Contents
Contents
Details of the occupational standard
Occupation summary
Water treatment process technicians work in the water industry.
Water industry treatment process technicians work for clean water or wastewater (sewerage) treatment companies regulated by OFWAT - Office of Water Services (UK government). Technicians typically work in only one type of treatment stream.
Employers in the industry range from small to large but are mainly large.
This is a core and option apprenticeship. Apprentices will be trained and assessed against the core and one option. There are two options:
Option 1. Water treatment process technician
Option 2. Wastewater treatment process technician
Technicians work at treatment sites. They may be required to drive between sites.
They work in all weather conditions.
As a 24 hour and seven days a week operation, they may need to undertake standby duties and work shifts outside normal working hours.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to maintain site process standards for water or wastewater.
Water treatment technicians maintain and ensure the safe supply of drinking water. This involves abstraction of raw water, treatment, and supply into distribution network. They ensure a balance between water production with network demand. They also manage and operate waste processes onsite such as, sludge management, offsite discharges, and general wastes (oils, paper, and food).
Wastewater treatment technicians maintain the removal and treatment of wastewater. They monitor and maintain wastewater treatment processes including preliminary (for example, storm), primary settlement, biological and chemical treatment, tertiary, and sludge treatment. They manage sludge preparation and storage and liaise with sludge processing facilities.
Both roles seek to optimise processes to maximise efficiency and compliance. They respond to and resolve process failure or failures. They manage asset maintenance and faults: directly or via escalation. Maintaining documentation is also an important part of the role. They support develop other members of the team.
In their daily work, they interact with process operatives, other technicians, and stakeholders from teams across water services, or the wider business. This may include maintenance, water quality, and regional control rooms. They may also interact with external stakeholders. This may include representatives from the Environmental Agency, and Health and Safety Executive.
They typically report to a treatment manager or site manager. They work with minimal supervision. They may work as part of a team and alone.
They are responsible for meeting quality, regulatory, safety, security, and environmental requirements. They ensure the health and safety of self and others including ensuring hygiene practices are followed. They need to consider how their work has the potential to impact customer service and the company - financially and reputationally.
Water treatment process technicians must take account of The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations.
Wastewater treatment process technicians must take account of Environmental Quality Standards for effluent discharge and air quality.
UK water companies require individuals entering clean water sites or working on the clean water network – known as ‘Restricted Operations’, to hold a National Water Hygiene EUSR registration: Blue card. This involves training and assessment, and health screening.
Typical job titles include:
Sewage production operator
Treatment works controller
Wastewater process controller
Wastewater treatment process technician
Water process controller
Water process technician
Water production operator
Water treatment process technician
Entry requirements
Typically, 3 to 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English and mathematics, or equivalent qualifications.
Core occupation duties
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
|
Duty 1 Seek ways to optimise processes. For example, operational expenditure, compliance, and tighter restrictions on regulatory parameters. |
K2 K3 K4 K7 K9 K10 K13 K14 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 |
|
Duty 2 Respond to alarms. |
K2 K3 K8 K9 K10 K11 K15 K16 K17 K18 K20 K21 K22 K23 |
|
Duty 3 Supervise chemical deliveries. |
K1 K2 K10 K12 K16 K17 K18 K19 K21 K22 K23 |
|
Duty 4 Co-ordinate work activities and site response with internal and external stakeholders. |
K1 K2 K8 K9 K10 K16 K17 K18 K20 K21 K22 K23 |
|
Duty 5 Manage asset maintenance: directly or via escalation. For example, equipment validation or calibration. |
K2 K6 K7 K8 K9 K10 K14 K16 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 |
|
Duty 6 Resolve faults and problems on process streams, systems, equipment, instruments, and control systems: directly or via escalation. Identify action to prevent reoccurrence of the issue(s). |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 K8 K9 K10 K11 K14 K15 K16 K19 K20 K21 K22 |
|
Duty 7 Complete site safety and security activities. For example, complete site security checks, and site safety inductions. |
K1 K2 K10 K12 K16 K18 K19 K21 K22 K23 |
|
Duty 8 Ensure vital safety equipment is maintained and available for use. For example, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), harnesses, and first aid kits. |
K2 K6 K10 K14 K16 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 |
|
Duty 9 Maintain documentation - records and reports. For example, validation records, and site visit records. |
K2 K3 K5 K6 K8 K10 K11 K12 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 |
|
Duty 10 Action response to incidents. For example, out of compliance, toxic gas leaks, chemical or fuel spills. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K15 K16 K17 K18 K19 K20 K21 K22 |
|
Duty 11 Maintain site standards and conditions (site ownership). For example, free from hazards, good housekeeping. |
K2 K10 K12 K16 K17 K21 K22 K23 |
Option duties
Water treatment process technician duties
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
|
Duty 12 Manage routine activities to maintain and ensure safe supply of drinking water – abstraction, treatment, and supply into distribution network. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 K9 K10 K12 K13 K14 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 K32 K33 S1 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S16 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S28 S29 S30 S31 S32 S33 S34 S35 S36 S37 |
|
Duty 13 Maintain water quality site process standards. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K9 K10 K14 K16 K17 K18 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 K32 K33 S1 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S16 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S28 S29 S30 S31 S32 S33 S34 S35 S36 S37 |
|
Duty 14 Monitor control systems and respond to ensure balance between water production with network demand. |
K2 K3 K5 K9 K10 K14 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K29 K30 K31 K32 K33 S1 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S16 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S28 S29 S30 S31 S32 S33 S34 S35 S36 S37 |
|
Duty 15 Respond to and resolve water treatment process failure(s) or problem(s). For example, coagulation failure or disinfection failure. Identify action to prevent reoccurrence of the issue(s). |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K9 K10 K11 K15 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K28 K29 K30 K31 K32 K33 S1 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S16 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S28 S29 S30 S31 S32 S33 S34 S35 S36 S37 |
|
Duty 16 Manage and operate waste processes onsite such as, sludge management, offsite discharges, and general wastes (oils, paper, and food). |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K9 K10 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K29 K30 K31 K32 K33 S1 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S16 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S28 S29 S30 S31 S32 S33 S34 S35 S36 S37 |
|
Duty 17 Manage and control emergency process response. For example, run to waste. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K9 K10 K12 K15 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K29 K30 K31 K32 K33 S1 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S16 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S28 S29 S30 S31 S32 S33 S34 S35 S36 S37 |
|
Duty 18 Assist with process stream and full treatment works shutdown for routine planned maintenance and in emergencies. |
K2 K3 K8 K9 K10 K11 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 K23 K24 K25 K26 K27 K29 K30 K31 K32 K33 S1 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S28 S29 S30 S31 S32 S33 S34 S35 S36 S37 |
Wastewater treatment process technician duties
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
|
Duty 19 Manage routine activities to maintain removal and treatment of wastewater. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 K9 K10 K12 K13 K14 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 K23 K34 K35 K36 K37 K38 K39 K40 S1 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S16 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S38 S39 S40 S41 S42 S43 S44 S45 S46 S47 |
|
Duty 20 Maintain wastewater quality site process standards. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K9 K10 K14 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 K23 K34 K35 K36 K37 K38 K39 K40 S1 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S16 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S38 S39 S40 S41 S42 S43 S44 S45 S46 S47 |
|
Duty 21 Monitor and maintain wastewater treatment processes including preliminary (for example, storm), primary settlement, biological and chemical treatment, tertiary, and sludge treatment. |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K9 K10 K12 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 K23 K34 K35 K36 K37 K38 K39 K40 S1 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S16 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S38 S39 S40 S41 S42 S43 S44 S45 S46 S47 |
|
Duty 22 Manage sludge preparation and storage and liaise with sludge processing facilities. |
K2 K3 K5 K9 K10 K12 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 K23 K34 K35 K36 K37 K38 K39 K40 S1 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S16 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S38 S39 S40 S41 S42 S43 S44 S45 S46 S47 |
|
Duty 23 Respond to and resolve process failure(s) or problem(s). For example, divert flows, escalate, process stream shut down and isolation, and take samples. Identify action to prevent reoccurrence of the issue(s). |
K2 K3 K4 K5 K8 K9 K10 K11 K12 K15 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 K23 K34 K35 K36 K37 K38 K39 K40 S1 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S16 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S38 S39 S40 S41 S42 S43 S44 S45 S46 S47 |
|
Duty 24 Maintain pumping operations including associated equipment and control systems. |
K2 K3 K8 K9 K10 K16 K17 K20 K21 K22 K23 K34 K35 K36 K37 K38 K39 K40 S1 S3 S6 S7 S8 S9 S10 S14 S15 S18 S20 S21 S23 S24 S25 S26 S38 S39 S40 S41 S42 S43 S44 S45 S46 S47 |
KSBs
Knowledge
K1: Overview of water and wastewater industries. Regulators and stakeholders: Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), Water Services Regulation Authority (OFWAT), Consumer Council for Water (CCWater), Environment Agency (EA), and Health, Safety Executive (HSE), and Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) - roles and powers.
Back to Duty
K2: Technician’s role. Limits of autonomy. Different teams and functions involved in operations: how they work together.
Back to Duty
K3: Business operation considerations: how activities may impact customers, financial constraints, ethical business practices. Customer Experience Measure (CMEX). Regulatory and legislative performance measures.
Back to Duty
K4: Water and wastewater science. Liquids, gases, and solid states commonly found in water industry. Elements, molecules, compounds, and ions. The pH scale, acids, and alkalinity. Physical, chemical, and biological process definition. Dissolved oxygen in treatment and processes.
Back to Duty
K5: Maths commonly used in the water and wastewater industries. S.I units. Calculations. Standard form. Measurement of distance, area, volume and flow, and unit conversion. Simple transposition of formula. Routine flow and hydraulics theories, principles, and calculations.
Back to Duty
K6: Planned preventative maintenance of monitoring equipment requirements. Asset health check requirements.
Back to Duty
K7: Energy performance monitoring methods. Energy consumption reduction guidelines. Tariff management.
Back to Duty
K8: Isolation, shutdown, and recommissioning of process streams requirements and procedures.
Back to Duty
K9: Process control systems. Types of equipment used for process control operations and the functions they perform, set-points, and alarm values.
Back to Duty
K10: Operational and quality procedures. Escalation procedures. What they are and how to use them.
Back to Duty
K11: Different types of incidents and emergency situations (internal and external): pollution, loss of process, security, weather, and accidents: their potential impact. Incident management and procedures.
Back to Duty
K12: Chemical awareness. Transport, acceptance and use of chemicals. Agreement of Dangerous Goods transported by Road regulation (ADR). Chemical delivery requirements. Chemical control methods.
Back to Duty
K13: Optimisation in the treatment process: what it means and how it can be achieved.
Back to Duty
K14: Asset optimisation and performance: quality, cost, time, safety, and impact.
Back to Duty
K15: Fault finding and problem-solving techniques: root cause analysis and diagnostics.
Back to Duty
K16: Health and Safety at Work Act – responsibilities. Management of health and safety at work regulations. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH). Risks and hazards. Risk assessments and controlling risk. Control methods for harmful substances and chemicals, effluents, and sludge. Health and safety signage. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Working in confined spaces: safety equipment and lifting equipment. Harnesses, gas detectors and respiratory apparatus. Manual handling. The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Asbestos awareness. Lone working. Working at height. Working time directive. First aid. Emergency procedures. Drug and alcohol awareness. Permits to work. Storage of tools, equipment, and materials. ATEX compliance (safety requirements of the workplace and equipment used in explosive atmosphere). Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR). Pressure System Safety Regulations (PSSR). Provision of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER). Safe isolation of plant and equipment (lockout, tagout).
Back to Duty
K17: Environment and sustainability. Environmental Protection Act. Types of pollution and control measures. Environmental permitting and discharge consents. Operator Self Monitoring (OSM): sampling requirements. Monitoring emissions to air, land, and water (MCERTS). Principles of sustainable development. Waste management and waste streams. Invasive species and Duty of Care in the Environmental aspect.
Back to Duty
K18: Information and digital technology: email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, remote working platforms, work and asset management systems. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
Back to Duty
K19: Documentation requirements for example maintenance records, asset check records.
Back to Duty
K20: Planning, prioritising, work scheduling, and time management techniques.
Back to Duty
K21: Communication techniques: verbal, written and electronic. Adapting style to audience.
Back to Duty
K22: Team working and culture. How to work as part of a team, the importance of establishing and meeting the requirements of different roles. Negotiation and conflict management techniques.
Back to Duty
K23: Equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
Back to Duty
K24: Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations. Consequences of non-compliance.
Back to Duty
K25: National water hygiene: importance of water, water as a carrier of disease, potential contamination and its consequences and preventing contamination.
Back to Duty
K26: Water quality requirements. Drinking water safety plans. Water quality parameters and the role of water quality alarms. Water quality incident investigation requirements. Water quality records. Consequences of failure.
Back to Duty
K27: DWI asset and site security requirements: water storage alarms.
Back to Duty
K28: Water quality monitoring, sampling, and testing requirements and techniques. Equipment, resources, and materials used. Sampling points.
Back to Duty
K29: Raw water and catchment management permitting and protection.
Back to Duty
K30: Treatment processes: abstraction, clarification, coagulation, disinfection, and filtration. Water works design flows - impact of flow change on treatment process. Hydraulics principles. Objectives, parameters, variables, optimal performance measures (quality, cost, and waste) and the consequences of sub-optimal performance. Waste stream processes.
Back to Duty
K31: Plant shutdown and re-start procedures: planned and reactive. Impact and causes of shutdown.
Back to Duty
K32: Distribution system protection: disinfection, chemical treatment, flow, and valve operation controls.
Back to Duty
K33: Treated water storage point objectives and requirements.
Back to Duty
K34: Treatment processes: preliminary treatment, primary treatment, secondary treatment, tertiary treatment, sludge treatment, and odour management. Wastewater works design flows - impact of flow change on treatment process.
Back to Duty
K35: Wastewater compliance and performance monitoring requirements: wastewater quality standards, sampling, analysis, and reporting.
Back to Duty
K36: Nature and sources of wastewater effluent and its impact on the environment.
Back to Duty
K37: Chemical, biological, microbiological, and physical characteristics of wastewater effluent and trade effluents.
Back to Duty
K38: Risks of working on wastewater treatment site – personal hygiene risks and requirements.
Back to Duty
K39: Configuration, operation, and performance requirements of types of sewerage systems and pumping stations: inter-stage pumping stations, detention tanks, combined sewer overflow screens (CSO). Pumps and associated ancillary equipment used.
Back to Duty
K40: Purpose, application, and impact of wastewater flows: volumes, permits, catchment area consent, and impact of weather conditions.
Back to Duty
Skills
S1: Comply with (water or wastewater) industry regulations and procedures.
Back to Duty
S2: Follow alarm intervention procedures. Resolve alarm issues.
Back to Duty
S3: Inspect (planned) and check assets (reactive) and identify action.
Back to Duty
S4: Follow procedures to remove assets for routine maintenance and recommission.
Back to Duty
S5: Carry out validation or instrument checks of online equipment and identify action.
Back to Duty
S6: Monitor first line maintenance of process control equipment and instrumentation.
Back to Duty
S7: Identify issues. Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques: identify root cause. Resolve faults.
Back to Duty
S8: Consider, identify, and promote areas for improvement for example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and impact.
Back to Duty
S9: Interrogate and interpret electronic control systems. For example, HMI or SCADA.
Back to Duty
S10: Use data monitoring and control systems to monitor and control equipment.
Back to Duty
S11: Inspect and check safety equipment: identify and take action.
Back to Duty
S12: Identify and instigate incident escalation procedures.
Back to Duty
S13: Apply site standards for housekeeping.
Back to Duty
S14: Conduct risk assessments: identify and document risks and hazards in the workplace. Apply control measures.
Back to Duty
S15: Comply with health and safety regulations and safe working practices and procedures.
Back to Duty
S16: Follow site security procedures.
Back to Duty
S17: Follow procedures for emergency situations.
Back to Duty
S18: Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and requirements. For example, safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials, and efficient use of resources.
Back to Duty
S19: Apply principles of sustainable development. For example, in choice of materials.
Back to Duty
S20: Conduct and assess impact of activity for example, environmental, cost, reputation, safety, and health. Apply control measures.
Back to Duty
S21: Identify and escalate issues.
Back to Duty
S22: Read and interpret written information. For example, work instructions, and service level agreements.
Back to Duty
S23: Complete work records.
Back to Duty
S24: Use information technology. Follow cyber security procedures. Comply with GDPR.
Back to Duty
S25: Plan tasks. Identify and organise resources to complete work tasks.
Back to Duty
S26: Communicate verbally and in writing. For example, with colleagues, stakeholders, or others. Use water industry terminology where appropriate.
Back to Duty
S27: Liaise with, negotiate with, and handle conflict in individual or group environments.
Back to Duty
S28: Select raw water source or blend of sources.
Back to Duty
S29: Monitor and control water abstraction.
Back to Duty
S30: Monitor and control water chemical dosing procedures.
Back to Duty
S31: Operate water process control equipment and instrumentation.
Back to Duty
S32: Take water samples.
Back to Duty
S33: Analyse and interpret on-site laboratory data and check against water process parameters.
Back to Duty
S34: Monitor and control water treatment processes and performance.
Back to Duty
S35: Monitor and control the effectiveness of disinfection.
Back to Duty
S36: Monitor and control waste stream processes and performance.
Back to Duty
S37: Apply procedures to shut-down, isolate, and re-commission water process streams.
Back to Duty
S38: Monitor and control incoming flows.
Back to Duty
S39: Control internal pumping station operations.
Back to Duty
S40: Operate wastewater process control equipment and instrumentation.
Back to Duty
S41: Take wastewater samples.
Back to Duty
S42: Analyse and interpret on-site testing data and monitoring equipment data and check against wastewater process parameters.
Back to Duty
S43: Monitor and maintain grit removal and screening assets.
Back to Duty
S44: Monitor and control the performance of sedimentation, biological and chemical treatment operations.
Back to Duty
S45: Monitor and control wastewater treatment processes and performance.
Back to Duty
S46: Apply procedures to shut-down, isolate and re-commission wastewater process streams.
Back to Duty
S47: Follow wastewater hygiene personal procedures.
Back to Duty
Behaviours
B1: Prioritise and promote public health, workplace health and safety, and security.
Back to Duty
B2: Prioritise and promote the environment and sustainability.
Back to Duty
B3: Apply a professional approach.
Back to Duty
B4: Take ownership for work and responsibility for the quality of work and impact on others.
Back to Duty
B5: Team-focus to meet work goals: support others.
Back to Duty
B6: Respond and adapt to work demands.
Back to Duty
B7: Committed to continued professional development to maintain and enhance competence in own area of practice.
Back to Duty
Qualifications
English and Maths
English and maths qualifications must be completed in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.
Professional recognition
This standard aligns with the following professional recognition:
- The Institute of Water for Registered Environmental Technician (REnvTech). The experience gained and responsibility held by the apprentice on completion of the apprenticeship will either wholly or partially satisfy the requirements for registration at this level.
- The Institute of Water for Engineering Technician (EngTech). The experience gained and responsibility held by the apprentice on completion of the apprenticeship will either wholly or partially satisfy the requirements for registration at this level.
- The Science Council for Registered Science Technician (RSciTech). Upon successful completion of the apprenticeship and upon receipt of the apprenticeship certificate, individuals are eligible to apply for RSciTech through a shortened application route. Individuals also need to be a member of a professional body that is licensed by the Science Council to be awarded this status. Further information is on the Science Council’s website.
Crown copyright © 2025. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence