Water Treatment Operator resume examples
This page has 12 one-page water treatment operator resume examples, from a Wastewater Operator I, a wastewater technician and a water quality technician to water and wastewater plant operators and water treatment and wastewater supervisors. The note under each sample says which plant size, permit, sampling and maintenance numbers it puts first.
Wastewater Operator Resume Example
Wastewater operator postings name SCADA, safety and PPE, Excel and Word, and knowledge of wastewater treatment processes, and this resume shows each one in the daily work of an 18 MGD plant. The Ohio EPA licenses sit in certificates where recruiters look first, and the bullets cover sampling, process monitoring, maintenance and records, the duties employers describe.
Why this resume works:
- Operate aeration, clarifier and digester processes for an 18 MGD plant with zero NPDES violations since 2024.
- Monitor 400 SCADA points a shift and adjust blowers and return sludge rates to hold dissolved oxygen at 2.0 mg/L.
- Collect 25 process samples a day, run pH, DO and TSS tests, and record results in Excel and Word.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Resume Example
Employers hiring wastewater treatment plant operators ask for plant experience, knowledge of treatment processes and equipment, and sampling and lab testing, and this resume shows 5 years with a Grade III license. Its bullets tie digester control, NPDES testing and pump rebuilds to numbers, matching the operating, monitoring and maintenance duties postings list.
Why this resume works:
- Run the 12 MGD plant on night shift, covering headworks, activated sludge basins, filters and UV disinfection.
- Maintain digester temperature and volatile acid ratios, keeping biogas steady for a 1 MW engine generator.
- Test BOD, TSS, ammonia and coliform on 30 samples a day for NPDES compliance reports.
Water Treatment Plant Operator Resume Example
Water treatment plant operator postings name water treatment plant operations, SCADA, hydraulics, wastewater treatment and attention to detail, and this resume backs each one with a turbidity, pressure or permit result. Both TCEQ licenses and a high school diploma, the education most employers ask for, are where a recruiter checks first.
Why this resume works:
- Operate coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation and filtration for a 40 MGD surface water plant.
- Monitor turbidity, chlorine and pH through SCADA, keeping filtered turbidity below 0.1 NTU on 99% of readings.
- Conduct jar tests twice a shift and adjust alum and polymer feed as raw water changes after storms.
Wastewater Technician Resume Example
Wastewater technician postings ask for experience, mechanical aptitude, troubleshooting skills and knowledge of wastewater treatment processes, and this resume shows all four in pretreatment and maintenance work. The process technology degree, a state operator license and an OSHA card answer the education, certification and safety items employers list.
Why this resume works:
- Operate the 2 MGD pretreatment system, including equalization, pH neutralization and dissolved air flotation.
- Test pH, COD, oil and grease on 15 samples a shift and record results for the city discharge permit.
- Repair sump pumps and chemical metering pumps, holding unplanned downtime under 2 hours a month.
Water Treatment Operator Resume Example
Water treatment operator postings name treatment chemicals, Excel, Microsoft Office and basic computer use, and this resume shows chemical dosing, Excel state reports and handheld meter work with real counts. A state waterworks license and the high school diploma most employers require sit up front, and the bullets cover sampling, process monitoring and records.
Why this resume works:
- Operate rapid mix, sedimentation and dual-media filtration for a 25 MGD plant on rotating 12-hour shifts.
- Adjust alum, caustic and fluoride feed and run chlorine disinfection from jar tests and online analyzers.
- Collect 40 process and distribution samples a week for chlorine residual, turbidity and bacteria tests.
Water Plant Operator Resume Example
Water plant operator postings name oral and written communication skills and ask for operating experience, and this resume shows 5 years along with customer calls and shift handoff notes. Washington treatment and distribution certificates, well and pump maintenance and water quality testing cover the licenses and duties employers list.
Why this resume works:
- Run the 10 MGD plant and 14 wells through SCADA, rotating pumps to meet daily demand.
- Test chlorine residual, iron and manganese at 20 sites a week and record results for state reports.
- Maintain 14 well pumps and 6 booster stations, replacing motors and check valves in-house to save $40K a year.
Water Treatment Technician Resume Example
Water treatment technician postings name customer service skills, analytical skills, attention to detail and independent field work, and this resume shows a technician testing water on site, choosing equipment from the results and holding a 4.9 customer rating. The Water Quality Association certificate and install and service counts back up the hands-on work employers ask for.
Why this resume works:
- Install 8 water softeners, reverse osmosis units and filtration systems a week in homes and restaurants.
- Test hardness, TDS, iron and chlorine at each site and match equipment to the water chemistry results.
- Maintain 25 accounts a week, replacing resin, membranes and cartridges and resetting valve controls.
Water Operator Resume Example
Water operator postings ask for experience, state operator certification and a high school diploma, and this resume shows 5 years with three Oregon certificates listed where recruiters look first. Its bullets cover operating and monitoring the system, water quality sampling, repairs and records, the duties employers describe for this role.
Why this resume works:
- Operate 9 wells, 4 reservoirs and 6 booster stations through SCADA, keeping storage above 60% in summer.
- Collect 45 bacteriological and chlorine residual samples a month under the state water quality sampling plan.
- Test 400 backflow assemblies a year and track results in Microsoft Office spreadsheets.
Wastewater Operator I Resume Example
Wastewater Operator I postings ask for some experience, a high school diploma, an entry operator license and safe work habits, and this resume shows all of them with a Class D license and a clean injury record. Bullets on rounds, sampling, lab tests and preventive maintenance mirror the operating and monitoring duties employers describe.
Why this resume works:
- Perform rounds on headworks, clarifiers and aeration basins 3 times a shift, recording 150 readings.
- Collect 20 grab and composite samples a day and run pH, DO and settleometer tests.
- Operate screens, grit pumps and sludge pumps under the lead operator, meeting NPDES limits every month.
Water Quality Technician Resume Example
Water quality technician postings ask for experience in water quality sampling, lab testing and accurate records, and this resume shows sampling counts, EPA-method testing and LIMS and chain of custody work. A science degree and a Florida distribution operator license give this entry-level candidate the credentials utilities look for.
Why this resume works:
- Collect 120 distribution samples a month for total coliform, chlorine residual and lead and copper.
- Run bacteriological testing, turbidity and pH under EPA methods, passing all QA/QC checks in 2025 audits.
- Record 2,500 results a month in LIMS and maintain chain of custody records for state lab audits.
Wastewater Supervisor Resume Example
Wastewater supervisor postings ask for years of wastewater treatment operating experience, a top-level state license and the ability to lead crews safely, and this resume shows 13 years, a Pennsylvania Class A license and an 18-person team. Permit, budget, power and injury numbers prove the compliance, records and safety duties employers describe.
Why this resume works:
- Lead 14 operators and 4 mechanics across 3 shifts, handling staff scheduling, training and reviews.
- Manage NPDES compliance and monthly DMRs, with zero permit violations over the last 4 years.
- Oversee a $2.6M budget for chemicals, power and parts, cutting chemical spend 12% through process tuning.
Water Treatment Supervisor Resume Example
Water treatment supervisor postings ask for operating experience, state certification and the ability to lead staff and keep records for regulators, and this resume shows 13 years, a Colorado Class A license and an 18-person team. Compliance, chemical savings, UV startup and CMMS numbers show the plant leadership employers want.
Why this resume works:
- Lead 18 operators and lab staff on 24/7 shifts at a 60 MGD water treatment plant.
- Manage regulatory compliance with the Surface Water Treatment Rule and state reporting, with no violations since 2021.
- Direct chemical feed systems optimization that cut coagulant use 15% and saved $310K a year.
Check your water treatment operator resume against a real job posting
- Paste a water treatment operator job posting into the job match score tool to see which of its skills your resume is missing.
- Upload your resume to the ATS resume checker to read the text an applicant tracking system gets from it.
Water Treatment Operator resume sample (text you can copy)
This is the text of the Wastewater Operator example above. Paste it into the resume builder and replace the details with your own.
Wastewater Operator resume sample
DEREK MAHONEY
Wastewater Operator
Toledo, OH · (419) 555-0153 · [email protected] · linkedin.com/in/derekmahoney
SUMMARY
Wastewater operator with 5 years in municipal utilities, including 3 years running an 18 MGD activated sludge plant under an Ohio EPA Class II license. Monitors SCADA, collects and tests process samples, keeps pumps and blowers in service through preventive maintenance, and records every reading with attention to detail.
EXPERIENCE
Wastewater Operator, Lower Maumee Water Reclamation District, Toledo, OH | 04/2023 - Present
- Operate aeration, clarifier and digester processes for an 18 MGD plant with zero NPDES violations since 2024.
- Monitor 400 SCADA points a shift and adjust blowers and return sludge rates to hold dissolved oxygen at 2.0 mg/L.
- Collect 25 process samples a day, run pH, DO and TSS tests, and record results in Excel and Word.
- Perform preventive maintenance on 30 pumps and blowers, wearing required PPE for confined space and chemical work.
Utility Maintenance Worker, Oak Openings Public Works, Swanton, OH | 06/2021 - 03/2023
- Repaired 40 sewer main breaks and service laterals a year with a 3-person crew.
- Jetted 25 miles of sanitary sewer a year and logged pipe defects for the capital plan.
- Maintained 6 lift stations, replacing pumps and floats to cut alarm callouts by 40%.
EDUCATION
High School Diploma, Anthony Wayne High School, Whitehouse, OH | 05/2020
SKILLS
Wastewater Treatment, Activated Sludge, SCADA, Process Sampling, Laboratory Testing, Preventive Maintenance, PPE, Excel, Word, Attention to Detail
CERTIFICATIONS
Class II Wastewater Treatment Operator, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (2024)
Class I Wastewater Treatment Operator, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (2022)
How to write a water treatment operator resume
Write a water treatment operator resume summary
- Open with your years of operating and the plant you run: water or wastewater, its capacity in MGD and its process, such as activated sludge or surface water filtration.
- Name your state operator license with its class or grade, such as Class B Water or Grade III Wastewater, right in the first sentence.
- Mention the work you do every shift: SCADA monitoring, chemical dosing, sampling and lab tests, and pump maintenance.
- Add one compliance result, such as zero NPDES violations or turbidity kept below a set limit.
Wastewater Technician summary (entry level)
Wastewater technician with an associate degree in process technology and 2 years of hands-on maintenance work, now running a 2 MGD industrial pretreatment system. Applies wastewater treatment processes, laboratory testing and mechanical aptitude to keep discharge within permit, and works independently on night shifts.
Wastewater Operator summary (mid level)
Wastewater operator with 5 years in municipal utilities, including 3 years running an 18 MGD activated sludge plant under an Ohio EPA Class II license. Monitors SCADA, collects and tests process samples, keeps pumps and blowers in service through preventive maintenance, and records every reading with attention to detail.
Wastewater Supervisor summary (lead level)
Wastewater supervisor with 13 years in wastewater treatment and a Pennsylvania Class A license, leading 18 operators and mechanics at a 40 MGD biological nutrient removal plant. Manages NPDES compliance, a $2.6M operations budget and plant safety programs, with zero permit violations in the last 4 years.
Write water treatment operator experience bullets
- Give the plant's size and your shift: MGD treated, wells or booster stations run, and whether you cover nights or rotating 12-hour shifts.
- Count sampling and testing: samples a day or month, which tests you run and how the results went into state or permit reports.
- Show compliance with numbers: permit violations, turbidity readings, chlorine residual or reporting errors.
- Report maintenance work: pumps rebuilt, work orders closed on time or downtime held under a set number of hours.
Wastewater Operator experience bullets
- Operate aeration, clarifier and digester processes for an 18 MGD plant with zero NPDES violations since 2024.
- Monitor 400 SCADA points a shift and adjust blowers and return sludge rates to hold dissolved oxygen at 2.0 mg/L.
- Collect 25 process samples a day, run pH, DO and TSS tests, and record results in Excel and Word.
- Perform preventive maintenance on 30 pumps and blowers, wearing required PPE for confined space and chemical work.
Pick the skills for a water treatment operator resume
- Show communication, problem-solving, Microsoft Office and attention to detail through shift notes, troubleshooting and clean records.
- Add working independently and Excel, then the plant skills employers name in their duties: SCADA, jar testing, lab testing, pump maintenance and lockout/tagout.
Do's and don'ts
Do this
- List every state license and certificate with its class, plus backflow, OSHA or distribution certificates.
- Put the plant capacity in MGD and the treatment process in your latest job.
- Say whether you hold a valid driver's license.
- Show safety: PPE, confined space work, lockout/tagout or a clean injury record.
Avoid this
- Don't write "monitored plant operations" without the plant size, the process or what you adjusted.
- Don't leave out your lab tests; name them, such as pH, DO, TSS, BOD or turbidity.
- Don't hide a license at the bottom of the page; recruiters check it first.
- Don't send a water plant resume to a wastewater job unchanged; name the processes and permits each one uses.
Related resume examples
- Plant Operator
- Manufacturing Technician
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Machine Operator
- Landscaper
- Electrician
- Welder
- Construction Worker
Water Treatment Operator resume questions
What should I put on a water treatment operator resume?
A summary with your years, your plant and your state license, jobs with plant size, sampling, compliance and maintenance numbers, a skills list and your education. Show sampling and lab testing, operating and monitoring the process, and keeping accurate records.
How much experience do water treatment operator jobs ask for?
Wastewater operator, water treatment plant operator and water plant operator roles in the examples ask for about 1 year. Supervisor roles in the examples ask for about 2.5 to 3 years.
How do I write a wastewater operator resume?
Name the plant's capacity, its process, such as activated sludge or digesters, and your license class. Show SCADA monitoring, samples and tests a day, permit results such as NPDES compliance, and the pumps or blowers you maintain. Wastewater operator roles in the examples ask for about 1 year and wastewater treatment plant operator roles for about 2.
What goes on a water treatment plant operator resume?
List the treatment steps you run, such as coagulation, sedimentation, filtration and disinfection, and the plant size in MGD. Add jar testing, chemical feed changes and water quality results, such as filtered turbidity or chlorine residual. Put your state water license and class in the summary.
Can I get a water operator job with no experience?
Yes, entry roles such as Wastewater Operator I ask for about 1 year. Show related work, such as plant production, maintenance or lab jobs, plus your high school diploma and any entry-level operator license. Mechanical aptitude and following safety rules are worth naming, since employers list both.
What goes on a water quality technician resume?
Show samples collected a month, the tests you run and the methods you follow, such as EPA methods. Add LIMS and chain of custody records and QA/QC results. Water quality technician roles in the examples ask for about 2.5 years, and a science degree helps.