Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wastewater Technician

🎯 Role Definition

As a Wastewater Technician you will operate, maintain, inspect, and troubleshoot wastewater treatment equipment and collection systems to ensure reliable removal of pollutants, regulatory compliance (NPDES/EPA), and safe plant operations. This hands-on, field-and-plant-focused role combines mechanical maintenance, process monitoring, laboratory sampling/analysis, data entry, and emergency response to support efficient treatment of influent and discharge of high-quality effluent.

Keywords: wastewater technician, wastewater treatment plant, pump stations, NPDES compliance, sample collection, SCADA monitoring, biological process control, chemical dosing, confined space entry.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Maintenance Technician — mechanical or electrical background transitioning into water/wastewater operations.
Environmental Technician or Laboratory Technician — experience with sampling, testing, and chain-of-custody procedures.
Collections System Worker / Lift Station Attendant — field experience in sewer systems and pumping stations.

Advancement To:

Wastewater Operator (Class II/III) / Licensed Wastewater Operator
Senior Wastewater Technician / Shift Lead
Operations Supervisor / Plant Superintendent
Environmental Compliance Specialist / Process Control Engineer

Lateral Moves:

Water Treatment Technician / Drinking Water Operator
Collections System Technician (Sewer Maintenance)
Instrumentation & Controls Technician (SCADA/PLC)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate and monitor wastewater treatment processes (primary clarification, activated sludge, trickling filters, lagoons, membrane systems) to maintain permit limits for BOD, TSS, ammonia, and nutrients; adjust flows and process setpoints as needed to meet NPDES effluent requirements.
Conduct routine and scheduled maintenance on pumps, blowers, valves, motors, conveyors, mixers, chemical feed systems, and other mechanical/electrical equipment to minimize downtime and extend asset life.
Collect, preserve, and document influent, effluent, process, and compliance samples according to SOPs and chain-of-custody procedures for laboratory analysis (BOD, TSS, pH, DO, chlorine, nutrient testing).
Perform field and in-plant laboratory analyses (colorimetric tests, titrations, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH) to support real-time process control decisions and report results in required formats.
Monitor and control chemical dosing systems (coagulants, polymers, chlorine, sodium hypochlorite, dechlorination agents) to optimize treatment efficiency and minimize chemical consumption and residuals.
Operate and monitor SCADA systems, data loggers, and process control interfaces for real-time alarms, trends, setpoint adjustments, and remote control of critical assets.
Inspect and maintain collection system infrastructure, manholes, force mains, and lift stations; perform grease, debris, and odor control tasks and respond to blockages or overflows.
Troubleshoot mechanical and electrical failures; diagnose root causes using schematics, meters, and diagnostic tools; coordinate repairs with maintenance staff or external vendors.
Conduct confined space entry tasks (wet wells, tanks, trenches) in compliance with OSHA confined space entry procedures, including air monitoring, ventilation, harnessing, and attendant supervision.
Execute preventive maintenance work orders and document completed tasks in CMMS (computerized maintenance management system) to track asset history and spare parts usage.
Respond to alarms, process upsets, and after-hours emergencies; perform emergency bypasses, temporary repairs, and corrective actions to protect public health and the environment.
Maintain accurate operational logs, shift reports, chain-of-custody forms, and regulatory records for audits and permit compliance reviews.
Operate and manage sludge handling processes (thickening, dewatering, sludge drying, hauling) and monitor solids management to minimize disposal costs and meet disposal regulations.
Perform grit removal, screenings handling, and primary settling tank cleaning; ensure safe handling and disposal of screenings and grit.
Execute safety and environmental inspections, hazard assessments, and housekeep plant areas to maintain a safe workplace, including PPE usage and lockout/tagout procedures.
Assist in start-up, commissioning, and optimization of new treatment units, retrofits, or process improvements; collect baseline data and validate performance against design criteria.
Coordinate with laboratory staff, environmental compliance officers, and regulatory agencies for sampling schedules, permit reporting, and corrective action plans.
Maintain inventory of chemicals, parts, and supplies; place purchase requests and coordinate deliveries to avoid process interruptions.
Train and mentor entry-level operators and temporary staff on standard operating procedures, safety protocols, and equipment operation.
Participate in and support permit-required monitoring programs, monthly/quarterly reporting, and special studies such as whole effluent toxicity testing or nutrient minimization plans.
Perform routine odor control measures, investigate community odor complaints, and implement corrective steps such as chemical additions, biofilters maintenance, or operational adjustments.
Conduct flow monitoring, meter calibration, and rainfall/event-based sampling to support combined sewer overflow (CSO) and infiltration/inflow (I/I) management.
Evaluate and recommend process control changes (aeration rates, return activated sludge rates, chemical feed rates) to improve plant performance and energy efficiency.
Liaise with contractors during capital projects, oversee workmanship, ensure compliance with plant safety rules and acceptance testing protocols.

Secondary Functions

Maintain accurate digital records in CMMS and SCADA, assist in generating compliance and performance trend reports for operations management.
Support cross-functional continuous improvement projects to reduce energy consumption, chemical use, and operational costs.
Assist environmental compliance staff with responding to regulatory inspections, data requests, and corrective action implementation.
Contribute to community outreach and public education efforts regarding wastewater operations, sewer use ordinances, and pollution prevention.
Participate in on-call rotations, emergency spill response, and mutual aid with neighboring municipalities during extreme events.
Help develop and update SOPs, safety procedures, and training materials for operators.
Provide input to asset management plans by documenting equipment condition, critical spare parts, and lifecycle replacement recommendations.
Support pilot testing of new treatment technologies (MBR, SBR, nutrient removal processes) and collect data to evaluate performance and scale-up potential.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Wastewater process operation: activated sludge, nitrification/denitrification, primary/secondary treatment, solids handling.
Compliance sampling & laboratory testing: BOD, TSS, pH, DO, ammonia, chlorine residual, conductivity, nutrient analysis.
Mechanical maintenance: pumps, gearboxes, bearings, seals, couplings, belt drives, and hydraulic systems.
Electrical troubleshooting: motors, starters, VFDs, control circuits, instrumentation, and basic PLC/relay logic.
SCADA and data systems: real-time monitoring, alarm response, trend analysis, and basic HMI/SCADA navigation.
Confined space entry and rescue procedures, air monitoring equipment operation (O2/CO/H2S/LEL meters).
Chemical handling and dosing system operation, pump calibration, secondary containment practices.
Permit and regulatory knowledge: NPDES reporting, effluent limits, sampling protocols, chain-of-custody.
Preventive maintenance and CMMS usage: work order creation, scheduling, and asset documentation.
Flow measurement and meter calibration: ultrasonic, magnetic, flow proportional sampling systems.
Odor control techniques and grit/screenings management.
Basic welding, fabrication, and pipefitting skills (preferred).
Experience with sludge dewatering equipment (centrifuges, belt presses, filter presses) (preferred).
Equipment start-up and commissioning procedures for new process units.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and accuracy in sampling, logkeeping, and regulatory documentation.
Effective verbal and written communication to coordinate with operations teams, vendors, and regulators.
Problem-solving and critical thinking to diagnose process upsets and mechanical failures under time pressure.
Teamwork and collaboration in multi-shift environments and cross-functional projects.
Time management and prioritization when balancing routine tasks, preventive maintenance, and emergency responses.
Adaptability to changing process conditions, after-hours callouts, and seasonal workload fluctuations.
Safety mindset and ability to follow, enforce, and coach others on safe work practices.
Customer service orientation for interactions with the public and interdepartmental stakeholders.
Instructional skills to mentor junior operators and conduct toolbox talks.
Record-keeping discipline and organizational skills for compliance and audit readiness.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required, with coursework in chemistry, biology, or industrial trades preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or technical diploma in Environmental Technology, Wastewater Technology, Water Resources, Mechanical/Electrical Technology, or related field.
Continued professional development through state operator training courses and workshops.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science / Environmental Technology
Water/Wastewater Technology or Water Resources Management
Chemistry, Biology, or Microbiology
Mechanical or Electrical Technology
Industrial Maintenance / Instrumentation & Controls

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of experience in wastewater operations, collection system maintenance, or a related industrial process environment.

Preferred:

2+ years operating municipal or industrial wastewater treatment systems with documented exposure to process control, sampling, and maintenance tasks.
Prior on-call/after-hours response experience and shift work in 24/7 operations.

Certifications & Licenses (Preferred / Often Required)

State Wastewater Operator Certification (Class I / II / III depending on jurisdiction); ability and willingness to obtain required license within a defined timeframe.
OSHA 10/30 hour training, Confined Space Entry certification, CPR/First Aid.
HAZWOPER 40-hour (or 8/24-hour awareness) where applicable.
CDL Class B (preferred for sludge hauling or multi-vehicle operations).
Chemical handling and site-specific safety training; lockout/tagout certification.
Manufacturer-specific training for pumps, centrifuges, and SCADA systems (preferred).

This job content is written to reflect common municipal and industrial Wastewater Technician responsibilities and skills, optimized for recruiters, job boards, and machine-readers while remaining human-friendly for candidate outreach and screening.