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Water treatment worker

Alternative titles for this job include Water quality technician, water treatment operator

Water treatment workers treat and process clean water and waste water.

Average salary (a year)

£24,000 Starter

to

£40,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

42 to 44

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

How to become

Explore the different ways to get into this role.

How to become

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

More Information

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.

More information

You can find more advice about careers and training in the water industry through Energy & Utilities Careers & Jobs.

What it takes

Find out what skills you’ll use in this role.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

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

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.

What you’ll do

Discover the day to day tasks you’ll do in this role.

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

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

We've identified this as a potential green job

For a water treatment worker to be a green job, you could:

  • make sure that you sort and recycle waste
  • maintain pumps, blowers and mixers so that they use less energy
  • get involved in processes that create energy from sludge, like anaerobic digestion

Find out more about green careers

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.

Career path and progression

Look at progression in this role and similar opportunities.

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.

Current opportunities

Find apprenticeships, courses and jobs available near you.

Current opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

Apprentice Mechanical and Electrical Engineer

  • Wage: Competitive Annually
  • Location: 1 Mandarin Road, Houghton Le Spring

Apprentice Mechanical and Electrical Engineer

  • Wage: Competitive Annually
  • Location: Manchester
Find apprenticeships near you

Courses In England

UHWS - Unvented Hot Water Assessment only - initial

  • Provider: The Bournemouth and Poole College
  • Start date: Flexible
  • Location: Poole

BPEC UNVENTED DOMESTIC HOT WATER STORAGE SYSTEMS (INITIAL)

  • Provider: HARTLEPOOL COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION
  • Start date: Flexible
  • Location: HARTLEPOOL
Find courses near you

Jobs In the United Kingdom

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