OPERATOR, SEWAGE: AND WATER TREATMENT PLANTS
Operator, Sewage: and Water Treatment Plants is a state title in New Jersey's competitive civil service, which means the way in is an open exam rather than a direct appointment.
The main requirement is 4 years of relevant experience. Pay on the FY 2027 schedule runs $59,763 to $87,117, and state payroll lists a single employee in the title, at Human Services.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. One agency employs it. We don't track live vacancies.
See where to apply for this title →Who employs this title
Operator, Sewage: and Water Treatment Plants appears on the State payroll at one department, Department of Human Services.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Human Services | 1 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 1 person working under this title. The median actual salary is $84,171. The agencies employing the most are:
- Human Services (1)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction of a supervisory official in a state institution or agency, operates and maintains the machinery and equipment used in the sewage disposal and water treatment plants, obtains and tests water samples; monitors flow rates, water level, distribution and pressure levels; does other related duties.
Examples of work
- Reads, interprets and adjusts meters and gauges.
- Operates a water and/or sewage treatment facility.
- Operates, adjusts, regulates, maintains, and makes minor and emergency repairs and adjustments to chemical feed machines and chlorinators, ammoniators, alum machines, aerators and related purification machines, water pumps, meters, indicators, filters, flowmeters, and sludge digester pumps.
- Checks and adjusts the flow and levels in the varied tanks and sludge chambers.
- Takes the lead in the work involved in the cleaning and adjusting of filter bed spray nozzles, maintenance of ultraviolet systems and operation of tertiary filters.
- Maintains plant areas in a neat and sanitary condition.
- May take the lead in developing and monitoring sewage and water treatment training programs for custodial populations such as residents, inmates, or patients or, members of the community.
- Monitors water flow rates, water levels, distribution and pressure levels.
- Utilizes a variety of instruments to conduct routine qualitative and quantitative chemical and bacteriological tests on potable and waste water to determine purity, clarity and pH level, and determines potability of water supply; ensures conformance with laws and regulations of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
- As directed, takes the lead in developing and monitoring training programs for custodial populations such as residents or inmates or, community based programs in the area of water and sewage treatment.
- Controls filter operations including backwashing, interpretation of performance and control through flow, loss of head and turbidity data.
- Unloads, stores and uses various chemicals; adjusts amounts of chemicals in the water.
- Utilizes computerized operation and monitoring systems to store the results of sampling, make process-control decisions, schedule and record maintenance activities and prepare reports.
- Inspects, lubricates and repairs motors, pumps, valves and filters and related equipment; detects deficiencies in the operational process.
- Observes and enforces safety precautions.
- Operates pumps and automatic valves for sludge removal equipment.
- Requisitions, stores, safeguards, and supervises the proper use of equipment, materials, and supplies.
- Responds to chemical emergency alarms.
- May be required to provide guidance and instruction to staff assigned to learn and perform a variety of tasks associated with the operation and maintenance of sewage and water treatment equipment.
- Prepares reports.
- Maintains records of shift operations.
- May be required to complete fire-training classes.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information system used by the agency, office, or related units.
Experience
Four (4) years of experience involving the operation and maintenance of electric pumps, motors, or sewage plant equipment and machinery.
License
Applicants may be required to possess one or more of the following licenses of the appropriate class, issued by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, depending on the permit level of the facility: Public Water Treatment Operator, Public Wastewater Treatment Operator, Public Wastewater Collection Operator, Public Water Distribution Operator.
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the duties of the position.
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of modern water treatment methods, theories and practices.
- Knowledge of the types of machinery and equipment used in sewage and water treatment plants.
- Knowledge of the methods and tools used to operate, adjust, regulate, and maintain sewage and water plant machinery.
- Knowledge of the methods used to clean bar screens, remove sludge from drying beds, clean and adjust filter bed spraying nozzles, chemical feed machines and chlorinators, purification machines, water pumps, meters, indicators, filters and flowmeters.
- Knowledge of the methods used to maintain sewage plant and water plant areas in a sanitary condition.
- Knowledge of the methods and equipment used to conduct bacteriological and chemical analyses of water for purity and potability.
- Knowledge of the hazards and safety precautions required in a sewage and water treatment plant.
- Ability to analyze sewage and water plant operations and maintenance problems.
- Ability to interpret safe drinking water laws, rules and regulations and apply them to specific situations.
- Ability to operate, adjust, regulate and maintain sewage and water plant machinery and equipment.
- Ability to observe and enforce safety precautions.
- Ability to use and care for the tools used to repair and maintain water and ewage treatment equipment.
- Ability to conduct chemical and bacteriological tests on potable and waste water.
- Ability to monitor water flow rates, water levels, distribution and pressure levels.
- Ability to read and interpret meters and gauges.
- Ability to organize assigned work and develop effective work methods.
- Ability to establish and maintain records and files.
- Ability to prepare reports.
- Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
- CODES: 18/O19 - MCK 12/27/03
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.