Water Treatment Technician Jobs
Water Treatment Technician jobs are open across municipal utilities, private water companies, industrial facilities, and environmental services firms, at every level from entry-level operator to lead and supervisory technician, with specializations in distribution systems, wastewater treatment, and chemical dosing. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.
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Description
At the Town of Cary, we believe our greatest asset is our amazing employees, and we are searching for someone who wants to make a real difference in environmental stewardship and public health to join our team. As a Water Treatment Plant Operations Specialist, you will be responsible for the technical, administrative, and skilled work primarily in the operation of the Residuals/Dewatering area of the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility including sampling and analyzing, regulating processes and equipment, and collecting and evaluating data for operations process control. An employee in this class is expected to possess extensive technical expertise within the assigned area and serves as a primary technical resource for the division.
Work is performed under the regular supervision of the Water Treatment Plant Facility Operations Supervisor. Supervision is exercised over other treatment plant personnel. Serves in the absence of the Operations Supervisor in cooperation with other specialists at the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility.
Core work hours are from 7AM - 3PM Monday through Friday. This position will also serve in a rotating on-call capacity in response to operational issues and fill in as needed for 12-hour operational shift vacancies.
This position is a "critical position" meaning you are required to report to work during adverse weather or other emergency situations, to maintain equipment, operate the facility and/or assist the Department in any capacity to continue Town operations.
This position will report to the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Plant located at 1400 Wimberly Road, Apex, NC 27523.
Anticipated Hiring Range: $76,232- $93,620. Applicants who possess relevant certifications and experience may be eligible for higher starting pay.
Typical Tasks
Primary duties are concentrated in residuals management – performs daily operations of the Residuals Facilities, monitors operation of clarifying/thickening processes, collects and analyzes samples, operates dewatering equipment, coordinates dewatered residuals hauling;
Performs a variety of advanced daily water treatment operations duties;
Functions in the absence of the Operations Supervisor in cooperation with other Specialists at the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility;
Coordinates work of Operations group with Maintenance and Laboratory staff;
Serves in the Operations On-Call Rotation and provides coverage for 12-hour operational shifts when required;
Performs instrumentation & controls systems checks & calibrations;
Coordinates and assists with special O&M projects;
Conducts operational preventative maintenance tasks;
Coordinates seasonal process cleaning and preventative maintenance duties;
Assists with chemical inventory management – checks chemical supply levels, maintains records, offloads chemical deliveries;
Assists in ordering, delivery and inventory of materials and supplies;
Performs operational lab analyses; records results;
Conducts weekly NPDES sampling & monitoring of plant discharge;
Conducts or coordinates other special process control sampling as needed;
Assists with construction coordination activities;
Assists with safety supply inventory management;
Fills in for shift vacancies - makes hourly tour of plant and checks and documents gauge readings and calibrations; adjusts chemical feed rates through the computer; checks meters and pumps for proper functioning;
Runs hourly lab tests checking for pH, CL2 residual, turbidity, manganese, alkalinity; records lab paperwork;
Monitors operation of the plant with SCADA;
Maintains records of plant operations;
Maintains plant security through video surveillance, physical checks, and electronic lock system;
Makes minor or emergency repairs;
Reports equipment operation problems to maintenance personnel;
Collects data from preventative maintenance program and takes corrective action as required;
Maintains safe working environment;
Provides assistance to other operations/maintenance technicians;
Assists in training of other staff;
Performs other job-related tasks as required.Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Thorough knowledge of the operating characteristics and maintenance requirements of a water treatment plant; thorough knowledge of hydraulic, chemical and mechanical principles pertinent to water treatment plant operations; thorough knowledge of water quality regulations and reporting requirements; thorough knowledge of residuals processing; thorough knowledge of the occupational hazards of the work and of necessary safety precautions; ability to operate a computer relative to the operation of the plant and troubleshooting malfunctions; ability to detect flaws in the operation of water treatment processes and equipment and to determine proper remedial measures; ability to conduct routine laboratory tests; ability to understand and follow and provide moderately complex oral and written instructions; ability to read meters and charts accurately and to maintain records of shift operations; ability to work in adverse conditions; skill in the use and care of equipment and hand tools, ability to plan and coordinate the work of others; ability to collect data for and maintain large databases.
Minimum and Preferred Qualifications
Requires any combination of education and experience equivalent to completion of a two year Associate's Degree or higher in environmental sciences or related field and at least two years of experience in water treatment plant operations. Also requires prior experience leading or supervising others.
Work in this class is medium to heavy work and may require exposure to various environmental conditions such as heat, cold, rain, and unpleasant surroundings. An employee must have the physical agility to move about freely, including climbing stairs and ladders. Moderate to heavy lifting is required in performing the work. Visual acuity is necessary to perform paperwork, read gauges, and make repairs. An employee must also be able to hear, talk, and smell.
Special Requirements
Requires a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
Requires a minimum C-Surface Water Treatment Operator Certification.
Requires Grade I Physical/Chemical Water Pollution Control System Operators Certification or the ability to obtain within one year of hire.
Requires a Class A CDL within one year of hire.Must live within fifty (50 miles) of the facility and respond within one (1) hour when fulfilling call-back/stand-by duties. Facility location is 1400 Wimberly Road, Apex, NC 27523.
Requires drug testing and background check (which may include criminal history check, motor vehicle records check, education verification and credit history review) and satisfactory reference checks prior to employment.
Cary ensures equal employment opportunities (EEO) are provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, political affiliation, marital status, veteran status, or genetic information.
Water Treatment Technician Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsWater Treatment Technician Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Veolia27

- Garratt-Callahan16

- ChemTreat15

- GFT9

- SpaceX8

Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services15
- Chemicals & Materials11
- Aerospace & Defense5
- Waste Management & Environmental Services5
- Energy3
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in water treatment technician jobs.
- Valid state water or wastewater operator certification at the required class level
- Experience operating and monitoring treatment plant equipment and SCADA systems
- Knowledge of chemical dosing, testing procedures, and water quality regulations
- Ability to collect water samples and perform routine laboratory analyses
- Valid driver's license for travel between plant sites or remote facilities
- High school diploma or GED, with preference for an associate degree in environmental science or a related field
Tips for Your Water Treatment Technician Job Search
List your operator certifications prominently
Your state-issued water or wastewater operator license is often the first filter hiring managers use. Put the certification name, level, and issuing state in a dedicated section near the top of your resume so it's visible before a recruiter reads a single bullet.
Tailor your resume to the system type
Municipal surface water plants, groundwater utilities, and industrial wastewater facilities each use different equipment and regulations. Rewrite your work history bullets to match the system type listed in each job posting so your experience reads as a direct fit.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists water treatment technician openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match your certification level and system experience and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings that match your certification level
Many utilities post separate openings for Class I, II, III, and IV operators. Applying to a role that requires a higher license than you hold rarely leads anywhere. Search by your current certification class to focus only on listings where you already meet the core requirement.
Prepare for hands-on technical screening
Many utilities run a practical skills assessment before a formal interview, asking you to walk through a chemical feed calculation, read a SCADA screen, or describe a standard shutdown procedure. Review your most recent plant's SOPs and be ready to explain your troubleshooting process out loud.
Negotiate shift differentials, not just base pay
Water treatment roles frequently involve rotating shifts, nights, and weekends. Before accepting an offer, ask specifically about differential rates for nights and holidays, overtime eligibility, and on-call pay structures, since those elements often add up to more than a higher base rate at a competing utility.
Water Treatment Technician Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most water treatment technicians?
The most active employers for water treatment technicians right now are Veolia, Garratt-Callahan, and ChemTreat, and the most openings are in Texas, California, and Florida, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Demand tends to be highest at large municipal utilities and regional water authority contractors.
How many water treatment technician jobs are remote?
About 60% of water treatment technician openings are fully remote or hybrid as of September 2026, which is low compared to most technical fields because the core work requires physical presence at a plant or distribution site. The sub-areas most likely to allow any remote work are regulatory compliance reporting, data analysis, and environmental permitting support roles attached to water operations teams.
How do you become a water treatment technician?
Start by earning a high school diploma or GED, then complete a state-approved water or wastewater operator training program, which many community colleges offer. Apply for an entry-level operator position at a municipal utility or contract operations firm to gain supervised plant hours. Once you meet your state's experience requirement, sit for your Class I certification exam and build toward higher license levels over time.
Can you get hired as a water treatment technician with little or no experience?
Yes, utilities and contract operations firms regularly hire trainees or operator-in-training candidates who work under a licensed operator while accumulating the plant hours required for certification. Relevant backgrounds that help include military water purification, industrial maintenance, environmental science coursework, or lab technician experience. Some states also allow you to sit for the entry-level exam before completing your hours, which makes you more competitive from day one.
What does the water treatment technician interview process look like?
Most utilities start with a structured phone screen focused on your certification level and system experience, followed by an in-person or panel interview with plant supervisors and an operations manager. Many employers include a practical component where you walk through a scenario such as responding to a turbidity spike or a chemical feed failure. Some municipal positions also require a written technical exam before a conditional offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to water treatment technician jobs?
You can find and apply to water treatment technician jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from utilities, contract operations firms, and industrial employers across the United States. Search for roles that match your certification level and system experience, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background.
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