I am officially off to Georgia, assigned to Hyundai Engineering America. My dedication to always learning the most I can from this field has paid off big; now I get to learn metals precipitation. 7 days straight of 12 hour shifts but only 26 weeks of the year. I'm so excited.

My start as just a laborer assigned to operations back in 2016 has turned into the career I wouldn't leave if you paid me. No college, no certification, just a will to make clean water under any circumstance.

Big thanks have to go out to my Chief Operator from back then. He put up with my bs for real and taught me the way. If he's still on here I hope he can tell who it is.

Really just curious, so I was a wastewater operator for a small factory for 4 years and now I'm a wastewater treatment plant mechanic for the city I live in. I'm central Indiana, and about the worse it gets weather wise for us is heavy rain fall and storms that can knock out power. We recently had some bad flooding, and I got to experience what it was like working for the city and dealing with flooded creeks that are normally 15 feet below a bridge rise to almost and half a foot below the bridge. I'm really curious if anyone here works at a plant that deals with hurricanes every year, mostly Florida. Obviously collections are gonna fill up, power may be lost but how stressful is it? Like I can't imagine already being stressed about having a hurricane come my way but to also be running the system when it happens? Idk sounds wild.

I recently upgraded the expansion discs to 3d printed parts to replace the modified PVC caps that didn't work the best. This works great, though! Measures exactly what the FilterSmart sensors detect during the backwashes. Instructions and files are here: https://www.printables.com/model/1878078-backwash-expansion-tool

Hey! I learned that I’d need to shave for a respirator fit test for a utility operator position in Ontario. I understand why , because it’s for safety of course but I’ve noticed some operators in the OCWA have facial hair. Is shaving only required for the test, or year-round? Different with each employer?

I’d shave for the job, but would prefer to keep my beard most the year otherwise, just because I look like a teen boy without one 😂

Thanks!

Looking for some advice from operators who have experience treating high-grease wastewater from meat processing facilities.
I’m currently operating a 7,000 GPD extended aeration package plant servicing a meat packing company. The facility averages approximately 2,500 GPD in actual flow.
The plant was brought online about two weeks ago, and we’re currently in the process of reseeding and establishing a healthy biomass.
Current challenges:
High grease/FOG loading from the industrial waste stream.
Low biological solids inventory as we’re rebuilding the biomass.
Trying to reduce effluent TSS and improve settling performance.
Relatively low hydraulic loading compared to the plant’s design capacity.
A few questions for experienced operators:
Has anyone operated a similar extended aeration package plant treating meat processing wastewater?
What SVI range have you found produces the best settling and effluent clarity under these conditions?
What sludge age (SRT/MCRT) have you had the most success maintaining for TSS removal in smaller extended aeration systems?
Have you found that maintaining a higher MLSS improves settling, or does it create issues with older sludge and poor floc formation?
Any recommendations for managing grease interference with biological treatment and secondary clarification?
During startup or reseeding, what operational adjustments have helped you establish a stable biomass while minimizing solids carryover?
I’m particularly interested in real-world operating experience rather than just textbook target ranges.
Any input on SVI, sludge age, wasting strategies, DO control, or improving secondary clarifier performance would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance!

Edit: 4 grease traps, separate sanitary trash trap from restrooms. Equalization well, extended aeration, clarifier and slow sand filters. UV disinfection.

Check out this job posting page at Upper Trinity Rural Water District

https://utrwd.com/join-our-team/

Hey everyone! I recently passed my grade 3 exam and to get my license I need an additional 1.3 CEUs. I’m in California. Anyone have suggestions for some online classes or anything? I’ve looked at the Sac State website and looked over those options. Just figured I’d ask if anyone has other suggestions. Thanks in advance

Anyone taken their S1 in NJ recently? I have been using royceu and water operator practice tests to study. Wondering if anyone has had any luck with either?

I’m currently in the field with both DW and WW licenses, my situation has changed where the remote Alaska type operator jobs that do a two week on two week off rotation (or similar) fit my situation a little better.

I can’t seem to find them on any of the normal job sites. Are these hard to come by? Are lots of people applying?

I know the oil fields also seem to do this

Also, if anyone has done these type of job I’m interested in your input on how you liked it.

So I’m taking my KY state license test next week. I’ve seen the WPI, formerly ABC, certification advertised on google and stuff. Is that an actual useful certification or is it just a gimmicky waste of time? I think I might qualify for class 3 or 4 on it, so if it isn’t a waste, I may do it next. Thanks for any info or advice

I’m trying to identify job titles and employers that would realistically value my experience rather than automatically screen me out for not having a bachelor’s or engineering degree.
My background includes:
15+ years in municipal and industrial water/wastewater treatment
Current COO of a small water-treatment chemical distributor
Previous operations and warehouse-management roles
Industrial pretreatment, food/dairy wastewater and metals removal
DAFs, clarifiers, centrifuges, filter presses, belt presses and screw presses
Polymer/coagulant selection, jar testing, dewatering optimization and chemical-feed troubleshooting
Field trials, startups, emergency troubleshooting and operator/customer training
OSHA, DOT hazmat and NSF compliance
Hiring, discipline, employee development and safety leadership
Purchasing, inventory, shipping, routing, vendors and warehouse operations
Technical customer support and consultative selling
Project-management, OSHA and wastewater-treatment certifications
I’ve managed both the operational side of a chemical business and hands-on treatment problems in the field. I’m strongest when I can walk into a troubled plant, diagnose the process or equipment problem, run testing, coordinate the people and vendors involved, and help the customer implement a practical solution.
I do not have a bachelor’s degree, PE license or high-level municipal operator license. I also have less formal P&L authority than my COO title might suggest, although I’m involved in purchasing, operating decisions, staffing, customer continuity and cost-saving projects.
I’m located in Northeast Ohio but would consider a remote/travel position or relocation for the right opportunity. Roles I’ve been considering include:
Industrial water-treatment area or regional manager
Wastewater applications/project manager
Technical service or applications manager
Field-service operations manager
Water-treatment business-development manager
Regional operations manager
Chemical distribution or plant operations manager
For those working in the industry:
Which titles best match this combination of field expertise, customer support and operations leadership?
Which companies are genuinely willing to substitute extensive experience for a degree?
Would I be competitive for an area manager or applications project manager position?
What skills, licenses or certifications would close my biggest gaps?
Are there employers or sectors I may be overlooking?
I’m not looking to inflate my experience or pretend to be an engineer. I’m trying to determine where practical treatment knowledge and operational leadership are genuinely valued—and where I would have a realistic path into the $110,000–$150,000 range.

Hi everyone!

We’re seeking experts in bioeconomy, sustainability, waste management, environmental science, and related fields to participate in an academic survey.

The research explores the key drivers and barriers to recovering humic acid from anaerobic digestate, with a focus on implementation in Ireland.

Duration: 20–30 minutes
Deadline: 28 October 2026
Participation: Voluntary and confidential, with results reported anonymously

Survey link:

https://mubusiness.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9z7fpY3A67nb4fY

We’d greatly appreciate your participation or sharing the survey with others who may have relevant expertise!
Thank you!

For the past month we have been dealing with an SVI ranging from 18-48. Our settleometer after 5 minutes drops down to 100 and after 30 minutes reads 90. MLSS runs anywhere from 2000mg/L-3000mg/L. SRT avg 25.
We have not been too concerned as all our other numbers (TSS, Turbidity, Ammonia, Etc.) have been really good and water quality is good.

This is a smaller wastewater plant running .265MGD

After several years in the industry and rotating between days and nights at my last plant, I finally have my dream job as an operator making good money and we only work M-F 7-3 with an on call rotation every 12 weeks.

However, there’s some family health issues that I have to move back home 5 hours away for. This is unfortunately a scenario where a family member needs long term care with nobody else to help, and moving them here isn’t an option.

The area I’m moving to has a good size town nearby but there’s really only one wastewater plant and one drinking water plant. Both of them having rotating shifts for operations but maintenance works M-F. I’m sure there might be some industrial jobs in the area but so far I can’t seem to find them.

I’m not sure I’m willing to go back to rotating shifts as I worked several years to get away from that. I want to stay in the industry and it appears maintenance might be my only option for M-F for the foreseeable future.

Just curious if anyone else has done this? Seems like usually people go from maintenance to operations.

I just started and i was informed thid is the smallest plant in the state. Do yall think a steam deck and stardew will pass the time? My boss already said that on busy days we finish our work at 1130qm. Is steam deck worth it or shkuld i do phone games

I’m a grad student researching septic management in Gulf Coast communities (rural or anywhere at this point I have no data), and I’m struggling to get industry folks to talk to me.

What’s the best way for a researcher to approach you without being that annoying person calling during your workday? Or looking like i want to get the trade secrets and steal clients 😅

What would make you willing to participate?

Any advice is appreciated! Here’s my survey if you’re curious: https://forms.gle/LTCpPDdLDUUzXMVb7

Thanks, y’all!

I had a one night stand with my girlfriend and this other chick. Went super well and the rest of that story is IRRELEVANT.

This little lady happened to work as a dental assistant. We were talking about our jobs as one does in uh… that scenario, and we got talking about bacteria. Bacteria in the mouth.

Now this is anecdotal and I’m sure there is more nuance, however I work as an equipment operator mostly on sanitary root sawing and camera work. Excuse the language, but I get shit blasted in my mouth constantly. Talk about a little spray coming from a toilet, that’s cute. I have disgusting breath.

Xylitol sweetened gums/candys/lozenges. It starves the bacteria in the mouth.

Good evening, all. We have been experiencing complaints about the smell of our plant. The main culprit is the Primary Clarifier. I’m looking into different chemicals we could use to help deal with this odor issue. The only issue is it cannot be anything that is an oxidizer or have nitrates (we use it to generate VFAs for BPR, and yes I know this can generate odors on its own) or be a quaternary ammonium compound. I have stumbled across plant based products that’s should not mess with the clarifiers, nor the aeration process. Has anyone had any success with any plant based products? I am open to different products as well if you have any ideas.

We do keep the blanket maintained, as we feed our digesters from it.
Thanks in advance.

Hi everyone, looking for some help from everyone.

I'm looking to learn more about the UK water and wastewater industry and I would really appreciate any insights from those working in the sector.

I know we all dislike recruitment agencies but that's what I do I'm afraid. I currently work with engineers in manufacturing and was hoping to expand. So if you don't mind me asking, which engineering roles do you find the hardest to recruit for at the moment and what makes them so difficult to fill?

Are there particular other skills or other areas where there's a genuine shortage of good candidates?

Any help would mean the world to me, thank you.

For ohio , Is the American water college the best online study guide for your class 2 test ?

MA grade 6, been in the field at the same plant for two years working overnights. Overnights have taught me very little aside from proper mopping and how to call the on-call maintenance if an alarm comes up. I currently work about 45 minutes from home. Through some family friend connections, I got an interview at my hometown plant and they’d like to hire me. At this plant currently I’d have to start in a maintenance/collections position and down the line work in operations. This is a day time Monday to Friday position with rotating on-call and a bit of a pay cut ($3/hr less). I think the gas saved will make up for the pay cut or at least make it close as this plant is 5 minutes away. My concern- I don’t know much of anything about maintenance and collections and I’ll be starting a new 6 month probation period. Is gaining experience in these areas worth it? Is working for the town instead of a private company generally good or bad? I’ve been told most people who work for the town never leave so it’s difficult to get in. I feel like if I pass this up it could be years before I get another opportunity but between having to do maintenance/collections, being on-call, starting a new probation where I’m unable to use any time, and a pay cut- is this a good move ?

I am currently in the application process for Wastewater Operator 1 at a facility with a metro area of about 800k. I’m really curious about how many people tend to apply for these positions. If your city requires a Civil Service exam, do many people pass? How competitive actually are these jobs? If you’re able to answer these questions about drinking water operators, I’m curious about that as well.

Has anyone done both wastewater and drinking water? What would you say are the pros and cons of each? Also, do most operators need a CDL? It is a requirement for the position I have applied for.

Hey everyone,

I'm in Ontario and writing my OIT exam (all four modules) in December. Long-term, I'd like to work as an operator in BC.

From what I understand, an Ontario OIT doesn't transfer directly to BC, and EOCP requires you to be employed (or have a job offer) in BC to certify there.

For anyone who's made the move:

1. Is it realistic to get hired in BC with just an Ontario OIT, or should I get my Class 1 in Ontario first?
2. How smooth was transferring your certification through EOCP?
3. Any BC employers or regions that are more open to out-of-province operators?

Thanks!

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to start off with apologizing if this may not be the right place to ask what I am about to ask. I would also like to apologize if this post gets disorganized.

For some background, I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and I am currently working for a city agency in the design of wastewater pumping stations and treatment plants. I am currently an assistant design engineer and have been with this agency for a little over four years now. I was unemployed after graduating for a few years due to the hiring freezes during the COVID-19 lockdown. I was also not sure if I wanted to stay in mechanical engineering during this time. However, I applied for this position and was selected. I could not be picky as I did not have many options. My team works on the process mechanical, HVAC, plumbing and fire protection design.

Having been working here for four years now and as embarrassing as it is to say this, I feel that I have not really learned a lot. I have no one else to blame this on but myself. On top of this, some members on my team have left, which means increased workload and pressure.

The way I see it now, not only do I have to put in effort into studying and learning during my regularly scheduled hours at work, but in order to rise up the ranks and become a more knowledgeable and competent designer, I will have to put in the effort outside of work as well.

One of my supervisors have told me that there is no way around it but to read. For HVAC, I have been told that the ASHRAE handbooks are more than enough to learn from. For wastewater treatment, I am aware of the Metcalf & Eddy textbook as well as MOP 8 from WEF. For pumping stations, I am aware of MOP FD-4 from WEF and that there is also a textbook from Metcalf & Eddy. For plumbing, I am aware of the ASPE handbooks. For fire protection, I am not sure of what resources to use and may need some recommendations on this. With the books mentioned above, will they be more than enough to learn from? I often find myself getting distracted and wanting to find something more condensed, like trying to find a shortcut. I also know that I should also be reading the codes for my state along as well.

On top of this, I am also in the process of studying for the FE and when I pass that, I am going for the PE. The thing is, I do not remember a whole lot from college and I do not think I learned the fundamentals well.

To sum it up:

1. I would like to know if the books mentioned above are more than enough to learn about the processes, HVAC design, plumbing design, etc., of wastewater pumping stations and treatment plants or if there are other resources that you may think of that may help

2. I would like to know what or how to prioritize/structure going about this learning/studying

Thank you all for your time and patience

I have a Massachusetts grade 3 municipal Wastewater license and a grade 5 combined license and I’ve been searching for a job for three months after getting my license and it’s so hard to find a job without having any work experience…. like no company will give me a chance it’s so frustrating that their gatekeeping this industry well all the old folks who been working the past 4 decades are all retiring somehow they don’t wanna hire new operators only experienced operators circulating the field I don’t know what to do anymore.