Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators run the equipment that cleans drinking water and treats sewage. They add chemicals, monitor meters and gauges, test samples, record data, report results to regulators, maintain equipment and follow environmental and safety rules. Automated control systems are the main change in this work, more than generative AI.
The short answer: low exposure to generative AI, with automation reducing staffing. The ILO's 2025 index rates incinerator and water treatment plant operators as not exposed with a score of 0.27. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 6 percent decline from 2025 to 2035, with about 10,000 openings a year. Projections are estimates, not guarantees.
How exposed water treatment operators are
The International Labour Organization scores occupations' tasks from 0 (cannot be automated with generative AI) to 1 (could be done without a human operator), and groups them into gradients from 1 to 4, with 4 the most exposed; below them sit minimal exposure and not exposed (ILO Working Paper 140, 2025).
| Occupation (ISCO-08) | ILO category | Mean task score (0 to 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Incinerator and Water Treatment Plant Operators | Not exposed | 0.27 |
The ILO index measures generative AI, not robots or automated machines.
What the BLS projects
| Occupation | Projected change 2025 to 2035 | Openings a year |
|---|---|---|
| Water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators | Decline 6% | About 10,000 |
The BLS says that as plants become more advanced with automated systems to manage treatment processes, fewer workers may be needed. It adds that plants will still need skilled workers to operate increasingly complex controls and systems. All projected openings come from replacing workers who leave or retire.
What automation is taking on
- Managing treatment processes with automated control systems, as the BLS describes.
- Monitoring meters and gauges remotely.
- Recording operating data automatically.
What stays with water treatment operators
- Public health: making sure water is safe and treatment meets environmental rules.
- Testing: collecting and testing samples and acting on the results.
- Equipment: inspecting, cleaning and maintaining pumps, tanks and filters.
- Checking AI help: generated reports and figures can be wrong, which NIST calls confabulation (NIST AI 600-1). See checking AI output.
How the job is changing
The BLS expects plants to need fewer but more skilled operators, who can run complex automated controls. Operators who build skills with control systems are better placed. This page is general information, not career advice.
See also will AI replace power plant operators?, will AI replace stationary engineers? and will AI replace environmental engineers?
Pay and how to get in
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median annual pay for water and wastewater treatment plant and system operators at $60,020 in May 2025, against $50,980 for all workers. The typical education needed to enter is: high school diploma or equivalent. See how this job compares in AI exposure by pay and AI exposure by education level.
Questions and answers
Will AI replace water treatment operators?
Automation, more than generative AI, is the factor. The BLS projects a 6 percent decline from 2025 to 2035 as plants use automated systems.
How exposed are water treatment operators to AI?
The ILO rates incinerator and water treatment plant operators as not exposed with a score of 0.27.
Are there still openings?
Yes. The BLS projects about 10,000 openings a year, all from replacing workers who leave or retire.
Which skills are in demand?
The BLS says plants will still need skilled workers to operate increasingly complex controls and systems.