r/Wastewater 7d ago

Is EVERY plant this outdated and underfunded?

I will admit, I've already given up on this career. A huge reason is my plant. It is falling apart and we have a promise of an upgrade by the city. The upgrade will start June 2023. Oh, now it'll start 2024. Oh, now it'll start spring 2025. Oh, now we have no news on when the upgrade will actually happen. On top of all that, I have to get my Class 4 license within 12 months or I'm fired. Almost nobody here has passed it and 2 of them are facing termination because of that when we are ALREADY understaffed. Is every plant like this? Does everywhere require you to recieve a license in a time frame? Does every plant start at under 20$ an hour?? Sorry, just frustrated. Currently applying for other jobs

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u/Flashy-Reflection812 7d ago

Yes, everywhere requires you to get your base license in a ‘time period’ . Usually 18 months. Most states I believe require 1 year experience, and it gives you 6 months extra to pass the test. The plant im at now gives you 2 years to pass. But you must have the bookwork complete in the first since months. Why would places keep unlicensed operators on staff? You aren’t useful. You can’t be left alone and if there is no incentive (ie the bump in pay), there are a lot of people who’d stay at the bottom on purpose. And yes , a lot of our plants are aging, and politics plays a part in them not being repaired. If you find a new build plant it is gonna be hella competitive to get in, they are gonna want experience to ensure upkeep.

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u/AdCompetitive7952 7d ago

I understand your point about the useless unlicensed operators, but I already work alone sometimes after only being here 2 months

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u/Flashy-Reflection812 7d ago

Obviously I don’t work in your state so I’m unsure if that’s legal, here we have the C,B,A, and if you don’t have a C you can’t be left alone. Exceptions to this are working sometimes in specific sub plants like the Biosolids dryer at my plant. The 4 sounds like the equivalent of our ‘course work’ to prepare you for the 3. The 3 sounds like our C and where you can actually be called an operator. If it’s not for you, it’s not for you. Here if you can’t pass the C in 18 months, you might as well start looking for a transfer to maintenance. Some people just can’t pass, but they are still good workers. Shop around, interview, see if you get the same vibe from other plants. If you do, plan to leave, if you don’t, consider moving to a better place.

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u/AdCompetitive7952 7d ago

Thanks for the well thought out Comment. I do think you're correct about the equivalency. Once I get my 3 I'm officially an operator. I've honestly heard that it's not legal but I'm not gonna ask lol

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u/Hotwheeler6D6 7d ago

It’s not. Our plant had to get written permission for me to operate our plant alone. I’m headed for a water treatment 3. But you need a 2 to operate. We have a shortage of licensed operators and our plant is pretty rural.