Water Treatment Technician Jobs in Illinois
Water Treatment Technician jobs in Illinois are concentrated in municipal water systems, wastewater treatment facilities, and industrial process operations, with demand steady from entry-level operators through senior plant supervisors. The busiest hiring markets are Chicago, Rockford, and Peoria, where large public utilities and industrial employers like the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Illinois American Water, and Veolia North America maintain ongoing staffing needs. The most in-demand specialties are wastewater treatment operations, drinking water system compliance, and industrial process water management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities. If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!
About Essential Utilities
Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.
Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.
We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.
Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.
Are you looking for a fantastic career at Aqua? We have a great opportunity for a Water Treatment Technician at our water treatment plant in Kankakee reporting into the Plant Manager. The duties of the Water Treatment Technician provides the operation and preventative maintenance of pumping and purification equipment, instruments, buildings and grounds, and facilities as are or may be in use throughout the Aqua Illinois Kankakee/Will County Division for the treatment and pumping of water. The position involves shift work and the incumbent should anticipate working various shifts. The Water Treatment Technician position performs all tasks related to the installation, testing, operation, maintenance, emergency repair, relocation, and retirements of all facilities related to the water system and the water pumping and treatment facilities located in Kankakee/Will Counties.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:
Operate and maintain the facilities and equipment related to the water treatment plant, well facilities, pumping and storage facilities, and water distribution system including but not limited to chemical feed equipment, sludge pumps, high and low service pumps, water pumps and clarifiers.
Operate valves, electrical switchgear, electrical disconnects and switches.
Operate and maintain the vehicles and equipment used in the water facilities.
Perform and record inspections, tests, and data on the systems’ and facilities’ operations.
Operate, read, interpret, and record as directed all instruments at Company’s facilities.
Backwash intakes and exercise individual judgment in changing intakes when conditions indicate the desirability of a change.
Record measurements, verify drawings, and record data for proper record keeping and reporting on the Company’s facilities.
Monitor bulk chemical inventories, complete inventory reports and order bulk chemicals.
Prepare reports required by the Company, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Commerce Commission, or other jurisdictional entities.
Operation of laboratory equipment and perform water quality testing, raw, in-process, finished, and distribution water.
Collects, analyze, and record water samples for regulatory compliance and process control monitoring for proper operation of the systems.
Perform preventative maintenance, emergency repairs and trouble shoot operational problems on all equipment and facilities.
As necessary, care for the office and grounds in and around the Company facilities.
Perform a wide variety of operating, maintenance and custodial duties.
Demonstrates a conscientious in respect for the responsibility to safeguard the public water supply and prevent pollution of area surface waters.
Available for overtime work and available for emergency call-out duty to maintain water service continuously to the public.
Other duties as assigned.
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL OR REGISTRATION QUALIFICATIONS:
Must possess a high school diploma or the equivalent, with technical school advanced study in mechanical and/or instrumentation control preferred.
Must have a valid U.S. Drivers License.
Must be capable to lift at least 50 (fifty) pounds.
Must be computer literate and proficient with Microsoft Office applications, being able to demonstrate particular skillfulness with spreadsheet development and the ability to manipulate data, as well as other software applications used in the normal course of business.
Preferred candidates will have the technical, academic and physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
Must be able to readily read, understand and accurately follow operating instructions both written and verbal.
Preferred candidates will possess mathematical ability to perform calculations to determine various ratios, dosages, volumetric calculations that are required for the operation of the Water Treatment Plants and Water Systems.
One-year experience at a water utility company preferred.
Preferred candidates will have excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate in writing with ability to accurately prepare technical reports.
Must obtain a Class A Public Water Supply Operator license issued by the IL Environmental Protection Agency within six (6) months of employment or eligibility to take examination.
This is a union position based out of the Kankakee Water Plant. Rate of pay is $30.04 per hour.
Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:
- Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
- Family members cannot work in the same department.
See All 15 Water Treatment Technician Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find JobsWater Treatment Technician Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Water Treatment Technician Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Consulting & Professional Services
- Chemicals & Materials
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in water treatment technician jobs across Illinois.
- Active Illinois EPA Waterworks Operator or Wastewater Operator certification at any grade
- Experience operating treatment plant equipment including pumps, blowers, and chemical feed systems
- Ability to collect, test, and record water quality samples per regulatory standards
- High school diploma or equivalent with preference for an associate degree in environmental science or water technology
- Familiarity with SCADA systems and computerized monitoring platforms used in plant operations
- Valid Illinois driver's license and ability to respond to off-hours emergencies or rotating shift schedules
Water Treatment Technician Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a water treatment technician in Illinois?
Illinois requires operators to hold a certification issued by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, which administers separate licensing tracks for drinking water and wastewater operations. Most employers expect at least a Grade 1 or Grade 2 certificate, earned by passing an Illinois EPA exam after meeting education or experience prerequisites. A high school diploma plus on-the-job hours is the minimum path, though an associate degree in water technology or environmental science strengthens an application and can satisfy exam prerequisites faster.
Which companies hire water treatment technicians in Illinois?
Employers hiring water treatment technicians in Illinois right now include GFT, Thermo Fisher Scientific, and Veolia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. The largest share of postings comes from municipal utilities and public water districts, with private operators like Illinois American Water and Veolia North America consistently among the most active statewide.
Which Illinois cities have the most water treatment technician jobs?
The cities with the most water treatment technician openings in Illinois are Chicago, Rockford, and Illinois. Chicago leads because the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is one of the largest wastewater agencies in the country, and Rockford and Peoria reflect the concentration of mid-size municipal utilities and industrial manufacturers that operate their own water treatment processes in those metro corridors.
Are there remote water treatment technician jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. Water treatment is fundamentally hands-on plant work, so most positions require on-site operation of equipment and direct sampling. About 83% of water treatment technician openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and those tend to be quality assurance analyst, regulatory compliance, or data reporting roles rather than frontline operator positions.
How can I get hired as a water treatment technician in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a plant operator trainee or utility worker position at a municipal water or wastewater district, where Illinois EPA rules allow uncertified candidates to work under a licensed operator while accumulating the hours needed to sit for the Grade 1 exam. The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago and mid-size city utilities in Rockford, Peoria, and Springfield run ongoing hiring for these trainee roles. Moving laterally from a laboratory technician, industrial maintenance, or environmental compliance background also helps, and enrolling in a water technology program at Illinois community colleges like Joliet Junior College can give a candidate a clear edge when competing against other entry-level applicants.
Where can I find and apply to water treatment technician jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to water treatment technician jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings from municipal utilities, private operators, and industrial employers across the state. Find roles that fit your certification level and location, and apply directly to the employers posting them.
See All 15 Water Treatment Technician Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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