Water Treatment Jobs | Solid Waste Management Career | Hazardous Waste Management Jobs
Waste Services Jobs - What is the Job of a Solid Waste Management Worker? What does a Waste Management Job Involve?
Water treatment plant and waste management workers are responsible for treating wastewater systems, in order to remove harmful toxins from domestic and industrial water supplies, so that it is safe for the environment and to drink. Water is usually pumped from reservoirs, wells, and rivers, where it is treated before running through pipes to a customer’s house.
When a customer uses water, it is usually recycled directly to wastewater treatment plants, where the water is treated and either returned to the consumer or used for irrigation and landscaping purposes. Water management plant operators must remove any harmful microorganisms, toxic chemicals, and other industrial materials from the water supply, using pumps and valves in order to direct the water flow through various treatments stages.
Water treatment workers will regularly take tests in order to identify the amount of chemicals that are in the water supply, and water management jobs will often repair damage water pumps or valves. Wastewater operators will typically use computers in order to manage hazardous liquid waste, and water treatment workers may be called during emergency situations, such as a heavy storm which overflows a wastewater treatment plants capacity.
In the event of a gas leak, a water plant operator is instructed on the proper emergency responses and procedures in order to protect the integrity of the public water supply. In a small wastewater treatment plant, one wastewater operator may control all of the water treatment machinery and handle repairs, usually being on call for 24 hours a day.
At a larger waste management plant, a wastewater operator will often have a specialized role and work with chemists, engineers, mechanics, supervisors, and other working professionals in order to make sure that water is safe to drink. The Federal regulations for water safety are covered under the Safe Drinking Water Act, in addition to the Clean Water Act, both of which regulate the amount of toxins they can be present in drinking water.
Industrial facilities must clean their wastewater to some extent before sending it on to municipal treatment plants, and municipal water plants themselves must meet strict standards. States may impose additional water safety guidelines.
Working Conditions for Wastewater Treatment Jobs - How is the Working Environment for Waste Management Jobs?
Water and waste management treatment workers can work indoors and outdoors, and they may be exposed to a number of dangerous situations. Wastewater operator work is demanding, as plants will operate 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.
Most wastewater workers will work 8 hour shifts, with three workers being needed to cover the entire day of the treatment plants operation.
Chemical Waste Management Education - How to Become a Waste Manager - How to Receive Your Solid Waste Treatment Training
Waste management workers and water treatment workers will usually have to complete a year certification in wastewater quality, of which most water management programs are offered by trade associations, and most water treatment workers will acquire further training under an experienced wastewater treatment operator.
Most states in America offer additional courses in order to increase a wastewater treatment operators knowledge of water pollution control standards. Classes that may be taught include water treatment processes, laboratory procedures, water management skills, collection systems, water chlorination, and biological treatment of water.
Water Treatment Plant Requirements - How to Become a Solid Waste Management Plant Worker
In 1996, the Safe Drinking Water Act specified national standards for public water systems certification. Water system operators must be certified in a state level with certifications varying depending on location and job description.
Other qualifications that water waste treatment workers should have include an ability to solve problems analytically and a familiarity with computers as computer systems are now used in order to keep records and to maintain water cleaning equipment.
The Association of Boards of Certification offers accreditation for wastewater treatment jobs, in addition to any state or Federal certifications. As wastewater workers gain experience on the job, they may be able to move to larger plants, or decide to enter into industrial waste treatment working for chemical companies and large manufacturing institutes.
Waste Management Jobs Employment - What Are the Prospects of a Waste Treatment Job?
Over the next decade, wastewater treatment jobs should experience job growth of about 14%, as new Federal and state standards for water treatment are enacted. Local governments constitute the largest employers of wastewater treatment workers, although privately owned companies should grow even faster.
Job prospects for waste management workers are excellent as baby boomers currently in the wastewater treatment industry are expected to retire in great numbers over the next 10 years. Applicants to wastewater treatment work are rare due the unappealing circumstances of working with filthy waste water.
Solid Waste Management Salary Pay Scale - How Much Do Hazardous Waste Management Workers Earn?
In 2006, wastewater treatment plant operators and water management jobs had median salaries of $36,070, with those working in local governments have a median salary of $36,200.
Most wastewater treatment workers received additional benefits such as health and life Insurance, and a retirement plan, in addition to paid waste management training for further education.