Water Distribution Operators are responsible for operating, maintaining, and repairing distribution systems that provide public drinking water. This may include repairing broken water mains, installing customer service connections, performing fire hydrant flow tests, operating pumps, and monitoring SCADA systems.
Water Distribution Operators play a key role in providing safe drinking water to the customers. This job requires well trained and responsible individuals.
By law, Water Distribution Operators must be licensed by their state. This means passing a certification exam. There are four levels, or classes, of certification, each more advanced and each requiring an additional year of experience. To become a Class I Water Distribution Operator you must pass the Level I exam and have one year of water distribution work experience. To become a Class IV Water Distribution Operator you must pass all four exams and have four years of work experience in water distribution.
Salaries vary greatly depending on the region of the country. Starting salaries are typically in the $12 to $15 per hour range for a Class I operator. Salaries for Class IV operators can go as high as $30 per hour.
A career with a public drinking water utility is one of the most stable and secure jobs in the country. In a booming economy, in a recession, or even a depression, we will always need clean drinking water.
