Water Career - Careers at Council

Water is essential for the long-term sustainability of the natural environment, productive land and the health of our communities.

Local government in regional NSW and Queensland, offers rewarding careers for people with vocational education and training (VET) and university qualifications, working in fields such as water and wastewater operations and maintenance, laboratories , science and engineering.

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Interested in a career in the water industry? View Available Jobs

Water industry skills are required for:

Water quality management, monitoring and measurement
Wastewater and stormwater collection, treatment and recycling
Water sourcing, catchment, groundwater management, storage, bulk water storage, water supply and distribution
Asset design, construction, maintenance, management and decommissioning

If you like practical hands-on work, have good communication skills and like working in a team, enjoy mathematics, analysing and solving problems, and have good computer and iPad skills, then dive into one of these careers in the water industry.

Water and Wastewater Treatment

Involves operating plants to store, distribute, treat and recycle water, including purifying water for human consumption, and treating wastewater.

Tasks include:

Sampling and testing of water and wastewater
Monitoring water and/or wastewater flows
Operating pumps, gauges, aerators, plant equipment
Chemical dosing and monitoring
Compliance with standards and legislation

Trainee Water/Wastewater Operator

Assistant Water/Wastewater Operator

Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

Water Technical Officer

Water/Wastewater Operations-Team Leader/Supervisor/Co-ordinator

Manager Water and Sewer Operations

Water Industry Networks

Involves ensuring that the systems used to supply drinking water to communities and collect wastewater for treatment, are in good working order.

Tasks include:

Constructing, maintaining and repairing water and wastewater pipes, pumps, mains etc
Installing or replacing water meters
Inspecting equipment, investigating complaints, identifying hazards and planning maintenance

Labourer – Water

Reticulation Maintenance Assistant/Trainee

Ganger

Water Reticulation Maintenance Operator

Wastewater Maintenance Worker

Water/Wastewater Maintenance-Team Leader/Supervisor/Co-ordinator

Water and Sewer Network Manager

Other water roles requiring VET qualifications

Trade Waste Officer/Trade Waste Supervisor Ensures that trade waste customers comply with regulatory licences and environmental requirements.

Dams Operations Coordinator Monitors and operates catchments, weirs, locks, dams, rivers, reservoirs, bulk water and groundwater management and implements operational and safety plans

Asset Officer – Water and Wastewater Monitors asset data and manages asset management systems for the planning and development of water and wastewater assets

Laboratory Technician Samples and performs microbiological tests on water and wastewater, monitors and maintains records of work, operations, processes and equipment maintenance.

Qualifications

Certificate IV in Water Industry Operations
Diploma of Water Industry Operations
Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques

Engineering

Engineering skills are required for a range of functions in the water sector, including the design, development and implementation of asset plans, oversight of staff and contractors, project and budget management. Tertiary qualifications are usually required of managers in the water industry, as well as engineering specialists.

Types of roles