Water treatment operator

Department - Utilities / Operations

Reporting To - Plant Head / Operations Manager

Job Summary

The Water Plant Manager is responsible for the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of all water treatment systems, including Raw Water Treatment Plant (WTP), Demineralized (DM/DI) Water Plant, Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) systems. The role ensures compliance with environmental regulations while maintaining uninterrupted water supply for plant operations.

Key Responsibilities

Manage the daily operation of WTP, DI Water Plant, ETP, STP, and ZLD systems. Ensure continuous supply of treated and DI water to production. Monitor water quality parameters such as p H, conductivity, TDS, silica, hardness, and TOC. Ensure compliance with CPCB/SPCB environmental regulations. Optimize chemical consumption and operating costs. Supervise preventive and breakdown maintenance of pumps, valves, filters, RO systems, UF systems, ion exchange units, and associated equipment. Monitor PLC/SCADA systems and troubleshoot operational issues. Maintain all statutory records, operation logs, and maintenance reports. Coordinate with production, maintenance, and environmental teams. Manage vendors, contractors, and annual maintenance contracts (AMCs). Prepare budgets for chemicals, consumables, and spare parts. Conduct root cause analysis (RCA) for plant failures and implement corrective actions. Ensure workplace safety and adherence to HSE standards. Train and supervise operators and maintenance technicians. Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve plant efficiency and reduce water consumption.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, or a related field. Additional certification in Water Treatment or Environmental Management is preferred.

Experience

8–15 years of experience in industrial water treatment operations. Minimum 3–5 years in a managerial or supervisory role. Experience with WTP, RO, UF, DI Plant, ETP, STP, and ZLD operations. Experience in manufacturing industries such as solar, semiconductor, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, or power plants is preferred.

Technical Skills

Water treatment processes Reverse Osmosis (RO) Ultrafiltration (UF) Ion Exchange (DI/DM) Mixed Bed Systems Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) Chemical dosing systems PLC/SCADA operation Pump, valve, and piping systems Instrumentation and process control Environmental compliance and reporting Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Preventive and Predictive Maintenance

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Plant availability (%) DI water quality compliance Water recovery rate Chemical consumption Utility operating cost Equipment uptime Environmental compliance Breakdown frequency Water consumption per unit of production Safety performance (zero lost-time incidents)

Required Competencies

Leadership and team management Problem-solving and analytical skills Decision-making Communication and coordination Planning and organizing Cost optimization Continuous improvement mindset Strong knowledge of safety and environmental regulations