Process control technicians

How to become an incinerator and water treatment plant operator

Official title: Incinerator and water treatment plant operators

Also called: Incinerator operator, Liquid waste process operator, Pumping-station operator, Sewage plant operator, Wastewater operator, Water treatment plant operator

Incinerator and water treatment plant operators monitor and operate computerized control systems and related equipment in solid and liquid waste treatment plants to regulate the treatment and disposal of sewage and wastes, and in water filtration and treatment plants to regulate the treatment and distribution of water.

Main tasks

Operating and monitoring computerized control systems, machinery and related equipment in wastewater treatment, sewage treatment, and liquid waste plants to regulate flow, treatment and disposal of sewage and wastes, and in water filtration and treatment plants to regulate the treatment and distribution of water for human consumption and for later disposal into natural water systems
Controlling the operation of multiple-hearth incinerator furnaces and related equipment to burn sludge and solid waste in waste treatment plants
Inspecting equipment and monitoring operating conditions, meters, filters, chlorinators and gauges in central control rooms to determine load requirements, to verify that flows, pressures and temperatures are within specification, and to detect malfunctions
Monitoring and adjusting controls of auxiliary equipment such as exhaust emissions, scrubbers and incinerator heat recovery units
Collecting and testing water and sewage samples for chemical and bacterial content, using test equipment and colour analysis standards
Analysing test results to make adjustments to plant equipment and systems to disinfect and deodorize water and other liquids
Performing security and safety checks in plant and on grounds
Completing and maintaining plant logs and reports

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: HK$27,000 a month
About 1,542,900 people in 2025, and about 1,639,100 projected by 2028. (+6.2%)
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Questions people ask

Do you need a degree to become an incinerator and water treatment plant operator?

Not always. 41% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of an incinerator and water treatment plant operator?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026