92101 Water and waste treatment plant operators

What this occupation covers

Water treatment plant operators monitor and operate computerized control systems and related equipment in water filtration and treatment plants to regulate the treatment and distribution of water. Liquid waste plant operators monitor and operate computerized control systems and related equipment in wastewater, sewage treatment and liquid waste plants to regulate the treatment and disposal of sewage and wastes. They are employed by municipal governments and industrial facilities. This unit group also includes waste treatment plant operators in composting plants and other waste management facilities.

Official main duties

The NOC profile lists 17 main duties for this code.

• Operate and monitor computerized control systems and related equipment in water filtration and treatment plants to regulate the treatment and distribution of water
• Monitor and inspect plant equipment and systems to detect equipment malfunctions and to ensure plant systems are operating normally
• Read flow meters, gauges and other recording instruments to measure water output and consumption levels, bacterial content, chlorine and fluoride levels
• Collect and test water samples for chemical and bacterial content, analyze test results and instrument readings and make adjustments to plant equipment and systems to ensure quality control
• Provide verbal or written instructions for process control changes to waterworks system to ensure water produced meets standardized quality requirements
• Perform security checks in plant and on grounds
• Respond to public enquiries regarding water quality issues and emergencies
• Complete and maintain plant logs, reports and statistics
• May perform minor maintenance or assist skilled tradespersons with installation and repair of plant machinery
• May measure, mix and transport chemicals to maintain feed stocks.
• Operate and monitor computerized control systems and related equipment in wastewater treatment, sewage treatment and liquid waste plants to regulate the flow of sewage through settling, aeration and digestion tanks, and to treat and dispose of sewage and wastes
• Patrol plant to check pumps, motors, filters, chlorinators and other plant equipment; monitor and read gauges, meters and other recording instruments to detect equipment malfunctions and ensure plant systems and equipment are operating within prescribed limits
• Test and adjust chemical feed rates to ensure that disinfection processes meet quality standards
• Collect waste and sewage samples, test and analyze results and make adjustments to plant equipment and systems as required
• Complete and maintain plant logs and reports
• Perform preventive maintenance on plant equipment to ensure that the facility operates in accordance with required standards
• May assist skilled tradespersons with installation and repair of plant machinery.

Do not copy these lines into your reference letter. The letter has to describe what you actually did, in your employer’s words. DUTYPROOF flags wording lifted from the NOC as something to review, and an officer reading a letter that mirrors the NOC reads it the same way.

What DUTYPROOF screens for

This is DUTYPROOF’s screening threshold, not IRCC’s decision. For this NOC, screening requires at least 3 of its 17 official duties to be evidenced in your own words, plus the required letter elements. IRCC asks that you performed the actions in the occupation’s lead statement and a substantial number of its main duties — so treat the duty coverage as the number that matters, not the badge.

Codes this one is confused with

The NOC profile names these itself. Choosing the wrong code of a look-alike pair is the most common way genuine work experience fails to establish eligibility.

• 21320 Chemical engineers
• 22100 Chemical technologists and technicians
• 92011 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
• 74204 Utility maintenance workers
• 95102 Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities

Excluded from this code

• Chemical engineers (See 21320 Chemical engineers)
• Chemical technologists and technicians (See 22100 Chemical technologists and technicians)
• Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities (See 92011 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities)
• Utility Maintenance Workers (See 74204 Utility maintenance workers)
• Waterworks labourer (See 95102 Labourers in chemical products processing and utilities)

Job titles filed under this code

A title on this list does not by itself put your experience in this code — the duties in your letter decide that.

environmental systems operator - water treatment · filter plant operator - water treatment · filtration plant controller - water treatment · industrial waste treatment plant operator · liquid waste process operator · liquid waste processing plant operator · liquid waste treatment plant operator · pump station operator - water treatment · pumphouse operator - water treatment · sewage plant operator · sewage-processing equipment tender · waste treatment plant operator · wastewater collection operator · wastewater collection systems operator · wastewater treatment operator · wastewater treatment plant operator · wastewater treatment plant worker · water and wastewater technician · water filtration plant operator · water gate operator · water plant pump operator · water purification plant operator · water treatment operator · water treatment plant operator

Employment requirements

• Completion of secondary school is required.
• College or industry training courses in chemistry, pollution control or related subjects are usually required.
• Certification in water treatment and distribution (level according to the classification of the plant) is required for water treatment plant operators.
• Drinking water certification is required in Quebec and Ontario for operators whose work involves water treatment and distribution.
• Certification in wastewater collection and wastewater treatment (level according to the classification of the plant) is required for wastewater treatment plant operators.
• Solid waste, landfill or compost facility operator certification may be required for operators in waste treatment plants.
• Certification in workplace hazardous materials information system (WHMIS), transportation of dangerous goods (TDG), and courses in safety practices may be required.
• On-the-job training is provided.
• Previous experience as a worker in the water treatment or wastewater field may be required.