Water treatment technician
Make water clean for people to drink! You'd also use sustainable practices to deal with sewage, chemicals and other waste.
Also known as: water treatment worker, water treatment operator, water treatment operative, water quality technician, process operator, process controller
About the job
Check out a career in water treatment
What it's like
You would use the equipment in a water treatment plant to make water clean and safe for people to drink.
You could also process sewage, chemicals and other waste to make it safe.
You would:
use equipment such as sludge processing and pumping stations
clean and look after septic tanks, filters and other equipment
make small repairs and report major problems to engineers
add chemicals to treat the water
check and record water and gas levels
promote water conservation by optimising recycling processes and encouraging responsible water use
apply sustainable methods to treat water – limiting the use of harmful chemicals
monitor the quality of local water to make sure it can safely support the ecosystem that relies on it
You would need to be willing to work difficult hours, and to follow strict health and safety rules at all times.
Green job
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment. Find out more about green jobs.
Hours
You would usually work 37 hours a week, often as part of a shift pattern including nights and weekends. Overtime may be available.
Environment
You may work in a control room, or in water treatment areas which could be indoors or outside. The job can be physically demanding and may involve working at heights or in confined spaces. Conditions may be wet, dirty and smelly, although you would be provided with protective clothing and equipment.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- industrial mixer
- moulder
- hoppers
- integrity management
- fugitive emissions
- lubrication systems
- sample analysis
- pump stations
- water treatment
- water treatments operation
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- analysing
- taking initiative
- implementing ideas
- attention to detail
- observation
- resourceful
- reading
- resilience
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Environmental Science
Practical Craft Skills
Practical Electronics
Science
Skills for Work: Engineering Skills
There are no formal qualifications required to enter this role, however a good general education may be useful.
You may undertake a Modern Apprenticeship leading to a relevant Scottish Vocational Qualification Water Industry Operations (SCQF level 3). Entry requirements for a Modern Apprenticeship vary but employers may ask for qualifications at SCQF level 4/5.
A driving licence.
If you are to operate machinery as part of your role, you will need to be at least 18 years old.
You should be physically fit.
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