Water Treatment Plant Operator Training
To get a job in water treatment, a person starts out by obtaining an associate's degree in water technology. Sometimes a combination of experience and education can be counted towards employment, depending on the public entity, but this position requires a working knowledge of mathematics, chemistry and complex water systems and filtration.
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The New York Manual of Instruction
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Students need to pick up and study the "bible of water treatment," so named by water treatment professionals across the United States. Entitled the "Manual of Instruction for Water Treatment Plant Operators," prepared by the New York State Department of Health, this book covers everything from the purpose of water treatment to performing laboratory examinations of water and everything in between. New York is known to have the oldest, yet one of the best water treatment systems in the United States, if not the world.
Water Technology Training
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A variety of public and private schools provide training in water technology. With an associate's degree in hand, graduates are ready to become certified by their state's department of health to treat public water. Coursework includes mathematics and chemistry, water distribution systems, instrumentation and controls and water quality monitoring. The best schools encourage participation in an internship program to gain on-the-job experience.
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Operator Certification
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States regulate its treatment operators by requiring them to obtain state-administered certification. Operators can cram for this certification through courses offered online or through correspondence--but make sure the course is state-approved. Coursework covers a variety of topics depending upon the grade of certification but can include water treatment plant operation, small systems, water distribution, water analysis, maintenance management and more.
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