Water industry treatment process technician
Level 3 · AdvancedEngineering and manufacturing 3 yr typical
About this apprenticeship
What it involves
A water industry treatment process technician monitors and controls the processes that turn raw water into safe drinking water, or that treat wastewater before it is returned to the environment. You will operate plant, run laboratory tests, and adjust chemical dosing and process settings to maintain quality and compliance. It is a career that combines science, engineering, and environmental responsibility within a heavily regulated sector.
On the job
What you’ll learn
How drinking water or wastewater treatment processes work step by step
How to monitor process parameters and interpret trend data
Chemical dosing - what different chemicals do and how to handle them safely
Laboratory testing and water quality sampling techniques
Process control systems, SCADA, and telemetry interpretation
Environmental permits, drinking water quality regulations, and compliance reporting
On the job
What you’ll do day to day
Complete process checks at the start and end of each shift
Collect and test water or effluent samples in the on-site laboratory
Adjust chemical dosing pumps and process settings to maintain quality
Monitor SCADA screens and respond to process alarms
Record all readings and any deviations in shift logs
Carry out routine cleaning and minor maintenance of process plant
Report process failures or quality concerns to the shift supervisor
The deal
How this apprenticeship works
You earn a wage from day one. You are a paid employee, not a student. There are no tuition fees - the training is funded by your employer and the government.
About 20% is “off-the-job” training. Roughly a day a week is spent learning away from your normal duties - at a college, training provider, or online - working towards a recognised qualification.
It ends with an end-point assessment (EPA). Near the end, an independent assessor checks you can do the job to the national standard - through tests, a project, a portfolio or an interview. Pass it and you are fully qualified.
How to get there
What you need to start
Level 3 (Advanced) - roughly A-level level. Employers usually look for some GCSEs (often English & maths around grade 4/C) or a Level 2 apprenticeship first. English & maths can sometimes be finished during training.
What’s next: Can lead to a Level 4/5 (Higher) apprenticeship, or straight into the role.
Entry requirements are set by each employer and can vary - always check the specific vacancy.
Hear from employers
What it’s really like
No employer videos yet for this apprenticeship. Employers offering it can add one to show young people what the role is really like.