintenance, including use of hand and power tools, lifts and rigging basics.
Confined space entry and rescue procedures, atmospheric testing and use of ventilation and harness systems.
Regulatory knowledge of NPDES permits, pretreatment programs, biosolids regulations (e.g., 40 CFR Part 503), and environmental reporting requirements.
Experience with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and electronic recordkeeping for maintenance logs and asset tracking.
Basic electrical troubleshooting and understanding of motor starters, variable frequency drives (VFDs) and control circuits.
Chemical handling and safety: SDS interpretation, proper storage, spill response and safe dosing calculations.

Soft Skills

Strong problem-solving skills and analytical thinking to diagnose process upset conditions and develop practical corrective actions.
Clear verbal and written communication for shift handovers, regulatory reporting, and interaction with internal and external stakeholders.
Attention to detail and accuracy when performing lab analyses, maintaining logs, and completing compliance documentation.
Teamwork and collaboration across maintenance, laboratory, engineering and regulatory teams.
Time management and prioritization in a 24/7 operations environment with competing maintenance and monitoring tasks.
Adaptability and resilience to work variable hours, emergency call-outs, and changing process conditions.
Safety-first mindset and the ability to lead by example in enforcing PPE use and safe work practices.
Training and mentoring ability to develop less-experienced operators and promote knowledge transfer.
Customer service orientation when interacting with the public, contractors and regulatory inspectors.
Initiative in recommending process improvements, energy savings measures and cost-reduction opportunities.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED; coursework or certificate in wastewater technology, environmental science, or related field preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or certificate in Wastewater Technology, Environmental Science, Civil/Environmental Technology, or related technical discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Wastewater Treatment Technology
Environmental Science
Civil or Environmental Engineering Technology
Chemistry or Biology
Water Resources Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–5 years (entry-level through mid-level positions), with 1–3 years of hands-on treatment plant experience commonly required for licensed positions.

Preferred:

2–5 years’ experience operating municipal or industrial wastewater treatment plants with documented exposure to biological and chemical treatment processes.
Active state/operator certification (Class I, II or higher depending on facility size) or demonstrable progress toward required licensing.
Experience with SCADA, NPDES reporting, sludge handling and preventative maintenance programs.
Demonstrated experience performing routine laboratory analyses and maintaining chain-of-custody documentation.