r/Wastewater • u/Aggressive-Style-492 • 1d ago
Becoming a Bay Area Wastewater Operator Within 60 Days: Seeking Advice
Hey Reddit,
I’m working towards landing an entry-level Wastewater Treatment Operator-in-Training (OIT) position in the Bay Area and wanted to get some feedback on whether this goal is realistic.
Currently, I’m taking an Alison course on Wastewater Treatment (it doesn't provide CEUs, but I'm doing it to gain extra knowledge and improve my resume).
Next, I plan to dive into the Sacramento Wastewater Course, with the aim of enrolling and taking the exam soon after.
I’ve been actively applying for jobs, but I haven’t had much luck with interviews so far. I’m thinking the lack of certifications could be holding me back, but I’m eager to get started in the field as soon as possible.
Does anyone here have experience with this process in the Bay Area? Any advice or insights on improving my chances of landing an OIT position would be greatly appreciated!
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u/Dodeejeroo 1d ago
This is the most competitive region for the industry. I wouldn’t expect there’s anything you can do to guarantee you’re landing a spot in a specified time range. EBMUD is cutting off applications at the first 500 for their upcoming OIT hiring. You have to act like you’re trying to get Taylor Swift tickets and then you have to outshine everyone else. It’s not easy. A lack of certs doesn’t matter for wastewater in CA as you can’t get certified without your 1800 OIT hours anyways.
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u/Aggressive-Style-492 1d ago
Wow, this is the hard reality. Sounds almost equivalent to SW/IT space aswell. I guess it'll require alot of discipline to pursue.
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u/Dodeejeroo 1d ago
That and/or luck unfortunately. I’m not trying to discourage, just realistically speaking, it may take a good while. I applied to my first spot and landed one a year later. Some people I’ve worked with took much longer, some had to move away from the bay to get through their OIT hours.
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u/horaceh13 1d ago
The likelihood of meeting your goal within a 60-day window is slim. The process typically takes over 60 days for an agency to review applications, schedule and administer tests, assess scores, rank applicants, and arrange interviews and facility tours. Given this timeline, it’s important to plan for a longer period to successfully navigate the process.
However, if you have a broader timeframe, achieving this goal is certainly feasible. I recommend taking relevant courses from institutions like Sac State or American Water College, passing the required exams, and considering volunteer opportunities at your local wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to get some experience. Any additional efforts to distinguish yourself from other candidates will be beneficial, as the field is highly competitive. You will be going up against operators seeking higher pay, engineers, treatment and distribution specialists, plumbers, and other skilled tradespeople. Goodluck
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u/Often-Inebreated 1d ago
(I'm in drinking water FYI) I got a job last year in the bay area! after getting my T2/D2 certs, it took a year solid of submitting applications, (around 70 submitted applications all told.. if I remember correctly) and it wasn't until I was able to put on my resume that I had volunteer experience did I even get a call back. I was told to expect to apply for jobs for 2 to 3 years before getting a position, or be willing to relocate. I was SUPER fortunate that I got the job I did. Apparently they were originally only wanting to hire T3's (which you need to have experience to get) but were unable to attract any applicants because the pay was much lower than competitors. After the city realized there were no takers, they opened it up to T2's and I got the job! (shortly later everyone got a pay raise so I was doubly fortunate.)
I write all that not to discourage you but to let you know how it went for me regarding the timeline. Getting a job within 2 months would be incredible and I hope you get into it that soon, but I just want to encourage you to manage your expectations 8) California is the second highest paying-state in the U.S. so competition is real!
Good luck!
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u/cleverplayonwords Forever OIT 1d ago
I had passed my grade 1 exam as well as some wastewater college courses when I started applying for OIT positions in the bay and it took me 8 months before I got a spot. It’s highly competitive, but like anything if you have connections you may find something quicker than I did. Is this something you really want to pursue? Or are you looking for a quick way to make good money because getting a wastewater job in the bay is not gonna be quick.
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u/Aggressive-Style-492 1d ago
Thank you for the questions—those are definitely important to consider. I’m at a point in my life where financial growth is a top priority. At 23, I’ve set a goal to be on a career path that offers consistent six-figure potential within the next two years. While I understand that success doesn’t happen overnight, I’m eager to invest effort into a career that is both rewarding and financially viable.
I do have a friend working at the Stanford University plant earning $55/hr at my age, which makes wastewater management particularly appealing. So, while the financial aspect is a significant motivator, I’m also willing to fully commit to any career path that shows promise and aligns with my goals.
So in reality, I've got this career path, coding (which is also very competitive w/o degree), or a typical job in operations/business where I've spent too much of my life already in.
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u/Express-Prompt1396 1d ago
Brother Inlaws a grade one about to test for next grade and he said he's having a hard time finding work in the bay area as a transfer, it seems as if that trade is very saturated and also competitive I would also apply for at least 1 or 2 other trades apprenticeship programs as a backup.
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u/Sweaty_Act8996 16h ago
You would be lucky if you submitted your test application and had a test date within 60 days. I recommend submitting your application now, paying for a 60 hour CEU course now, and buying and studying the ken tesh wastewater guide now. You would be all but guaranteed to have taken and passed your course in 90 days.
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u/KnightsLegacy 1d ago
You do know there are more than one Bay area in the United States? Only reason I knew you meant in California was because of mentioning Sacramento
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u/Dodeejeroo 1d ago
Would it make you feel better if we just started saying Yay Area?
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u/KnightsLegacy 1d ago
Why would it? I just asked could you clarify which Bay Area could be as simple as ,CA added to it.
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u/CAwastewater 1d ago
You're on the right path.
Sac State courses in wastewater treatment are great.
Pass your Grade II Exam if possible.
Find a local college offering a certification program. This will likely take multiple years to complete, but it makes you more appealing.
The field is highly competitive. Anything and everything you can do to separate yourself from the crowd is good.