Drinking Water Treatment Operator
Drinking Water Treatment Operators are essential to providing safe, clean drinking water to communities across Hawaiʻi. Working under general supervision, they operate and maintain water treatment facilities and pump stations that serve everything from urban centers to rural homesteads. Their work ensures that fresh, high-quality wai (water) reaches homes, schools and businesses. This role combines technical skill, environmental stewardship, and a commitment to public health. Operators use their knowledge of treatment processes, mechanical systems, and water quality standards to protect one of Hawaiʻi’s most precious resources.
Education & Training
Each state, including Hawaiʻi sets its own certification requirements for drinking water operators. In Hawaiʻi, operator certification is managed by the Department of Health’s Safe Drinking Water Branch.
To become certified, you typically must:
Hold a high school diploma or GED (experience and training may substitute).
Pass an exam appropriate to the level of treatment system.
Accrue a specific number of on-the-job hours depending on the certification level.
Complete continuing education or CEUs for renewal (every 3 years in Hawaiʻi).
For some positions, coursework or experience in wastewater or environmental science may be considered transferable.
Note: Operators in small water systems (like those on Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, or Kauaʻi) may wear multiple hats, handling both treatment and distribution, so cross-training is a plus.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Working Knowledge of:
Operation and maintenance of water treatment plants whether on large systems (like Honolulu Board of Water Supply) or small community-based systems on the neighbor islands.
Proper safety practices, including chemical handling and confined space protocols.
Servicing, calibrating, and repairing treatment equipment under varied environmental conditions (e.g., salt exposure, high humidity, volcanic activity).
Mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic principles relevant to water systems.
Routine and specialized water quality testing.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health (DOH) and U.S. EPA regulations for safe drinking water.
General Knowledge of:
Using SCADA and other computer-based monitoring/control systems.
Operation and maintenance of water distribution infrastructure.
Inventory control for water treatment supplies like chlorine, filters, and lime, especially in systems with limited or infrequent delivery.
Current technologies in water treatment and environmental monitoring.
Emergency preparedness and resiliency measures for natural disasters or drought.
Skill in:
Operating treatment system components like pumps, valves, chlorinators, and filter units.
Keeping water systems safe and consistent for all users, including those in rural, agricultural, and Native Hawaiian homestead areas (DHHL).
Diagnosing equipment issues quickly and performing field repairs.
Maintaining clear documentation and reports for compliance and community communication.
Ability to:
Work collaboratively with coworkers, local agencies, and community members.
Identify and respond to system issues before they impact water safety.
Use SCADA systems and read gauges, meters, and other instrumentation.
Interpret schematics, piping diagrams, and controls related to system flow and pressure.
Analyze operational data to improve system performance.
Respond to emergencies like power outages, equipment failures, or source contamination.
Maintain or support distribution systems as needed especially in small or remote systems where staff wear many hats.
Scholarships & Opportunities
American Water Works Association (AWWA-Hawaiʻi Section) – Scholarships & networking
Website: https://www.awwa-hi.org
Pacific Water Conference – Training opportunities for current and aspiring operators
Website: https://www.pacificwaterconference.com
EPA Operator Workforce Resources – Career pathways and apprenticeships
Website: https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure