Operators
Water operators are essential professionals who ensure the safety and quality of our drinking water by managing the complex processes of water treatment and distribution. Learn more about this rewarding career path and explore AWWA tools and resources to advance your education.
Operators Everywhere are Helping Water Utilities Protect Public Health
Certified operators are a critical part of providing an adequate and safe supply of water. Operators are typically responsible for a variety of tasks centered around operating and maintaining a system or plant. They typically work in a selection of capacities: water treatment, distribution, water collection, or wastewater.
AWWA has a large number of resources devoted to helping individuals become a certified operator, as well as materials to help existing operators advance their career. Whether you are just starting your career or a seasoned professional, AWWA resources can help you continue to grow in operational excellence.
Operator Certification – FAQ
Operators can work in various areas, such as water, wastewater, distribution, and reuse. These operators maintain equipment and processes to monitor and affect water as it moves through the treatment and distribution cycles.
Becoming a certified operator also offers individuals the opportunity to make a difference in society on a daily basis. Clean and safe water is essential to everyday life and operators have the ability to regularly impact that need.
What are some stats about the career?
The operator career is a promising and stable field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that in 2022 there were 124,800 water and wastewater treatment plant operators in the U.S. In general, jobs within the water industry remain relatively less affected by changes in the economy than other industries. Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics maintains that in 2023 the average salary for water and wastewater treatment plant operators was $54,890 USD per year.
What does it take to become a certified operator?
These are some of the key skills that it takes to be a successful certified operator:
- Strong mathematical, mechanical, and science skills
- Ability to read charts, graphs, and maps
- Ability to engage in logical processes for troubleshooting
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
- Ability to create records and observations; engage in reporting of issues and lapse of best practices
- Articulates issues, problems, and processes clearly
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to plant safety activities, practices, and standards
- Willingness to work indoors and outdoors
- Willingness to work nights, weekends and holiday shifts — as plants are always running
What is required to get a job as an operator?
Utilities have different job requirements based on how large and complex their operations are and what the specific job duties are. Some positions may require a high school diploma, while others demand a stronger math and chemistry background, or an Associate’s or Undergraduate degree.
What are the steps to getting certified?
In some states, you need to pass a certification exam before you can be considered for an operator position. In others, you can get an operator job, but must pass the certification test within a set time frame after being hired. Refer to your state or province for more information about what is required.
What is the certification exam like?
Certification tests cover topics such as chemistry, disinfection, biology, hydraulics, treatment techniques, measurement, and math calculations. The exams typically contain multiple choice questions.
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“I became an operator first and foremost because of my love of the environment and desire to be a part of protecting it.”
“I love helping the people of NY in this capacity and look forward to explore other opportunities with them in the future or any other utility that will allow the opportunity for advancement.”
“I like the thought of the stability, the serving my community aspect, the pay, vacation time, and being able to retire at 55.”
Water Treatment Operator — Online Courses
AWWA offers online, instructor-led water treatment operator (WTO) courses to help operators learn relevant material discussed on the Operator Certification Exam:
Our facilitated WTO courses offer a convenient and cost-effective way to learn fundamental operator material. Courses provide participants with feedback, graded assignments, and discussion.
WTO students may complete coursework on their own time within an established five-week completion window.
Please contact EducationServices@awwa.org with questions.
*Courses are non-refundable.
Water Treatment Operator | Level 1
2025 | Dates coming soon
Refresh your skills while learning how to prepare for the certification test. This course introduces the basic functions and responsibilities of Level 1 operators, as well as water treatment processes, their uses, characteristics, sizing, and calculations and analyses of these processes. This course often sells-out, register early! Stay tuned for 2025 dates.
Water Treatment Operator | Level 2
2025 | Dates coming soon
Learn concepts and practices about conventional water treatment processes, membrane/UV processes, and basic laboratory and sampling skills. WTO Level 2 provides an in-depth understanding of surface water treatment, groundwater treatment, and the particular parameters that dictate the successful treatment of both sources.
Water Treatment Operator | Level 3
2024 | Oct 14 – Nov 15, 2024
WTO Level 3 offers a unique combination of advanced process troubleshooting knowledge and introductory preparation for supervisory responsibilities. Also, this course will also help you learn how to manage employees and the legal obligations for regulatory compliance.
Operator Education Resources
Find AWWA resources on operator education, including water basics, certification exam prep, math workbooks, and more.
Water System Operations (WSO) Water Distribution, Grades I & II
WSO Water Distribution, Grades I and II, is organized into 22 chapters addressing core test content on certification exams. Chapters discuss regulations, operator math and chemistry, and specific distribution processes in detail.
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Water Distribution Operator Training Handbook
AWWA’s most popular handbook for distribution operator personnel is an indispensable reference for operators and supervisors alike on water distribution system operation and equipment.
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Water Treatment Operator Training Handbook
Producing and delivering the highest quality drinking water takes training, knowledge, and attention to detail. Water operators do it every day with the top training and best practices they get from this popular handbook.
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Water System Operations (WSO) Water Treatment, Grade I
AWWA’s WSO series is the leading operator certification training resource. WSO Treatment Grade I is organized into 21 chapters addressing core test content on certification exams.
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Water Operator Certification Exam Prep
This book offers more than 1,400 practice questions and answers, so you can take your water operator certification exam with confidence.
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Wastewater Operator Certification Exam Prep
This book offers 500-plus practice questions and answers so you can take your wastewater operator certification exam with confidence.
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One Operator Scholarship
The One AWWA Operator Scholarship is funded through a matching fund from AWWA’s The Water Equation Campaign and participating Sections. Contact your Section on how to apply or receive more information on this new operator scholarship.
AWWA and the 43 sections across North America have come together to create the One AWWA Operator Scholarship to support continuing education within the water industry. AWWA’s Water Equation matches funds raised at the section level to provide books, tuition, training, education, and certification to operators at water and wastewater treatment plants.
Recent statistics show that an additional 7,000 water and wastewater operators will be needed over the next decade. The demands for water operators will increase as technology becomes even more complicated. The One AWWA Operator Scholarship is intended as an incentive to increase the number of new operators as well as address the needs of the current workforce.
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Water System Operations Video Training
AWWA video streaming is the solution to effective and professional utility training. It is easy to train anywhere, anytime. These videos provide comprehensive and engaging training on a large selection of topics. All of the video content that your organization needs to train its employees is quick and easy to access through streaming.
The Water System Operations (WSO) Channel includes 60+ full length videos covering 20 hours of certification and training content for operators. Strengthen the practices and procedures of your operator employees. Topics include disinfection, coagulation, filtration, water loss control, maintaining distribution systems, and more.
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Operator Certification Publications
Ready to advance your career and technical expertise? AWWA’s WSO materials provide training on fundamental practices and principles for treatment and distribution. Whether you are studying for grade 1 or 4, WSO is here to support your journey. AWWA operator publications include treatment and distribution, water and wastewater exam prep, math help, and on-the-job training tools.
Certification Preparation
Certification Preparation — Math Help
Fundamental Operator Practices & Principles
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