What does a water treatment operator do?

A utility plant operator monitors, operates, repairs, and maintains utility equipment and systems. Utility plant operators work on the operation, maintenance, and repair of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. They operate and maintain a drainage and sewerage system as well as a neutralized acid waste system. The skills and knowledge they need include electronic control systems, underground cables, and the electrical generating system characteristics. Also, they are expected to know the basics of electrical practice.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a water treatment operator are more likely to require skills like "water treatment plant," "process control," "water quality," and "lab analysis." On the other hand, a job as a utility plant operative requires skills like "auxiliary equipment," "hvac," "control systems," and "air compressors." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them. They are also responsible for the maintenance and repair of the machine, and they should be able to troubleshoot problems and provide remedies to them. They must be knowledgeable about the different parts of the machine and how to mitigate any challenges that may arise. Operators should be alert, detail-oriented, and familiar with safety and health guidelines.

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, water treatment operator responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "water treatment plant," "water samples," "plant equipment," and "process control." Meanwhile, a distribution system operator has duties that require skills in areas such as "safety procedures," "gauges," "preventive maintenance," and "api." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Typically working at water treatment facilities, a water technician specializes in installing and repairing equipment to ensure the good quality of water and consumers' safety. It is their duty to operate tools and equipment, gather and analyze samples to detect any contaminants, participate in adjusting chemical levels, and perform regular maintenance checks on machines to ensure efficiency. They must also keep records of all operations, producing progress reports as needed. Furthermore, it is essential to maintain an active communication line with co-workers for a smooth workflow.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a water treatment operator is likely to be skilled in "water treatment plant," "scada," "water samples," and "plant equipment," while a typical operator is skilled in "safety procedures," "cdl," "emergency calls," and "quality checks."

Even though a few skill sets overlap between water treatment operators and water technicians, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a water treatment operator might have more use for skills like "water treatment plant," "plant equipment," "process control," and "water quality." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of water technicians require skills like "customer service," "work ethic," "strong work ethic," and "hand tools. "