Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Operator

🎯 Role Definition

A Water Operator is responsible for the safe, efficient and regulatory-compliant operation and maintenance of municipal or industrial water treatment and distribution systems. This role includes monitoring process performance, operating pumps and valves, performing lab testing and sample collection, adjusting chemical feed rates, troubleshooting mechanical and control-system issues (including SCADA), maintaining accurate records and reports required by state and federal regulatory agencies (e.g., EPA, Safe Drinking Water Act), and responding to public health or emergency events. Water Operators ensure treated water meets all quality standards and support system reliability through preventive maintenance, inspections and emergency response work.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Water Treatment Plant Utility Worker / Plant Technician
Distribution System Technician / Meter Reader
Maintenance Technician, Electrical or Mechanical

Advancement To:

Senior Water Operator / Lead Operator
Water Treatment Plant Supervisor / Operations Supervisor
Distribution System Manager / Water Quality Manager

Lateral Moves:

Wastewater Treatment Operator
Environmental Compliance Specialist
Instrumentation & Controls / SCADA Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Operate, monitor and optimize water treatment processes (coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection) to maintain compliant finished water quality, adjusting chemical feed and process parameters as needed.
Perform routine and event-driven laboratory analyses (chlorine residual, turbidity, pH, conductivity, TDS, alkalinity, bacteriological sampling) and interpret results to drive process decisions and regulatory compliance.
Maintain and operate distribution system assets including pumps, motors, valves, hydrants, reservoirs and booster stations; coordinate valve turns, hydrant flushing and pressure monitoring to preserve system integrity.
Respond to alarms, process upsets and emergency situations (pipe breaks, power outages, contamination threats) and implement corrective actions, including coordination with on-call staff and external contractors.
Maintain accurate plant logs, daily operating reports, process trending, chain-of-custody records for samples, and prepare regulatory submittals (monthly, quarterly and annual reports) for state agencies and the EPA.
Conduct preventative maintenance and basic repairs on mechanical and electrical equipment including pumps, valves, chemical feed systems, blowers and control panels; schedule and document maintenance activities.
Calibrate, troubleshoot and maintain instrumentation and control systems (flow meters, pressure sensors, ORP/DO probes) and work with SCADA to monitor trends, alarms and setpoints.
Collect and submit regulatory bacteriological and chemical samples according to certified protocols and hold times, ensuring proper documentation and chain-of-custody procedures.
Adjust treatment plant operations (e.g., coagulant, polymer, chlorine dosing) in response to raw water quality changes, seasonal variations and upstream source water events.
Perform confined space entry, lockout/tagout, and other safety-critical tasks in accordance with OSHA and company procedures while using appropriate PPE.
Execute distribution system leak detection and repair plans, coordinate with line crews for main repairs, service connections and system isolations to minimize customer impacts.
Maintain inventory of treatment chemicals, spare parts and maintenance supplies; place orders, receive deliveries and track chemical usage and stocking levels.
Support cross-connection control and backflow prevention programs by inspecting assemblies, maintaining documentation and working with licensed testers where required.
Assist in budgeting, capital project coordination and contractor oversight for plant upgrades, pipeline replacements and equipment installations.
Train, mentor and provide on-the-job coaching to junior operators, seasonal staff and contract technicians to maintain continuity of operations and institutional knowledge.
Participate in on-call rotations and flexible shifts including nights, weekends and holidays to provide 24/7 coverage for plant and distribution emergencies.
Perform safety inspections, hazard assessments and participate in continuous improvement programs such as CMMS utilization, root cause analyses and corrective action plans.
Enforce and document compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act requirements, state drinking water regulations, permit conditions and public notification protocols.
Operate and troubleshoot backup power systems, standby generators and automatic transfer switches to ensure uninterrupted plant operation during electrical outages.
Manage customer or stakeholder notifications in the event of boil water advisories, pressure issues or other public health notifications; prepare public notice documentation when required.
Read and interpret process and construction drawings, piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs), and equipment manuals to support operations and maintenance activities.
Coordinate with laboratory staff, environmental compliance officers and regional regulators during inspections, audits and sample result investigations to achieve timely closure of issues.
Perform meter reading, billing support and field customer service duties as required for distribution system operations and service connections.

Secondary Functions

Support cross-departmental projects such as GIS mapping of distribution assets, main replacement prioritization and hydraulic modeling data collection.
Assist with SCADA improvements by recommending sensor placements, alarm thresholds and historian configurations to improve operations visibility.
Participate in community outreach and education programs on water conservation, plumbing cross-connection awareness and source-water protection.
Contribute to internal work plans, SOP development and the continual update of the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) manual.
Provide technical input during capital project planning, procurement specifications and contractor evaluations to ensure operational needs are met.
Aid in routine administrative tasks such as purchasing requisitions, timekeeping support and maintenance work order closure in CMMS.
Participate in incident investigations and corrective action tracking, documenting lessons learned and improvement measures.
Support environmental monitoring activities outside core operations (e.g., watershed monitoring, stormwater sampling) when needed.
Help maintain vaccine/medical surveillance, training records and safety certifications for the operations team.
Contribute to energy management initiatives that reduce power consumption and improve pumping efficiency.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

State-issued Water Treatment and/or Distribution Operator Certification (e.g., Class I–III or equivalent) — required or preferred depending on role.
Hands-on operation and optimization of conventional and advanced treatment processes: coagulation, filtration, clarification, membrane systems and disinfection.
Field and bench laboratory skills: chlorine residual tests, turbidity analysis, bacteriological sampling, colorimetric and titration methods.
SCADA system operation and basic troubleshooting; ability to interpret trending data and respond to alarms.
Mechanical skills for pump, motor and valve maintenance; knowledge of bearing replacement, seal repairs and coupling alignments.
Proficiency with hand and power tools, instrumentation calibration equipment and basic electrical troubleshooting.
Experience with chemical feed systems (storage, metering pumps, dosing control) and safe handling of chlorine, chlorine dioxide, fluoride, polymer and coagulants.
Competency in reading and interpreting P&IDs, schematics, technical manuals and safety data sheets (SDS).
Use of computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) for work orders, asset management and preventive maintenance scheduling.
Understanding of regulatory reporting requirements (SDWA, MCLs, MRDLs) and preparation of required compliance documentation.
Confined space entry, lockout/tagout, fall protection, and other OSHA-related safety program knowledge.
Familiarity with distribution system operations: valve exercising, hydrant maintenance, pressure zone management and leak detection.
GPS/GIS basics for asset mapping and locating buried infrastructure; ability to coordinate with GIS specialists.
Basic computer skills: Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word), email, and experience with data entry and electronic logs.
Driver’s license and, when required, a Class B CDL with tanker endorsement for chemical transport or hauling.

Soft Skills

Strong attention to detail and quality focus to ensure accurate sampling, testing and regulatory compliance.
Clear verbal and written communication skills for shift handovers, regulatory interactions and public notifications.
Sound problem-solving and analytical abilities to diagnose process issues and implement corrective actions quickly.
Teamwork and collaboration mindset; ability to work effectively with operations, maintenance, lab and management teams.
Customer service orientation for responding to public inquiries, service disruptions and community concerns.
Adaptability and calmness under pressure during seasonal upsets, outages or emergency events.
Time management and prioritization skills to balance routine tasks, preventive maintenance and emergency response.
Initiative and accountability for safety, continuous improvement and documentation accuracy.
Leadership capability for training junior staff, supervising contractors and leading small project teams.
Ethical judgment and commitment to public health protection and regulatory integrity.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED required; coursework or certifications in water technology, chemistry or related technical fields preferred.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or technical certificate in Water Technology, Environmental Science, Civil Technology, Chemistry or related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science or Technology
Water/Wastewater Treatment Technology
Civil Engineering Technology
Chemical or Applied Chemistry

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0–3 years for entry-level (Operator I / Trainee), 2–7 years for mid-level (Operator II/III), 7+ years for senior or lead positions.

Preferred:

2–5 years of hands-on experience operating municipal or industrial water treatment plants and/or distribution systems.
Possession of or ability to obtain state Water Treatment and/or Distribution Operator Certification (Class I–III depending on responsibilities).
Experience with SCADA systems, CMMS, field sampling protocols, and regulatory reporting.
Demonstrated history of safe work practices, confined space entry, and familiarity with OSHA standards.