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A Water Plant Operator works at a water facility to store, treat or distribute water supplies. You might manage water storage levels or prepare water supplies for future use. Water Plant Operators might use chemicals to treat water supplies or remove impurities through filtration or agitation. You might conduct testing on water or maintain equipment used at a plant.
Water Plant Operators should have strong attention to detail and be able to use correct procedures during their work. It’s important you can follow directions and work as part of a larger team. Water Plant Operators need to attend to various administrative tasks and may have to perform manual labour duties when required.
There are 6 courses available for people who want to become a Water Plant Operator. These are the top 5 most popular courses.
Possible job outcomes:
The NWP40120 Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations (Treatment) is for water treatment supervisors who need both leadership and technical skills. This nationally recognised qualification will teach you how to lead and supervise work teams while improving water treatment systems and processes. Technical skills include: applying chemistry principles to water systems, overseeing the use of SCADA systems, implementing health and safety plans, assessing and improving a wide range of water treatment processes (desalination, membrane filters, granular media filters, anaerobic digestion, sedimentation, sludge removal). Enquire now for the full list of study units, water treatment career competencies, and upcoming course dates..
Average duration: 24 months.
Get the skills you need for a hands-on supervisor’s role in the Australia water industry with the NWP40120 Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations. This nationally recognised qualification will teach you how to be a productive leader, supervising small work teams, while ensuring workplace safety and environmental compliance. You’ll also gain technical skills in any of the six water industry sectors: catchment and dams, hydrometric monitoring, irrigation water supply, networks, trade waste, and treatment. Enquire now for the full list of specialisation units (and their availability) as well as upcoming enrolment dates..
Get a job at a water treatment plant with the NWP30219 Certificate III in Water Industry Operations (Water Treatment). This nationally recognised qualification will teach you how to operate and maintain drinking water treatment systems. The course covers: work health and safety, environmental compliance, sampling and testing drinking water, carrying out laboratory testing, implementing water industry legislation and standards, responding to blue-green algae outbreaks. You’ll also gain experience with a wide range of water treatments including iron and manganese removal, coagulation and flocculation, sedimentation and clarification, dissolved air flotation, and much more. Enquire now for entry requirements, water treatment competencies and upcoming enrolment dates..
The NWP30219 Certificate III in Water Industry Operations (Treatment: Water and Wastewater) is a nationally recognised training course with a twin specialisation. You’ll graduate with the skills and knowledge to sample, test, and treat both wastewater and drinking water. The course provides training in the following water treatment processes: sedimentation and clarification, dissolved air flotation, granular media filters, membrane filters, reclaimed water irrigation, odour removal processes, activated sludge removal, manganese removal, coagulation and flocculation, and much more. Enquire now for entry requirements, water industry career outcomes, and the latest course dates..
The NWP30219 Certificate III in Water Industry Operations (Networks) will teach you how to operate and maintain water network systems. This nationally recognised qualification delivers a hands-on skillset for water industry operators. The course covers: on-the-job safety, environmental compliance, operating high pressure water jetting systems, operating pump stations, inspecting water diversion systems, installing and maintaining rural water meters, disinfecting network assets, controlling electrical risk on metallic pipes, identifying water quality issues, and much more. Enquire now for the list of study units, water networks competencies, and upcoming enrolment dates..
In Australia, a full time Water Plant Operator generally earns $1,250 per week ($65,000 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.
The number of people working in this industry has increased slightly in recent years. There are currently 4,200 people employed as a Water Plant Operator in Australia compared to 3,900 five years ago. Water Plant Operators may be employed across all regions of Australia.
Source: Australian Government Labour Market Insights
If you’re interested in a career as a Water Plant Operator, consider enrolling in a Certificate IV in Water Industry Treatment. This course allows you to choose electives based on your career plans including desalination, sedimentation, chemical dosing and pathogen removal. You could also consider a Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations.
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Here are some potential career pathways within manufacturing plant and water management. Click on an occupation to learn more about the role and the qualifications that can help you get started in this industry.
Manufacturing Plant
Brake Press Operator
$960 weekly pay
Factory Worker
Plant Technician
Process Worker
Production Worker
Wastewater Plant Operator Assistant
Water Plant Operator Assistant
Mobile Plant Mechanic
$1,150 weekly pay
Operations Officer
Plant Mechanic
$1,350 weekly pay
Plant Operator
$1,550 weekly pay
Polymer Technician
$1,340 weekly pay
Process Technician
$1,630 weekly pay
Technical Officer
$1,400 weekly pay
Wastewater Plant Operator
$1,250 weekly pay
Water Plant Operator
Plant Engineer
$2,350 weekly pay
Plant Manager
$1,920 weekly pay
Plant Supervisor
$1,540 weekly pay
Water Management
Construction Worker (Water Infrastructure)
Surface Water Operator
$1,050 weekly pay
Water Treatment Technician
Catchment Officer
Hydrographer
Irrigation Field Officer
Trade Waste Officer
Water Networks Operator
Dam Operations Manager
Irrigation Water Supervisor
Water Networks Supervisor
Water Treatment Supervisor
Learn more about Water Plant Operator courses in your area.