Career Suggestion

Water treatment worker

Water treatment workers treat and process clean water and waste water.

Average salary (a year)

£24000.0 to £40000.0 (starter to experienced)

Typical hours (a week)

42.0 to 44.0

You could work

evenings / weekends / bank holidays on shifts

You can get into this job through:

  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • applying directly

Apprenticeship

You could apply to do an apprenticeship with a water treatment firm, such as:

  • Water Process Operative Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
  • Water Industry Treatment Process Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Water Treatment Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
  • Water Industry Asset Maintenance Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship

These can take between 18 months and 4 years to complete.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

More Information

  • equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
  • guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

Work

You could start as a trainee with a water company and advance in your career through on-the-job training or an apprenticeship. For example, your employer may support you through a course in water engineering.

Direct Application

You could apply directly for water treatment jobs.

Some employers may want you to have GCSEs in English, maths and a science at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C).

Experience of working in industrial plant maintenance could be helpful though not essential.

More information

You can find more advice about careers and training in the water industry through Energy & Utilities Careers & Jobs .

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • the ability to analyse quality or performance
  • knowledge of public safety and security
  • observation and recording skills
  • the ability to operate and control equipment
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • knowledge of chemistry including the safe use and disposal of chemicals
  • the ability to use, repair and maintain machines and tools
  • analytical thinking skills
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

  • pass a medical check

You'll need to be registered in one of the water industry safety passport schemes, supported by the Energy and Utilities Skills Register (EUSR) . The safety passport proves that you are able to carry out work in the water industry.

Day-to-day tasks

As a water treatment worker, you could:

  • operate equipment to treat sewage
  • service and repair machinery in pumping stations and treatment works
  • clean and maintain tanks and filters
  • treat water with chemicals and microbes
  • check drinking water samples for quality
  • take readings, identify problems and keep accurate records
  • make sure the site is safe and secure

We've identified this as a potential green job

For a water treatment worker to be a green job, you could:

  • make sure that you sort and recycle waste
  • maintain pumps, blowers and mixers so that they use less energy
  • get involved in processes that create energy from sludge, like anaerobic digestion

Find out more about green careers

Working environment

You could work in a control room.

Your working environment may be dirty, physically demanding, cramped, at height and outdoors in all weathers.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

With experience, you could become a team leader.

With further training, you could become an engineering technician or a water engineer.

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