Water treatment worker
Water treatment workers treat and process clean water and waste water.
Also known as: Water quality technician, water treatment operator
- Starter salary£24,000 a year
- Experienced£40,000 a year
- Typical hours42 to 44 a week
- Green jobPotential
What you'll do
As a water treatment worker, you could:
- operate equipment to treat sewage
- service and repair machinery in pumping stations and treatment works
- clean and maintain tanks and filters
- treat water with chemicals and microbes
- check drinking water samples for quality
- take readings, identify problems and keep accurate records
- make sure the site is safe and secure
Working environment
You could work in a control room.
Your working environment may be dirty, physically demanding, cramped, at height and outdoors in all weathers.
You may need to wear protective clothing.
Skills and knowledge you'll need
You'll need:
- the ability to analyse quality or performance
- knowledge of public safety and security
- observation and recording skills
- the ability to operate and control equipment
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to work with chemicals safely
- the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
- analytical thinking skills
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to become a water treatment worker
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- applying directly
Apprenticeship
You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a water treatment firm, such as:
- Water Process Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
- Water Industry Treatment Process Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Water Treatment Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
- Water Industry Asset Maintenance Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
These can take between 18 months and 4 years to complete.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
Work
You could start as a trainee with a water company and advance in your career through on-the-job training or an apprenticeship. For example, your employer may support you through a course in water engineering.
Direct application
You could apply directly for water treatment jobs.
Some employers may want you to have GCSEs in English, maths and a science at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C).
Experience of working in industrial plant maintenance could be helpful though not essential.
Restrictions and requirements
You'll need to:
- pass a medical check
You'll need to be registered in one of the water industry safety passport schemes, supported by the Energy and Utilities Skills Register (EUSR) . The safety passport proves that you are able to carry out work in the water industry.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could become a team leader.
With further training, you could become an engineering technician or a water engineer.
Guides for this industry
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Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0