Have you ever wondered where the water that comes out of your shower head came from or how it got clean? The water that you shower with was pumped from a natural source, such as a lake, directly to a water treatment plant. At these facilities, plant operators control processes that use special equipment to take out any pollutants in the water.
The process of turning dirty water into clean water begins once wastewater management professionals enter the picture and begin putting their training and skills into action. Then after they have done all the necessary testing and examined their results, they begin the process of removing any pollutants from the water in order to make it fit for public consumption.
In addition, wastewater treatment plant operators perform a series of other tests to ensure that any wastewater they come in contact with can be recycled.
What Do Wastewater Management Operators Do?
During a typical work day, water treatment employees perform many of the following tasks:
- Utilize tools to maintain every piece of equipment in the plant
- Read detailed maps, charts, and graphs
- Collect/analyze water samples
- Maintain accurate records of each day’s events
- Work both indoors and outdoors
- Keep their work environment safe
- Work night shifts, weekends, and holidays
What Kind of Educational Background Do You Need?
Anyone planning to go into the wastewater management industry should have a background in the following areas:
- Basic math
- Basic chemistry
- Biology
- Basic computer experience
- Shop courses to learn how to use tools and machines
Did You Know Hocking College Offers A Degree Program in Wastewater Management?
Students who make the decision to enroll at Hocking College have the opportunity to get an Associate of Technical Study in Water and Wastewater Management degree. In addition this program offers students the following advantages:
- It's currently the only one of its kind being offered in Southeast Ohio
- Small class sizes allow students more one-on-one time with instructors
- The program specializes in hands-on training and how to keep a wastewater treatment plant fully operational 24/7, 365 days a year
- The opportunity to take both an Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) 30-Hour Safety class, and a OSHA 40-hr HazWoper Health and Safety class
- Specialized training in all aspects of the wastewater recycling process, from the collection of wastewater to its treatment, and eventual distribution back into the environment
- Classes such as Environmental Ethics, Environmental Science, and Environmental Geology that teach students how different aspects of the environment related to the industry
- Hand-on specialized training in how to use both a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a Geographic Information System (GIS)
- Speech and English Composition classes to help students improve upon their oral, and verbal, communication skills
- The opportunity to receive their degree in only four semesters
- The potential to begin a promising career as an unclassified wastewater treatment plant employee immediately after graduation
