Mission-Critical Work in the
Water/Wastewater Industry
<Name>
<Title>
<Organization>
<Date>
Why am I (are we) here?
The water /wastewater industry wants to make
sure we continue to have qualified employees
I (We) work in the water/wastewater industry and
want to give you an idea of what the work is like
To give you an idea of options you might want to
investigate if a career in this field appeals to you
Civil Engineer
7.5 Million Bay Area Residents
525 MILLION
GALLONS / DAY OF DRINKING
WATER PRODUCED
705 MILLION
GALLONS / DAY OF WASTEWATER
TREATED
Critical water and wastewater jobs
In 2011, BAYWORK, a collaborative of water and
wastewater utilities focused on workforce
reliability, identified the following job categories
as critical to getting their work done:
• Engineer
• Mechanic/Machinist
• Water Treatment Operator
• Electronic Maintenance Technician/Instrument Technician
• Electrician
• Water Distribution Operator
• Wastewater Treatment Operator
Average salary range for water and
Wastewater jobs
Engineer
What does an engineer do?
• Plans, designs, constructs,
operates and maintains water and
wastewater utilities.
What are the types of engineers in
the water/wastewater industry?
• Civil engineer
• Environmental/process/water
quality/sanitary engineer
• Structural engineer
• Electrical engineer
• Instrumentation and control/SCADA
engineer
• Mechanical engineer
EMT/I&C technician
ETM and I&C technician responsibilities
• Install, Maintain, and Repair Electronic Equipment
• Evaluate Performance Under Different Operating Conditions
• Test, Calibrate, and Troubleshoot Electronic Systems
Install
Repair
Maintain
Evaluate
Test
Wastewater treatment operator
What does a wastewater
treatment operator do?
• Under general supervision,
operates, inspects, and
maintains a variety of plant
equipment in connection with
the continuous operation of a
large metropolitan wastewater
treatment plant
• Directs lower level operators
• Performs related work as
required
• Usually requires Grade 3
certification by Regional
Water Quality Control Board.
Electrician
What does an electrician do?
• Electricians, electrical workers, and electrical line
workers install, repair, operate and maintain the
electrical and power systems for homes, businesses,
factories, and infrastructure within the water,
wastewater, and power industry.
Operate
Repair
Maintain
Install
Water distribution operator
What does a water distribution
operator do?
• Monitors and controls water
system facilities and equipment
manually and/or using information
technology to regulate raw water
supply and treated water distribution
• Controls hydroelectric power
generation and monitors and controls
water quality
• Operates water transmission and
distribution systems (e.g., pumps and
valves), often using a SCADA control
system
• D-3 certification from Department of
Health Services is generally where
the journey level starts.
Mechanic/machinist
What does a machinist/mechanic do?
• Create, maintain, and repair mechanical equipment
associated with water and wastewater transmission,
distribution, storage, and treatment
Create
Repair
Maintain
Water treatment operator
What does a water treatment
operator do?
• Under general supervision,
operates, maintains and
repairs a wide variety of
complex machinery and
equipment in a water
treatment plant and/or
pumping station or related
facility.
Mission-critical careers video
BAYWORK website
For more information about BAYWORK or to contact
someone from BAYWORK with questions, see the “About
Us” page on the baywork.org website.
BAYWORK training opportunity map
BAYWORK job opportunity map
QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?
<NAME>
<TITLE>
<AGENCY>
<EMAIL ADDRESS>
Extra Slides
My position and the kind of work I do
My education and experience
My favorite project
What I like best about my job
Options for you to consider if you think you
might be interested in the water/wastewater
field
Coursework
• Course 1
• Course 2
Experiences (e.g., internships or apprenticeships)
• Experience 1
• Experience 2
Training Opportunities
• Training 1
• Training 2
Logos