Water & Wastewater Operator

Fonction publique de l'Ontario; Fenelon Falls; On-site; CAD 39,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Certification pay

On-call pay

Job summary

Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) seeks a Level 1 Operator to operate and maintain water and wastewater facilities in the Region. This entry level role progresses through the Operator Career Path with certification upgrades and increased responsibilities.

With on-call rotations and overtime, you’ll earn pay differentials for water and wastewater certifications, plus base hourly wages starting at the Level 1 rate.

Qualifications

• Must hold Class 1 wastewater certification and related licences.
• Strong understanding of wastewater treatment processes and safety rules.
• Ability to operate and maintain water and wastewater facilities.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain the water and wastewater facilities within the Region.
• Respond to on-call requirements and participate in overtime rotations.

Skills

Analytical skills

Teamwork

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Class 1 Wastewater Certification

Class 1 Water Treatment Certification

Class 1 Wastewater Collection Certification

Valid G driver's license

Job description

Apply By:Thursday, September 17, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

$27.92 - $31.06 Per hour* (plus pay for water and wastewater certification)
*Indicates the salary listed as per the OPSEU Collective Agreement.

Water is our business and our passion. It can be yours too.
The water professionals at OCWA know the value of water better than anyone. Our work benefits communities across Ontario every day.
Our job (and possibly yours) is also to return treated and safe water back to our lakes and rivers. At OCWA, we have a deep respect for the environment and our responsibility for the health of the communities we serve drives us.
A job at OCWA is an opportunity to make a positive impact on millions—a big responsibility. Are you ready? We think you are. So come on in. The water is perfect.

About the job

In this role, you will use your skills to operate and maintain the water and wastewater facilities within the Region.

What you bring to the team

OCWA's Operator Career Path Program:

OCWA's Operator Career Path Program provides learning, continuing education, career development and certification advancement opportunities. As you develop and obtain higher level licenses, you will progress through the Operator Career Path with increased operational responsibilities as well as training and mentoring opportunities. When you successfully obtain a higher certification/license, you will be eligible for additional base or premium pay in accordance with the schedule below.

OCWA offers internal career progression for Operators through the Operator Career Path to encourage them to pursue higher level licences. The salary ranges below will be applied based on the certification you hold at the time of hire and will be progressed internally upon obtaining higher level certification/license:

• $24.88 to $26.41 per hour (OIT)
• $27.92 to $31.06 per hour (Level 1 Operator)
• $29.49 to $32.83 per hour (Level 2 Operator)
• $30.67 to $38.04 per hour (Level 3 or 4 Operator)

*OCWA provides additional pay for water and wastewater certification/license

Mandatory requirements

• Class 1 Wastewater Treatment, Class 1 Wastewater Collection, Class 1 Water Treatment and Class 1 Water Distribution and Supply.
• A lesser qualified candidate may be considered as an under-fill minimum Operator-in-Training (OIT), as specified in O.Reg. 128/04 of the Safe Drinking Water Act and O.Reg. 129/04 of the Ontario Water Resources Act.
• Should a successful applicant be employed as an under-fill Operator, he/she will be required to write and pass the required Class 1 certification exams and Limited Surface Water or Ground Water subsystem within 180 days from their start date.
• Must be available for overtime and ability to be on-call after regular working hours as part of a rotation and must be able to respond to on-call within a reasonable period of time.
• Valid Class G driver's license

Knowledge

• Good knowledge of wastewater treatment processes to operate the facilities.
• Working experience/knowledge of the skilled trades for the maintenance and repair of a variety of equipment and structures, including but not limited to the following skills: basic electrical repair, welding, plumbing, millwright and instrumentation.
• Sound knowledge of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and other relevant regulatory and legislative acts, codes, policies, guidelines and procedures related to wastewater operations and maintenance; health and safety procedures/WHMIS.
• Good knowledge of the relevant regulatory and legislative acts, codes, policies, guidelines and procedures related to water and wastewater operations and maintenance, including the Occupational Health and Safety Act, and health and safety procedures.
• Knowledge of basic mathematics and chemistry to make calculations for chemical and operating processes.
• Ability to interpret maintenance manuals, blueprints and other technical specifications; use and storage of industrial chemicals.
• Familiarity with computers, including monitoring and operating systems.
• Familiarity with Computerized Maintenance Management Systems would be an asset.

Skills and Ability include

• Analytical, problem-solving, planning and scheduling skills required to effectively inspect, operate and monitor the facilities processes and equipment.
• Ability to perform routine preventive maintenance; take samples, interpret results and make process control adjustments to resolve operating issues.
• Good oral and written communication skills to liaise with a variety of people including coworkers, clients, suppliers, while keeping accurate logs and writing reports.
• Ability to work in a team environment and take initiative.
• Ability to perform manual labour.

How we support diversity, inclusion and accessibility

We are building an inclusive workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We encourage everyone interested in working with us to apply, including people with disabilities, Indigenous, Black and racialized individuals, as well as people from all ethnicities, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions.

Our hiring process is accessible, consistent with Ontario's Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. We are working to prevent and remove barriers in our hiring processes and can offer accommodation to address specific needs related to Code-protected grounds such as disability, family status and religion. For more information about accommodation during the hiring process please contact us.

Learn more about the work the OPS is doing to create an inclusive, anti-racist, accessible and diverse workplace:

• diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives
• accessibility
• Anti-Racism Policy

We offer employment accommodation across the recruitment process and all aspects of employment consistent with the requirements of Ontario's Human Rights Code. Refer to the application instructions below if you require a disability-related accommodation.

The Ontario Clean Water Agency is an agency of the Province of Ontario, reporting to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. As the largest provider of water and wastewater services in Canada, we manage over 800 facilities from small well systems and lagoons to large water and wastewater treatment plants. Consider this opportunity if you are a motivated, team oriented individual seeking a career in the water and wastewater industry.

We thank you for your interest, and we will only contact you if we choose you for further screening or an interview.

What we offer

What's in it for you?

• Flexible learning and development opportunities
• Opportunities for career advancement and specialization with the largest provider of water and wastewater services in Ontario.
• A wide-ranging compensation structure focused on pay for certification, on-call pay, call-back pay, over-time and Overall Responsible Operator (ORO) pay.
• Work with the partner of choice for more communities than any other water and wastewater service organization in Ontario for over 30 years.
• Work with an organization committed to innovation and advanced technology.
• A defined benefit pension plan; comprehensive health plan; life and disability insurance.
• Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits including for adoptive parents.

Additional information:

Apply by:

Thursday, September 17, 2026 11:59 pm EDT

• 1 English Temporary, duration up to 6 months, 216 Ellice St, Fenelon Falls, East Region
• You must submit your application using only one of the methods identified below.
• Customize your cover letter and resume to the qualifications listed on the job ad.Using concrete examples, you must show how you demonstrated the requirements forthis job. We rely on the information you provide to us.
• Be sure to quote the Job ID number for this position.
• OPS employees are required to quote their WIN EMPLOYEE ID number when applying.

Language requirements and assessment: All external Ontario Public Service (OPS) job ads are posted in English and French. Check the "position(s) language" section at the top of each job ad for the language requirements. For all roles, candidates are assessed in English, the business language of the OPS. If the position is bilingual (English/French), you'll also need to pass a French-language proficiency test.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Information collection notice

We are collecting your personal information to assess how well you meet the qualifications for employment with the Ontario Public Service, and for related recruitment purposes. The collection of personal information is necessary to the proper administration of OPS Careers, which is an authorized common service in accordance with s. 6 of the Ministry of Government Services Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.25.

Please do not include any more personal information than is needed for your application (for example, do not include your photograph or social insurance number).

If you have any questions about how your information is collected, used, shared or saved, please contact us.