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    Water treatment workers operate systems that clean drinking water and dispose of sewage. They work 37 hours per week and earn £14,500-£18,000 annually to start. The job involves monitoring equipment, adding chemicals, and following safety procedures. No qualifications are required but GCSEs or maintenance experience can help find work.

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    Water treatment workers operate systems that clean drinking water and dispose of sewage. They work 37 hours per week and earn £14,500-£18,000 annually to start. The job involves monitoring equipment, adding chemicals, and following safety procedures. No qualifications are required but GCSEs or maintenance experience can help find work.

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    Water treatment workers operate systems that clean drinking water and dispose of sewage. They work 37 hours per week and earn £14,500-£18,000 annually to start. The job involves monitoring equipment, adding chemicals, and following safety procedures. No qualifications are required but GCSEs or maintenance experience can help find work.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    46 views8 pages

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    api-316813940
    Water treatment workers operate systems that clean drinking water and dispose of sewage. They work 37 hours per week and earn £14,500-£18,000 annually to start. The job involves monitoring equipment, adding chemicals, and following safety procedures. No qualifications are required but GCSEs or maintenance experience can help find work.

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    ob profiles

    Water treatment worker

    Hours
    37 per week

    Starting salary
    14,500 + per year

    Water treatment workers operate the systems in a wastewater plant that clean up water and
    dispose of sewage, chemicals and other liquid waste.
    To do this job you need to be able to follow instructions and be physically fit. If you want a
    practical job, and you understand the importance of health and safety, there may be opportunities
    for you in this field.
    You dont need any specific qualifications for this role, but you may find it useful to have GCSEs
    or equivalent. Previous experience or qualifications in building site or plant maintenance work
    may also help you to find work. You may also be able to start through an apprenticeship scheme.

    Work activities
    As a technician or operative in a water or sewage treatment plant, you would treat and clean the
    drinking water that is piped to homes and businesses, process wastewater and dispose of sewage.

    Your day-to-day duties would vary according to the size and type of treatment plant, but on a
    daily basis you might:

    operate manual and computerised equipment such as sludge processing and pumping
    stations

    clean and maintain septic tanks and filters

    add chemicals and microbes to treat the water

    monitor water and gas levels

    take readings and keep accurate records

    check the condition of plant equipment

    carry out minor repairs to equipment, or report major faults to engineers

    follow strict safety procedures at all times.

    In some jobs you may be known as a process controller or operator, water quality technician or
    treatment operator.

    Working hours and conditions


    Water treatment workers usually work 37 hours a week. You will often work on a shift pattern
    including nights and weekends. Overtime may be available.
    You may work in a control room, or in water treatment areas which can be indoors or outside.
    The job can be physically demanding and may involve working at heights or in confined spaces.
    Conditions may be wet and dirty, and you will need to be able to cope with strong smells. You
    will be provided with protective clothing and equipment.

    Income
    Starting out in this role you will usually earn 14,500 to 18,000 a year.
    Once you are qualified, this can rise to around 25,000 a year.
    As an experienced technician or team leader, you can earn between 25,000 to 32,000 a year.

    You may be able to increase your salary with overtime and shift allowances. Figures are intended
    as a guideline only.

    Entry requirements
    You do not need any specific qualifications to become a water treatment worker, but you may
    find it useful when looking for work to have GCSEs or equivalent. Previous experience or
    qualifications in building site or plant maintenance work might also help.
    Some employers may ask you to take a medical before you start a job with them.
    You may be able to do a water industry apprenticeship which could give you a good background
    to the role.
    The range of apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the
    types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more about apprenticeships visit
    GOV.UK (Apprenticeships).

    GOV.UK (Apprenticeships)

    If you are not joining the industry through an Apprenticeship, you will find it useful to have
    previous experience or qualifications in building site or plant maintenance work.
    Some employers may ask you to take a medical before you start work.

    Training and development


    Your training will normally be a mixture of learning on the job from experienced staff, and some
    formal courses at a training centre. You may work towards one of the following qualifications:

    Level 2 Diploma in Operating Process Plant (Water, Waste Water or Sludge)

    Level 2 Diploma in Water Engineering.

    Employers will often want you to be registered in an appropriate safety passport scheme, such as
    one of the water industry safety schemes supported by the Energy & Utilities Skills Register
    (EUSR). See the EUSR website for more information.

    Energy & Utilities Skills Register

    Scheme Directory

    Skills, interests and qualities


    To be a water treatment worker you need:

    good practical skills

    physical fitness

    good observational skills and attention to detail

    willingness to work outside in all weather conditions

    the ability to cope with unpleasant smells and substances

    the ability to follow detailed instructions

    awareness of health and safety.

    More information
    Energy & Utility Skills
    Tel: 0845 077 9922
    www.euskills.co.uk
    Water UK
    www.water.org.uk

    Opportunities
    You will find opportunities with one of the regional water and sewage operators around the UK.
    You might also work for one of the water supply companies.
    With experience, you could progress to team leader and into management. With further training
    and study, you could become an engineering technician or an incorporated water engineer.
    Jobs may be advertised in the local press, Jobcentre Plus, and on employers' websites. You may
    also find the following links useful:

    Water UK

    (list of companies)

    Future Water Association

    Just Utilities.net

    Utility Job Search

    Job market information


    This section gives you an overview of the job area that this profile belongs to. You can use it to
    work out your next career move. It can help if youre looking for a job now or want to do some
    further training.
    The 'Market statistics' charts are based on figures from the UK Commission for Employment and
    Skills (UKCES) and the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
    The list of job vacancies under 'Apply for jobs' is from the Universal Jobmatch database. The
    vacancies are not from the National Careers Service.

    Market statistics

    Apply for jobs

    Find courses

    Median income: Manufacturing


    UK
    Sector
    21381
    27017
    This chart shows the median, or middle, annual income figure for full-time workers in this sector
    compared to the national median figure for all sectors.
    Gender: Manufacturing
    Female
    Male
    83%
    17%
    This chart shows the proportion of men and women working in this sector.

    Working pattern: Manufacturing


    Part-time
    Full-time
    Self-employed
    7%
    83%
    10%
    This chart gives a breakdown of how people are employed in this sector.
    Gaps in sector due to skills shortages: Manufacturing
    This sector
    All vacancies
    23%
    22%
    This chart shows the proportion of vacancies in this sector that employers said are due to skills
    shortages. This compares with the overall figure across all sectors.
    Employment forecast: Manufacturing
    Year
    2013
    2014
    2015
    2016
    2017
    2018
    2019
    2020
    2021
    Predicted nos. employed
    500000
    515000
    530000
    545000
    560000
    575000
    590000
    605000
    This graph shows the predicted numbers of people that will be working in this sector between
    now and 2020.
    Useful links

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    Apply for an apprenticeship


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    app.

    Your Career Tools

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    We can help you find out if you have the right skills for the job and help you take your next
    career step.
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    Want to get the skills needed to be prepared for this job? Click on the links below to see relevant
    courses.

    drainage (wastewater) engineering

    water treatment

    water engineering

    Search all courses

    Related Careers

    Leakage operative

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