tech working on plant mainteance and tech fixing instruments

Wastewater Operations Careers

Explore a Career in Wastewater Operations

Are you passionate about protecting our water and the environment? Wastewater Operations professionals play a crucial role in managing systems that treat and dispose of wastewater, ensuring that the water we use is clean and safe before being returned to Lake Michigan. These careers have a median salary of around $33 per hour, excellent benefits, and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on public health and our environment.

What We Do

Wastewater Operations professionals oversee the systems that collect, treat, and dispose of wastewater from homes, businesses, and industries. They operate and maintain treatment plants, ensuring wastewater is processed to remove contaminants before being safely released back into our waterways. This includes monitoring equipment, conducting inspections, troubleshooting issues, and complying with environmental regulations.

Why It Matters

Working in Wastewater Operations means directly contributing to:

Protecting public health by ensuring wastewater is properly treated, removing harmful contaminants before it is released back into the environment.

Preserving ecosystems by preventing pollution that could harm rivers, lakes, and wildlife.

Supporting water sustainability by maintaining and improving the systems that provide clean, safe water for future generations.

Career Pathways in Wastewater Operations

Wastewater Operators

Plant Laborer Maintenance

Instrument Technician

Wastewater Operations

The Wastewater Operator will operate and maintain the wastewater treatment plant in compliance with the site indirect discharge permit, including lab analysis of process samples, minor and preventive maintenance of equipment, and complete other tasks as assigned by the Lead Wastewater Operator, Account Manager, or other Veolia Leadership personnel.

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Key Foundational Competencies

Wastewater
Valves (Piping)
Sewage Treatments
Water Treatments
Safety Training
Basic Computer Skills

Workplace Competencies

Knowledge of operating equipment used in wastewater treatment
Knowledge of the operation and adjustment of valves, mechanical pumps, motors, and semi-automatic controls
Ability to read and understand a variety of dials, meters, and gauges
Ability to prepare a log of routine activity
Ability to enter data

Work Experience

Associate degree + 2 yrs related experience
—or—
Bachelor’s degree + 0 yrs related experience

Required Technologies

Word processing software
Spreadsheet software.

Common Skills

Communications
Social Skills
Operations
Troubleshooting
Mentorship
Detail Oriented
Management
Coaching
Teamwork
Writing

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilites required on this job include close vision and distance vision. Generally works rotating 12- hour shifts and is subject to overtime, recall, and call-in.

Education and Training

High School Diploma or GED Equivalent; Environmental Associate Degree or higher, and/or Wastewater Operator; Certification is a must.

Operator should be knowledgeable of many different types of wastewater systems; metal precipitation/clarification, biological (aerobic and anaerobic), filtration, and membrane technologies.

Median Salary

$39 per hour

Required Technologies

Data base user interface and query software; Geographic Information Systems; Industrial control software; Spreadsheet software; Microsoft Office; Microsoft Word; Mircosoft Excel; Database software; C (Programming Language); Data entry; basic computer skills

Special Skills, Competencies and Licenses

Valid Driver’s License, wastewater operator license

Special Skills, Competencies, and Licenses

Knowledge and understanding of NR149 and NR219 and other regulatory requirements.
WDNR Wastewater Operators License preferred.

WASTEWATER OPERATOR PATHWAY

The pathway below represents a typical career pathway in the ever-changing water sector industry. The highlighted circle represents the occupation in the pathway. Click the image below to download it as a PDF.

Plant Laborer Maintenance

Under Supervision, inspects and performs various manual laboring duties including the operation of laboring equipment related to sewer and concrete repairs, sewer cleaning, or the cleaning and maintenance of buildings, grounds, watercourses, deep tunnels, or equipment.

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Key Foundational Competencies

Problem Solving
Communication
Sewer Maintenance and Cleaning
Groundskeeping

Workplace Competencies

Operate laboring equipment
Sewer Cleaning
Sewer and Concrete Repair

Work Environment

Work involves exposure to dirt, dust, extremes in temperature and humidity, odors, heights, confined spaces, gases, raw sewage, hazardous materials

Common Skills

Communications
Social Skills
Operations
Troubleshooting
Mentorship
Detail Oriented
Management
Coaching
Teamwork
Writing

Education and Training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Median Salary

$33-$34 per hour

Work Experience

1-3 years experience. General laborer experience and industrial cleaning experience.

Special Skills, Competencies and Licenses

Valid Driver’s License - Class B, C, D with tanker endorsement requirement

PLANT LABORER MAINTENANCE

Instrument Technician

Under general supervision, installs, maintains, calibrates, troubleshoots, repairs, modifies, and overhauls instrumentation; assist with the maintenance of the computer and microprocessor systems associated with the treatment plants processing of raw sewerage.

Installs, maintains, calibrates, troubleshoots, repairs, and overhauls non-process equipment such as, but not limited to, safety, surveillance and security, and analytical instrumentation.

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Key Foundational Competencies

Problem Solving
Computer microprocessing systems
Sewage Treatments

Workplace Competencies

Ability in soldering and desoldering without damaging materials
Knowledge and skills in the principles, practices, concepts and techniques used in advanced digital and analog electronics

Work Environment

Work involves exposure to confined entry areas, hazardous gases, heights, weather, noise, dirt, dust, organic waste, and explosive environments.

Common Skills

Communications
Social Skills
Operations
Troubleshooting
Mentorship
Detail Oriented
Management
Coaching
Teamwork
Writing

Required Technologies

Microsoft Office; Microsoft Word; Microsoft Excel; Geographic Information Systems; Database software; C (Programming Language); Data entry; basic computer skills;

Education and Training

Required
2-year degree in electronics

Work Experience

2-5 years experience

Median Salary

$39 per hour

Special Skills, Competencies, and Licenses

Valid Drivers License

INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN PATHWAY

instrument technician Career Pathway graphic

Local Training & Education Opportunities

Interested in a Water Career, but not sure where to start?

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whether you’re starting in the workforce or looking for a career change!

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