Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

Energy Innovation Center Institute•Pittsburgh, PA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator is responsible for operating, monitoring, maintaining, and troubleshooting water and wastewater treatment systems to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant plant operations. This position supports the protection of public health and the environment by maintaining treatment processes, performing routine testing, documenting operational data, and responding to equipment or process issues in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED required
Valid driver’s license required
Ability to obtain and maintain the required state water and/or wastewater treatment plant operator certification within the timeframe established by the employer or regulatory agency.
Ability to read and understand operating manuals, safety procedures, permits, technical instructions, gauges, meters, maps, and process-control data.
Ability to pass required background checks, physical exams, and drug screening , if applicable.

Nice To Haves

Technical coursework in water treatment, wastewater treatment, environmental science, chemistry, biology, mechanical systems, or a related field is preferred.
Commercial driver’s license may be required depending on employer needs.
Previous experience in water treatment, wastewater treatment, utilities, mechanical maintenance, laboratory testing, or industrial operations is preferred but not always required for entry-level positions.
Current state water or wastewater operator certification.
Experience operating SCADA or computerized plant control systems.
Experience with preventive maintenance, pumps, motors, valves, chemical feed systems, and process-control equipment.
Knowledge of regulatory reporting, permit compliance, and sample collection procedures.
Commercial driver’s license, equipment operation experience, or additional safety certifications, if required by the employer.

Responsibilities

Operate and monitor water and wastewater treatment plant equipment, including pumps, motors, valves, filters, clarifiers, aerators, blowers, chemical feed systems, disinfection equipment, and related control systems.
Monitor plant processes using gauges, meters, laboratory results, visual inspections, SCADA systems, and other operating data.
Collect water and wastewater samples and perform routine laboratory tests, such as pH, chlorine residual, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, and other process-control measurements as required.
Adjust chemical feed rates, flow rates, equipment settings, and treatment processes to maintain compliance with operating standards and permit requirements.
Perform routine inspections, preventive maintenance, minor repairs, calibration, cleaning, and housekeeping of plant facilities and equipment.
Maintain accurate daily logs, operating reports, laboratory records, maintenance records, and regulatory documentation.
Identify equipment malfunctions, process abnormalities, safety concerns, and operational issues; report or correct problems in a timely manner.
Follow standard operating procedures, safety practices, confined space procedures, chemical handling requirements, and emergency response protocols.
Assist with sludge handling, solids processing, equipment start-up and shutdown, and other plant operational tasks as assigned.
Respond to alarms, emergencies, after-hours calls, weekends, holidays, and rotating shift assignments as required.