Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Water Plant Supervisor

🎯 Role Definition

The Water Plant Supervisor oversees safe, efficient, and compliant operation of a municipal or industrial water/wastewater treatment facility. This hands-on leadership role combines process control, regulatory reporting, preventative maintenance coordination, and staff development to deliver high-quality treated water while minimizing risk, cost, and environmental impact. Ideal candidates hold the appropriate state operator license (Class A/B/C or equivalent), have strong SCADA and process troubleshooting experience, and demonstrate proven supervisory skills in a 24/7 operations environment.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Senior Water/Wastewater Operator with multi-shift experience and state operator certification
Lead Operator or Treatment Plant Technician responsible for process control or lab testing
Mechanical/Electrical Maintenance Technician with treatment plant exposure and safety certifications

Advancement To:

Water Plant Manager / Treatment Plant Manager
Regional Operations Manager / Utilities Superintendent
Director of Water/Wastewater Operations or Public Works Director

Lateral Moves:

Process Control/SCADA Specialist
Environmental Compliance or Regulatory Affairs Coordinator
Maintenance Supervisor (Facilities/Pumping Stations)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Supervise daily operation of filtration, coagulation/flocculation, disinfection, clarification, sludge handling, biological treatment, and other unit processes to ensure compliance with permit limits and water quality standards.
Operate and manage SCADA systems and process control logic to monitor plant performance, adjust chemical dosing, and coordinate automated/alarm responses across treatment trains.
Maintain regulatory compliance by preparing, reviewing, and submitting accurate monthly/quarterly/annual reports (e.g., DMRs, consumer confidence reports, NPDES, state agency submittals) and by implementing corrective actions for exceedances.
Lead and mentor a multi-shift operations team: hiring, scheduling, training, conducting performance reviews, and enforcing attendance and safety policies to sustain 24/7 coverage.
Implement and manage preventative maintenance programs for pumps, motors, valves, chemical feed systems, clarifiers, blowers, and solids handling equipment, coordinating with maintenance staff and contractors as needed.
Oversee and perform routine laboratory testing (turbidity, pH, chlorine residuals, conductivity, BOD, TSS) and interpret results to make process adjustments and document chain-of-custody and quality control procedures.
Develop, update, and execute standard operating procedures (SOPs), operating manuals, and emergency response plans, ensuring all staff are trained and drills are conducted regularly.
Manage chemical inventory and procurement, ensuring safe storage, accurate tracking (MSDS/SDS), and cost-effective usage of coagulants, disinfectants, polymers, and other process chemicals.
Diagnose and troubleshoot mechanical and process issues onsite — including pump failures, membrane fouling, clarifier upsets, and chemical feed problems — and coordinate timely repairs to minimize downtime.
Coordinate with engineering, utilities, and contractors on capital projects, process optimization initiatives, upgrades to treatment units, and construction activities to safeguard plant operations during projects.
Enforce plant safety programs (OSHA, confined space entry, lockout/tagout, HAZWOPER as applicable), lead safety meetings, conduct incident investigations, and ensure corrective actions are implemented.
Track and manage plant operating budgets, including labor, chemical usage, maintenance parts, and contractual services, and provide monthly budget variance reports to management.
Monitor energy consumption and implement energy-efficiency measures such as pump scheduling, variable frequency drives, and process optimization to reduce operational costs.
Maintain accurate operational logs, shift reports, and electronic records (CMMS, SCADA logs), ensuring traceability of decisions and ease of regulatory inspections.
Respond to after-hours alarms, public complaints, and emergency events (power outages, source water contamination, mechanical failures) and lead incident response until normal operations are restored.
Conduct operator training and cross-training programs, maintain training records, and prepare staff for certification exams and continuing education requirements.
Coordinate with laboratory personnel and external labs for permit compliance testing, proficiency testing, and validation of analytical results.
Manage permit renewals, sampling plans, and source water protection activities in collaboration with regulatory agencies and environmental groups.
Implement process control strategies to optimize treatment performance (e.g., alkalinity adjustment, polymer feed optimization, backwash sequencing) and reduce chemical costs.
Ensure accurate calibration, maintenance, and documentation for field and laboratory instrumentation including turbidimeters, chlorine analyzers, flow meters, and pH/conductivity sensors.
Oversee sludge/biosolids handling, dewatering, and disposal operations in compliance with solid waste regulations and municipal contracts.
Collaborate with customer service, billing, and public affairs teams to support water quality inquiries, outreach, and community education programs on conservation and compliance.

Secondary Functions

Maintain and update asset registers, parts inventories, and spare parts reorder thresholds using the CMMS to improve uptime and reduce emergency procurement.
Support cross-functional initiatives such as continuous improvement projects, Lean Six Sigma pilots, and energy audits to enhance operational efficiency.
Prepare and present operational metrics, KPIs, and trend analyses to executive leadership and city councils, translating technical performance into business impact.
Assist in grant writing, funding applications, and technical justifications for capital improvements and resilience projects.
Participate in vendor selection and contract management for lab services, chemical suppliers, and major equipment maintenance agreements.
Support public outreach and education efforts, including plant tours, school programs, and responses to local media regarding water quality or service interruptions.
Keep up-to-date with industry best practices, regulatory changes, and emerging treatment technologies to inform strategic planning and capital investments.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

State-certified Water Treatment or Wastewater Treatment Operator license (Class A/B/C or equivalent) — required.
Expert use of SCADA/HMI systems for real-time monitoring, alarm management, and trend analysis.
Strong understanding of water chemistry and process control: coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, biological nutrient removal.
Laboratory skills: routine analytical testing (turbidity, chlorine residual, pH, conductivity, BOD/TSS), chain-of-custody, and QC/QA procedures.
Experience with pumps, motors, valves, blowers, and mechanical equipment troubleshooting and basic electrical diagnostics.
Proficiency with computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) and asset management for scheduling and tracking work orders.
Familiarity with federal/state regulations (EPA, SDWA, NPDES, state permitting) and compliance reporting requirements.
Knowledge of chemical feed systems, safe chemistry handling, storage practices, and MSDS/SDS compliance.
Ability to read and interpret P&IDs, process flow diagrams, technical specifications, and engineering drawings.
Budgeting and procurement skills: managing O&M budgets, tracking chemical usage, and negotiating supplier contracts.
Incident command and emergency response experience for plant-level emergencies and mutual aid coordination.
Experience implementing preventive maintenance and reliability-centered maintenance programs.
Basic data analysis and KPI reporting skills, including trend identification and corrective action planning.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and people management skills with experience supervising multi‑shift teams.
Excellent verbal and written communication for regulatory reporting, public interaction, and cross-functional collaboration.
Critical thinking and problem-solving with a process-oriented mindset and attention to detail.
Ability to remain calm and decisive in emergency situations and to prioritize actions under pressure.
Coaching and mentoring aptitude to develop junior operators and promote certification attainment.
Collaborative team player who can work across departments and with external stakeholders.
Good time management and organizational skills to balance operations, maintenance, and administrative duties.
Commitment to safety culture and proactive hazard recognition.
Customer-service orientation when interacting with the public and municipal stakeholders.
Adaptability to evolving regulations, technologies, and operational demands.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED plus completion of technical certification programs; equivalent combination of education and experience considered.

Preferred Education:

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Civil/Environmental Engineering Technology, Chemistry, or related technical field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Environmental Science
Water/Wastewater Technology
Civil/Environmental Engineering Technology
Chemistry or Chemical Technology
Mechanical/Electrical Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

5–10 years of progressive experience in water or wastewater treatment operations, including at least 2–3 years in a lead or supervisory role.

Preferred:

Prior experience supervising 10+ staff in a 24/7 municipal or industrial plant, demonstrated success with regulatory compliance, and hands-on SCADA/process control experience.
Certifications: State operator license (required), Certified Plant Operator Trainer or Wastewater Treatment Operator certifications a plus; OSHA 30, Confined Space Entry, HAZWOPER, First Aid/CPR recommended.
Experience with continuous improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma) and familiarity with energy management and asset lifecycle planning.