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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wastewater Treatment Laboratory Technician

💰 $ - $

EnvironmentalLaboratoryWater TreatmentPublic Utilities

🎯 Role Definition

The Wastewater Treatment Laboratory Technician performs and documents routine and specialized analytical testing on wastewater, sludge, and effluent samples to support treatment operations, ensure regulatory compliance with NPDES and state permits, and provide actionable data to operations and management. This role combines hands-on wet chemistry and instrument work, strict QA/QC adherence, field sampling responsibilities, and clear communication of results to operators, environmental compliance staff, and regulatory agencies.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Laboratory Assistant or Lab Aide in environmental or municipal settings
  • Environmental Field Sampler or Water Quality Technician
  • Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee

Advancement To:

  • Senior Laboratory Technician / Lead Lab Analyst
  • Laboratory Supervisor or Environmental Laboratory Manager
  • Process Control Specialist or Compliance Coordinator
  • Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator (certified levels) or Operations Supervisor

Lateral Moves:

  • Environmental Compliance Specialist
  • Field Sampling Technician or Industrial Hygiene Technician
  • Analytical Chemist in municipal/industrial labs

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Perform routine and advanced wet-chemistry analyses on influent, effluent, process, and sludge samples including BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand), TSS (Total Suspended Solids), TDS (Total Dissolved Solids), pH, alkalinity, hardness, chloride, sulfate, and conductivity to support process control and regulatory compliance.
  • Measure dissolved oxygen (DO), temperature, and other in-situ parameters during field sampling and provide time-sensitive data to operations to maintain biological treatment performance.
  • Analyze nutrient species such as ammonia/ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and orthophosphate using colorimetric, ion-selective, or ion-chromatography methods and interpret trends for process optimization.
  • Conduct microbial testing (total coliform, E. coli, heterotrophic plate counts) and bacteriological analyses required for permit compliance, using membrane filtration, multiple tube fermentation, or other validated microbiological techniques.
  • Prepare and standardize reagents, culture media, buffers, and calibration standards in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and maintain reagent and calibration logs.
  • Operate, maintain, and troubleshoot laboratory instrumentation typically used in wastewater labs such as spectrophotometers, TOC/TOX analyzers, turbidimeters, ammonia and nitrate analyzers, pH/DO meters, ion chromatographs, and atomic absorption or ICP instruments when available.
  • Perform sample collection and field sampling for influent, effluent, grab and composite samples; follow chain-of-custody procedures, sample preservation requirements, and cold chain management to ensure sample integrity.
  • Execute and document quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) activities including method blanks, laboratory control samples, duplicates, spike recoveries, instrument calibration and calibration verification, and corrective actions when limits are exceeded.
  • Enter, validate, and manage analytical data in a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) or electronic data systems and prepare accurate daily, weekly, and monthly reports for operations and regulatory submission.
  • Prepare NPDES and state permit reporting packages, assist with compliance sampling schedules, and support regulatory inspections by providing required documentation and assay results.
  • Follow and help maintain written SOPs, safety plans, and chain-of-custody documentation; update protocols and participate in periodic SOP reviews to maintain accreditation and compliance.
  • Conduct root-cause analysis of out-of-specification or trending results and collaborate with operations and process engineers to recommend corrective actions such as chemical dosing adjustments, process parameter changes, or additional testing.
  • Maintain, calibrate, and perform preventative maintenance on laboratory equipment and field meters; coordinate with vendors and instrument service technicians for complex repairs and preventive service contracts.
  • Maintain laboratory supplies and inventory control, order reagents, consumables, and sample containers, and ensure proper storage and labeling per hazardous materials handling and chemical safety standards.
  • Train and mentor junior technicians, temporary staff, and operations personnel on sample collection, basic field tests, safe laboratory practices, and correct data entry procedures.
  • Support effluent toxicity testing, sludge characterization, and bench-scale treatability studies as requested by process control or environmental engineering teams.
  • Execute chain-of-custody and secure sample packaging for off-site third-party laboratory shipments and coordinate sample dispatch with courier services to meet holding time requirements.
  • Participate in plant safety programs, confined space entry when sampling from confined areas, hot work permits where applicable, and respond to environmental incidents or upset events by providing rapid analytical support.
  • Maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, logbooks, calibration records, and instrument maintenance records to meet internal audit, regulatory audit, and accreditation requirements (e.g., NELAP or state lab accreditation).
  • Implement and support continuous improvement efforts in laboratory workflows, sample turnaround time reductions, automation opportunities, and data quality enhancement initiatives.
  • Assist with annual proficiency testing, inter-laboratory comparisons, and corrective action plans resulting from proficiency failures or non-conformances.

Secondary Functions

  • Coordinate with operations, engineering, and environmental compliance teams to plan sampling campaigns, pilot tests, and process audits.
  • Support investigative sampling during upset conditions, discharge incidents, or storm events and provide rapid in-field or expedited lab results to support mitigation.
  • Maintain and improve health, safety, and environmental compliance within the lab, including chemical hygiene, PPE usage, and hazardous waste disposal procedures.
  • Participate in interdisciplinary project teams for capital improvements, equipment purchases, and process optimization projects requiring analytical input.
  • Support laboratory accreditation or certification activities by compiling documentation for internal and external audits and implementing auditor recommendations.
  • Conduct occasional off-shift or emergency sampling and testing as part of on-call rotation to ensure compliance with permit limits during abnormal operations.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Strong competency in wastewater analytical methods: BOD, COD, TSS, TDS, pH, alkalinity, conductivity, DO, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, orthophosphate, and nutrient analyses.
  • Experience with microbiological wastewater analyses: membrane filtration, coliform/E. coli testing, heterotrophic plate counts, and aseptic technique.
  • Proficiency with laboratory instrumentation: spectrophotometers, turbidimeters, TOC analyzers, ion chromatographs, ion-selective electrodes, atomic absorption (AAS) or ICP (if applicable), and auto-analyzers.
  • LIMS experience: data entry, test ordering, result validation, audit trails, and electronic recordkeeping.
  • Strong QA/QC skills: method validation, calibration, blanks, spikes, duplicates, control charts, and corrective action documentation.
  • Sample collection and field skills: composite samplers, grab sampling, use of field meters (pH, DO, conductivity), and adherence to chain-of-custody and preservation protocols.
  • Regulatory knowledge: familiarity with NPDES, state discharge permits, EPA Methods, and state lab accreditation requirements.
  • Basic chemical safety and hazardous waste handling: MSDS/SDS knowledge, chemical storage, and disposal procedures.
  • Data management and reporting: Excel proficiency for trend analysis, basic statistical calculations, data visualization, and regulatory report preparation.
  • Instrument troubleshooting and preventative maintenance: routine calibration, cleaning, lifecycle management, and interaction with instrument vendors for repair and service.
  • Environmental sampling logistics: scheduling, cold chain management, and coordinating third-party lab shipments when necessary.
  • Optional/Preferred technical skills: familiarity with EPA-approved methods (e.g., Standard Methods), GC/GC-MS or HPLC experience for specialized analyses, and experience with automated samplers and SCADA integration.

Soft Skills

  • Strong attention to detail and commitment to data integrity and documentation discipline.
  • Effective written and verbal communication to clearly convey analytical findings and coordinate with operations and regulatory staff.
  • Problem solving and analytical thinking to interpret trends, investigate anomalies, and propose technical solutions.
  • Time management and organizational skills to prioritize high-volume workloads, meet holding times, and maintain turnaround commitments.
  • Team player with the ability to train, mentor, and collaborate across operations, engineering, and compliance groups.
  • Adaptability and resilience to support emergency response, shift changes, and variable sampling schedules.
  • Professional ethics and confidentiality in handling sensitive environmental data and regulatory communications.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent with 1–3 years of laboratory or environmental field experience; or
  • Certificate in laboratory technology, environmental technology, or a related technical program.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate degree or Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Environmental Science, Biology, Microbiology, Chemical Technology, or a closely related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Environmental Science
  • Chemistry (Analytical, Environmental)
  • Microbiology / Biology
  • Chemical Technology / Laboratory Technology
  • Water & Wastewater Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of laboratory experience; 0–2 years for entry-level with appropriate coursework or internship experience.

Preferred: 3+ years of wastewater laboratory or environmental lab experience, demonstrated experience with regulatory reporting (NPDES), LIMS, QA/QC program participation, and operation of common wastewater lab instruments. State wastewater lab certification or operator certification is a plus.

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