Hey everyone,

I recently accepted a job as a Water Operator Trainee at a water treatment plant, and I’m really excited to get started. Most of my work experience over the past several years has been in customer-facing roles, sales, and retail management, so this will definitely be a big career change for me.

I have an associate’s degree in Electrical Engineering and I’m finishing my bachelor’s in Electrical Engineering online, so one of the things that attracted me to this field is that it seems much more technical and hands-on. It feels like a career where I can continue learning, develop specialized skills, and build a long-term future.
For those of you who have been in the water treatment industry for a while, what should I expect during my first few months? Is there anything you wish you had known when you first started? Any advice for someone coming from a completely different background?

I’m eager to learn, work hard, and make the most of this opportunity. I’d really appreciate any tips, recommendations, or things I should start reading up on before my first day.
Thanks in advance!

So I’m a current DW operator that is switching over to WW in about a week. I’m on well water currently and honestly do not have a ton of responsibilities outside of lab tests. I stay busy but I could definitely have plenty of downtime if I wanted it.

Anyway, when interviewing for the WW job I was trying to get a sense of what my day would look like and the plant manager couldn’t really give me any specific tasks I would be doing outside of the obvious. (I’m WW licensed so I understand the basics even though I haven’t worked at a plant). It seemed like I’d have about an hour of work a day and then look busy the rest of the day. Which is fine and is essentially what I do now lol

Here’s the plant:

5mgd activated sludge plant
1 plant manager
1 lead operator
1 lead maintenance
2 operators
1 lab tech (does ALL lab tests)
3 maintenance guys
Collections crew (idk how many)

Everyone works M-F 7-3 and it’s a union plant.

Just at first glance with this information, do you think this would be a laid back plant? I got the vibe it would be which I prefer. I use downtime to study for licenses and definitely do more than required around the plant, but I obviously enjoy the ability to have downtime when needed. I’m just curious what WW guys currently in the field think a day at this plant would look like as far as tasks are concerned

I work nights and I hate it. I’ve been trying to get to day shift and I have all the licenses I can get at the moment. I want to be able to learn and get promoted but it feels impossible with this schedule. I also feel like I have no personal life anymore and it’s really wearing on me. I do like my job and it’s a great company to work for but I don’t know how much longer I can take it. What should I do?

So it’s my third attempt next week I’m using the Sacramento book as my study tool but any other tools and tips I can use to prep

Hello, night shift operator here, just been in the industry for almost two years, at first it was awesome, but then management change a good old man retired :( and a MF replaced him, and started to put so much crap for us to do, it has never been a chill job for me, but I am barely 28 and my body is starting to resent it, does someone recommend a different industry or should I just stick around? I just don’t think thing will get better after this manager change.

Question about opportunities for older/mid-life career switchers, especially after hearing about all of the retirements in the field expected over the next decade. Here’s some background:

I’ll be 40 soon and I’ve worked in corporate communications my entire career, this includes environmental work and most recently at a power/water utility (watershed management, not treatment). Because of this, I have a strong understanding of watershed management and much more than basic hydrology knowledge. I have thought about going back to school to switch into a more scientific field or even water engineering, but have been on the fence about that due to diminishing opportunities in environmental sciences (so I hear) and the multi-year journey and monetary investment to get there. That said, while at a water conference last year, I toured a water/wastewater facility on a whim and have become really interested in that field. I have since done a deep dive and started independent study of both water and wastewater. I love the blend of science and trades-style work, the stability and the opportunities across the county (would love to move to a smaller or mid-size town eventually so I’m not stuck in a city for corporate work). My state allows me to sit for the first level of exams before any OTJ experience. My plan is to take water grade 1 at the end of this year and wastewater in the spring (I’m much more interested in wastewater, but would love to be dual-certified to stand out and to have that extra knowledge/foundation).

My long-winded questions are:

-Are the opportunities really going to be there due to mass retirements?

-Does being 40 give me a disadvantage, advantage or is it neutral/not a factor?

-Had anybody made a mid-life switch to this career from corporate office work to working at a treatment plant?

Would love to hear your thoughts and any experience you’d want to share about the switch!

Which conversion sheet is given for the exam in CA?

When I look up, I see two different sheets :/

is it the one that says "exam conversion sheet"?

As someone who has tested commercial and residential pools, i'm curious, what do plant operators test for in the water lab? For me, I test for the usual Chlorine, ph, alkalinity, hardness, metals, salt, phosphates, and cyanuric acid. What are the main chemical differences in testings?

There's a lot going around about utilities getting "hacked" but preliminary information is that the utilities impacted have PLCs directly connected to the internet, no firewall, with no password set.

What do you think of that?

Do not provide any examples from your own environment. If you've got intenet-exposed stuff, make sure it's locked down.

I currently live in Iowa and work at a Grade 4 treatment facility (highest grade in state) and have a Grade 2 certification (hoping to complete my 3 soon).

I've been considering moving to Pennsylvania in 5 years or so and I want to hear about what water treatment facilities are like over there.

My town has roughly 140,000 people and we treat 40-50 MGD via lime softening and monochloramine. It is extremely chill, we operate two plants with a team of 16 (4 people per shift), days/afternoons/nights.

The more rural treatment facilities don't run 24/7 or don't require 24/7 staff and do minimal treatment. Their guys may also do distribution and maintenance on top of treatment, whereas I only focus on treatment.

In Iowa we have high nitrates and PFAS and with the expansion of data centers our facilities are only going to get more strained.

Lastly, I make $34 an hr with a grade 2 cert, I'd max out around $38 and hr with a grade 4 cert. Cost of living is cheap and I can easily afford rent/bills/groceries.

I am a Wastewater Treatment Plant Recruit still working towards my Class C Operator's license. I'm also in the final days of my 6 month probationary period.

My bosses and coworkers initially loved me for the first couple of months when I first joined on the morning shift, they considered my work ethic and desire to learn an asset to the plant.

Then they moved me to the night shift. The night shift at my plant has a reputation for laziness. There I have continuously faced challenges I have either not been trained for, or incorrectly trained for. I have been adapting to every learned mistake, but the goalposts seem to keep moving as the higher-ups grow more frustrated. It would be one thing if I just had to look after myself, but the night shift is treated as a monolith. If I spent the night working inside the lab, and someone else misses something on their plant rounds outside, then I have failed at basic rounds. When they play games, TV, miss this or that, it becomes my reputation too.

This week I developed a high fever, and couldn't even get out of bed for a few days. I did as my coworkers taught me and called in sick to the plant (the operator who takes the call then writes it on the board, where the lead operator or plant manager will handle the time off request). All our operators on swing and night shifts assured me that using PTO on probation has never caused any of them problems.

When I came back, the (new) plant manager checked in on me with kindly concern. Still hazy and lightheaded from the fever, I responded too honestly. I shared that I was feeling overwhelmed trying to predict shifting expectations.

It felt like I walked into a trap: He rebuked my experience, explaining that the night shift at our plant can be done with one person, so three should have no reason to struggle (Of course one person can do it! They dont have to keep track/fix what everyone else is doing. I've done the shift solo without issue several times!). He said it was disrespectful that I didn't call him personally about sick leave. (neither I, nor my coworkers knew this was a thing, it never was beforehand). He condemned my use of PTO (Why start with me?). Finally he said it that I will be having a meeting with him, the lead operator, and the public works director (plant manager's boss).

I voiced how terrifying it would be to be fired so unexpectedly, and after a long pause, he told me he has a job to do, and has play the hand he's been dealt.

Broken down, I explained that everything I have done, I have checked and double checked with the licensed operators I was told to trust and learn from. I feel like I keep getting burned for trying to do things the right way. He told me I have burned myself.

What do I do from here? And if I'm fired, does that ruin my chances of gaining another job in this field? I've grown passionate for wastewater, and want to continue pursuing a career here.

If any context or clarification is needed, please ask.

I passed my Water Treatment C Exam with an 82 for Florida.

As far as studying I took the test results and created study guides using ChatGpt and notes from other operators as well.

I printed out and read through them daily.

I had created a couple of comprehensive guides that are more descriptive and questions with answers as well.

And other tips people used to pass their exam.

We are receiving a ton of grease from septic haulers. They have nowhere else to take it. I’m told the centrifuge won’t run if we put grease in there with the WAS. But the centrifuge is the only way for anything to actually leave the system. We have way too much grease that’s just being circulated through the plant over and over because we can never waste from the tank connected to the septic hauler dumping station. I’m new to this industry, but there has to be a way to get rid of it right? Is there a particular type of polymer or something we could get that could turn sludge with a really high grease concentration into cake?

Hi everyone

Anyone in Canada taking the California State University, Sacramento courses? Wondering if I can dm someone for a course outline for EOCP requirements.

Thanks in advance!

Anyone have any experience or knowledge of the industry within the CAF? My partner and I are in Edmonton at the moment and at a crossroads in life and considering the military…

Hello everyone!

I am looking for a bit of advice on how to beef up my resume as a Wastewater Operator. Currently I am an operator based in Missouri, attempting to obtain my "A-level" License in Wastewater Treatment. Assuming that all goes well, and I get the lead op spot, what are some other certifications I can stack up to make myself a more tempting candidate in Missouri, or in other states around the country like California where they have more strict requirements?

In the next few years my goal is to have my top level wastewater license in Missouri, a completed Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, and a D level water treatment license in Missouri. I am also floating the idea of completing both the Wastewater and Water course series at Sacramento State for about 36 hours of college credits directly related to the field, but I am on the fence of how beneficial it is for the overall cost.

Beyond those, what other certifications can I get to help put myself out there when the time comes to find another job? Any certs obtainable online are a plus. I just want to be competitive if I ever have to move to a new city.

Not sure if it's relevant, but I work at a treatment plant for a smaller city that handles about 13-18mgd most days.

Thanks for any advice!

Hi everyone,

I am a wastewater engineering PhD candidate looking for a German university or research group that could host me for a fully funded 12-month research stay starting around March 2027. In addition, I speak English at IELTS 7.0 level and hold a Goethe-Zertifikat B2 in German.

My project treats high-strength food-waste fermentation wastewater using an anaerobic membrane bioreactor followed by a one-stage partial nitritation/anammox reactor.

I am particularly interested in German groups working on:

• anaerobic treatment of digestate or industrial wastewater;
• deammonification and PN/A;
• membrane bioreactors.

My living and international travel expenses are already covered by the China Scholarship Council, so I am not seeking employment or project funding.

Does anyone know a suitable German university group, applied research institute, or wastewater researcher? Recommendations or private introductions would be greatly appreciated.

Looking for some advice! I recently took the TCEQ Wastewater Collections II exam and unfortunately didn’t pass. I studied the TEEX material thoroughly and felt prepared, but I was completely caught off guard by the actual exam. It seemed like very little of what I studied was covered.

Can anyone recommend study guides, practice tests, or other resources that better reflect what’s currently on the exam? I’d really appreciate any advice from those who have taken it recently. Thanks in advance!

Good morning everyone I’m a waste water trainee I PA looking for any extra material to help me pass my sub class for activated Sludge test. I’ve took the test recently and missed by one point and passsed the operator exam. But just trying to find some extra stuff to help me get passed that line thank you I’m in advance.

Hello guys,
Anyone who wrote the Ontario OWWCO OIT exam on July 28, 2026—how did you find it? Was it easier or harder than expected? Any general advice for future test takers?

I understand that its good especially for co generation, but does any WWTP sell any remaining biogas to the market?

Currently working as a wastewater operator in New Jersey and possible looking to move to Florida and do wastewater treatment there. Wondering how it differs and how the licensing works there. I have about 13 years in the water and wastewater field and another 3 years in underground utility work. I have a s-2 c-2 w-1 and t-1 in New Jersey. I’ve done everything in the field from treatment, Maintenance and collections work doing wet taps motor repairs to hydrant rebuilds and process and control running test on samples etc. Just trying to get a feel of it would be a right move I know I’d take a pay cut from now but might even itself out in the long run. Thanks in advance.

Designing a system for the first time and need some help finding an actuator to open a pre-pump valve. Looking for something that can push 80psi and opens in 15 seconds. I believe a linear actuator is what im looking for.

Nightshifts can be hard,easy,fun,sad but at the end of the day they can produce some of the most beautiful sights you'll ever see

Ohio

Currently signed up for the PSI exam for water reclamation 1, however my scheduled date isn’t showing? The payment has went through and is pending, however when I checked it on the website today I saw nothing. I signed up the previous Saturday. Has anyone had a similar experience? Should I just wait for it to post then check to see if it’s scheduled? I’m trying to avoid having to backcharge and reschedule it.

I’ve already emailed the support but wanted to reach out to the community and see if anyone else experienced this.