A Day In the Life: Wastewater Treatment Operators 

@jarod what do u mean laid back?? i just got hired yesterday for a water treat operator at a plant that has well water.. i start monday so im trying to soak up everything! so how laid back is it??

@Deanna Andrade thanks!! I'll come back to this reply!

@Deanna Andrade are you an operator?

I’m a wastewater mechanic and we responded to a emergency in one of our pump station in a residence area , it was a holiday that day but we have to go in . We got to the pump station and this lady walking her dog approach us with a sassy attitude and said “don’t u guys know today is a holiday?” And one of our guys said to her “why you don’t take shit on holidays?” 😂😂😂 yup we will never be out of work brother 😂😂

@@92greenebeen yea they only do their rounds and then on their phone most of the times 😂😂😂

I started the water class last year, my senior year in high school, I got it paid by my city so I can work with them, I’m now a trainee, and they’re paying my waste water course. I love it, the pay isn’t bad for a trainee but once I complete my hours I’ll be earning pretty good money at 19. Better once I’m dual certified. The best part is that it’s a small city, so we’re hands on on everything, from construction machinery, both plants, electricity, welding, and more I just love it.

Realistically, what's the starting pay? What's the average cap? Is it generally salaried work w/ benefits or is it hourly?

True. I use to live in CA and couldn't land a government job at all. Interviewed at least 20 times. Applied to at least 500 jobs for 10 years. Finally moved outta state and work a pretty good gig for a army facility.

I am trying to join this industry.

damn. I'm dying to get out of the office.

I’m training to become one. Nervous as shit. Can you explain what ur day to day is like?

I just applied for one at my city's local Waste treatment plant. I'm hoping I get it.

How much you make at the end of the year

@@crush9197 Take home is approx 36k a year. $1490 every two weeks. $22.87/hr Im only a C operator though.

@@amaryisblr2235 I hope you got it

How’s it going now ?

@@arashebadtabrizi1301 not bad, the program is quite interesting. I look forward to finishing it

@@Black8Soul that’s nice to hear what school did you go to?

@@arashebadtabrizi1301 how much did it cost you?

Program means little when they require different grades of licenses. With limited time to acquire them. 2years to pass test or gone.

Come over for school or work. Plenty of options for visa

Hello, I am also a member of the water treatment industry. If you need water treatment equipment, please contact me. We can provide a complete set of water treatment equipment and quote you.

How much for a trainee in how much for a full time employee

@@alonzowhiteaaawqq603 trainee can usually be between $12-$17, once you complete the hours and get fully licensed it’s from $18-$25 depending where you work, at least here in Florida. Then there’s also different levels either 3, 2, 1 or C, B,A (Same thing just different places use either number or letter to describe levels, C and 3 being lowest, then A and 1 being highest), the higher license the more pay because usually it’s management positions, then you get to dual licensed, it’s when you have both water and waste water both have same levels with the letter and numbers, the pay increases even more with dual license and higher levels. I know it’s maybe a really long explanation but I really love the field and want as many people to know about this good trade and help them out with any questions.

Can you recommend the school that you attend

@@ashbodie8581 i attended a local community college that has the program, but usually check any community colleges around your area, or just google your state along with water or waste water programs. Or if you can’t really find mucho or is confusing, call up your local utility department who supplies your water or waste water, and ask one of their operators for help, you might even land a job and get it paid by your local municipality if they’re short staffed and in need of a trainee.

@@rickygonzalez9063 I'm from the Bahamas, I was hoping to find a online course in the U.S.,

for me 5 to 5, 4 days working, 4 days off

@@hectious4349 On call 24/7 and mandatory weekends every 3 weeks. Plenty of overtime but after 10 years you are tired of getting called in when a water main breaks and needs to go.

It’s definitely worth it, it’s working with family doing the most laid back stuff ever. & it’s worth it you can take the knowledge anywhere. Retirement & benefits are awesome & the school work is easy online. I’m 1 test away from being a OIT & getting a 20 dollar raise. Bro DO IT & don’t look back.

@@EverythingValid Didn't get a call back, maybe better luck next time. Covid is putting a pamper on everything.

@@EverythingValid what's OIT? I'm gonna graduate in may and plan on getting in this field.

@@robertbaker50 don’t give up, where there’s a toilet there’s a treatment plant. Covid isn’t stopping this career because it’s essential.

@@pira707 operator in training

Check your states website under the environmental page.

@@matthewsparks6623 ok

Yes

Lol

what's boo boo? 😂😂

Yes, that’s pure shit.

Hello, I am also a member of the water treatment industry. If you need water treatment equipment, please contact me. We can provide a complete set of water treatment equipment and quote you.

There was a large aquarium set-up near the end of the effluent Cl2 contact channel, at the City of Hayward (Calif.) wastewater facility. The aquarium had its own dedicated little building, including a small lab counter work area, and log book! They dismantled it right before I started work there in '84. So don't know about its operation monitoring/sampling that occurred. Check the City of Hayward (Calif.) Wastewater Treatment Plant on RU-vid. The City has probably the best water quality lab and treatment facilities in the entire bay area.

Smells like money lol

Eh... not pleasant usually but once in a while you catch a whiff of something like tide soap or a recent deposit from the nearby taco bell but you get used to it. I know they're going to be nasty and smelly when the manhole lids have rusted themselves shut. 😆

@@alexpvpeso Yes !!!!

I am a 26 year old female and I am starting the process now. My boyfriend has been doing it for a long time and he suggested it. Definitely a good career for women.

@@smargogo hello, I’m wondering how you got started? Any suggestions please?

@@obeyoc.4023 Networking is quite important.. In my situation my boyfriend and I are now relocating so he can move up the ranks to be lead operator then CPO and after this point we are hoping there will be an opening for an OIT position for me there once the grade II gets filled. You need to get started on the wastewater curriculum for your state. There are also college courses you can start taking. I would get in touch with your states water board for information on their website with the textbooks and then you test which puts you above competition because some operators never take the courses. Every situation is different. Reddit has been a good source of information for me. This field has short staff because there are so many people who get in and don't want to work up the ranks.. and so many people stay at one place for so long for retirement so there aren't as many easy ways to get in as a novice. But with persistence and willingness to relocate and hopefully experience in similar fields you can apply to OIT positions or work volunteer for a while to work towards your certification. Thats the hardest part is getting your initial years experience to become certified. I did a terrible job explaining this because it's not my field. I am starting oit with only server experience and some college. They want more people out there though you just may need to make some sacrifices.

Shhh 😂

Damn where did you work at

@@crowwing9322 oregon city. You had one operator all day for 8 hours while you had a drc and a manager in their own offices. Then the maintenance crew which is two is set in stone driving around doing useless things most of the time. If you're an operator you act alone. No team. Schedule changes, being a loner, and on call wasn't the life for me. When you're on call you cant be more than 30 minutes away on your days off. Not worth it for me.

@@burrito6457 maybe it was just the facility you were at ? Isn’t there more than more operator working at a giving time

@@crowwing9322no because the water treatment plant serves a couple of counties. There are 2 other plants nearby. I was supposed to go to one of the other plants after 6 months to learn how another plant works but i decided to leave because the other plant only had 1 water treament operator at a time as well. Its good money after 8 years to get your level 4 cert but what are you willing to give up...family first for me. Everybody who worked there liked to be alone and lots looked depressed. Not my type of environment.

@@burrito6457 the family aspect of what your saying I 💯 percent agree I am a family man myself this is why I wanna pry a bit and find out more from someone who has been in the field

They get used to it so they forget about masks

im more surprised by the lack of eye protection and guardrails...