How to Become a Water or Wastewater Treatment Plant and System
Operator New workers manage basic systems under the guidance of
an experienced operator. Water and wastewater treatment plant
and system operators typically need a high school diploma and
are trained on the job. Water and wastewater treatment plant and
system operators need long-term on-the-job training to become
fully qualified. Trainees usually start as attendants or
operators-in-training and learn their skills on the job under
the direction of an experienced operator. The trainees learn by
observing and doing routine tasks, such as recording meter
readings, taking samples of wastewater and sludge, and doing
simple maintenance and repair work on plant equipment. Larger
treatment plants generally combine this on-the-job training with
formal classroom or self-paced study programs. As plants get
larger and more complicated, operators need more skills before
they are allowed to work without supervision. Water and
wastewater treatment plant and syste