These professionals work in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), which may treat urban wastewater, industrial wastewater, farm wastewater or wastewater from other sources. If the WWTP is small, these professionals may be in charge of more than one plant.

They are in charge of coordinating and executing preventive maintenance operations on the equipment, as well as ensuring the correct operation of this type of facility. WWTPs can have two ways of treating water: by means of physical-chemical treatment and by means of microbiological treatment. Depending on the treatment that the WWTP performs or if it performs both, the tasks performed by these technicians will be different, since in addition to the maintenance tasks, these professionals may also be in charge of the operations in the treatment and purification processes, as well as the implementation of occupational risk prevention measures.

• Periodically analyse the influent entering the installation (flow, temperature, physico-chemical parameters, etc.) to adjust it to the characteristics and to adjust the dosage of reagents.
• Manage the start-up, verification and shutdown of the operation of the unitary processes.
• Act on the treatment processes, carrying out the appropriate actions to ensure correct operation and control.
• Carry out analyses in each if the purification stages to check correct operation.
• Record data from the instruments and meters installed according to the specifications of the WWTP.
• Take representative samples of tributaries and effluent.
• Collaborate in the operations of separation, treatment and removal of sludge and waste.

• Plan and carry out preventive maintenance of equipment and processes, based on the established schedule and criteria and recording the appropriate data.
• Detect anomalies in the operation of mechanical and electrical equipment by means of a maintenance plan and visual inspection.
• Carry out simple adjustments and repairs based on the detected problems and following the established instructions and protocols.
• In large installations, these professionals may be in charge of a team of workers.

• Detect and characterise risks derived from processes, equipment or waste generated in the plant.
• Apply preventive and protective measures based on the detected risks and the provisions of the legislation.
  

Regulated training and graduates

• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família professional de Seguretat i Medi ambient: Operació d'estacions de tractaments d'aigües (Nivell 2)
• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Energia i Aigua: Organització i control del muntatge i manteniment de xarxes e instal·lacions d'aigua i sanejament (Nivell 3)
• Grau: Biologia
• Grau: Bioquímica
• Grau: Bioquímica i biologia molecular
• Grau: Química
• Grau: Enginyeria de sistemes biològics
• Grau: Ciències ambientals
• Grau: Enginyeria agroambiental i del paisatge
• Grau: Enginyeria de Ciències Agronòmiques
• Grau: Enginyeria civil
• Grau: Enginyeria en tecnologies industrials
• Grau: Enginyeria química

Complementary training

Other specific skills

Flexibility and change management: Level 2

Orientation within reach: Level 2

Analytical thought: Level 2

Planning and organisation: Level 1

Concern for order and quality: Level 3

Mechanical handling

People related to the field of mechanical handling are interested in the assembly, maintenance, repair and use of machines, tools and installations. Some good examples of professional activities in the field of mechanical handling are adjusting and configuring machines, reviewing technical equipment to detect incidents in their operation, handling machinery in production processes and driving specialised vehicles.

Technician

People who show an interest in the technical field find fulfilment in carrying out activities related to the design and manufacture of objects, machines, vehicles and/or infrastructures. These activities require the application of scientific and technical knowledge (laws of physics, calculations and mathematical formulas, properties of the materials, etc). Creativity is also necessary when coming up with optimal solutions for the functional requirements of the products to be designed. Therefore, the pragmatic application of scientific knowledge in order to develop solutions for the benefit of human beings is the main function of occupations in the technical field.

Treatment plant maintenance manager

Expert in food safety and quality

Wastewater treatment plant technician

Fish pathologist

Municipal environmental management and energy efficiency technician

• Work hours

  40 hours in split shift. The most common is to work 8 hours a day from Monday to Friday.
  
  

• Salary

  Estimated gross salary between 31,347 and 45,930 euros per year, the average salary is around 37,944 euros gross per year.
  
  Source: Estudi "Observatori d'ocupacions i salaris del Mercat de Treball Actual. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.
  
  

• Professional category

  Technician