Waste Water and Water Plant Operators

Waste Water or Water Plant Operators operate plants to store, distribute and treat water, including purifying water for human consumption and removing waste from sewage.

What the job involves

• Controls flow of raw water into plant, by regulating electric motors, pumps and valves

• Adds specified amounts of chemicals and activates agitators to mix chemicals. carries out such tests as are required in accordance with training given

• Allows impurities to settle and removes them by filtering water through filtering material

• Pumps purified water into mains, monitors flow and distribution

• Cleans tanks and maintains equipment, and makes minor repairs

• Pumps waste water into oxidation/settling ponds

• Removes sludge

• Burns off gases, treats and discharges waste water when it reaches the required levels of purity