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Drinking Water Jobs (NOW HIRING)

HDR

Drinking Water Project Manager

Omaha, NE · On-site

From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly ...

HDR

Drinking Water Project Manager

Kansas City, MO

From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly ...

HDR

Drinking Water Project Manager

Kansas City, MO · On-site

From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly ...

kennedyjc

Drinking Water Process Engineer

Rancho Cordova, CA · Hybrid

$84K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a Drinking Water Process Engineer in California to support treatment, reuse, and advanced purification projects for clients across local and national markets. In this role ...

Woodard & Curran

Drinking Water Project Manager

Tampa, FL · Hybrid

$125K - $170K/yr

Drinking water distribution capacity analysis and design * Drinking water treatment system upgrades * PFAS treatment systems * Lead and Copper Rule project initiatives What you will be doing at ...

HDR

Drinking Water Project Manager

Saint Louis Park, MN

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly ...

kennedyjc

Drinking Water Process Technical Expert

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

Kennedy Jenks is seeking a National Water Treatment Technical Expert to serve as a drinking water quality and treatment subject matter expert for clients and project teams across the firm. The ideal ...

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Drinking Water information

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How much do drinking water jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 17, 2026, the average hourly pay for drinking water in the United States is $13.72, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $9.62 and $15.87 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a drinking water operator?

Drinking water operators are professionals responsible for managing, monitoring, and maintaining water treatment facilities to ensure the safe and reliable supply of potable water to the public. Their duties include testing water quality, operating treatment equipment, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and safety standards. They may also respond to emergencies, perform routine maintenance, and keep detailed records of plant operations. Drinking water operators play a vital role in protecting public health by ensuring that water is clean and safe to drink.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a drinking water treatment plant operator, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Drinking Water Treatment Plant Operator, you need knowledge of water treatment processes, regulatory compliance, and a high school diploma or equivalent—often supplemented by specialized training or certification. Familiarity with SCADA systems, laboratory testing equipment, and state operator certification exams is typically required. Attention to detail, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication skills enable operators to address issues quickly and work effectively in teams. These competencies ensure the safe delivery of potable water and compliance with public health regulations.

What are some common challenges faced by drinking water treatment plant operators, and how can they be addressed?

Drinking water treatment plant operators often encounter challenges such as maintaining water quality standards, responding to equipment malfunctions, and adapting to changing regulations. To address these, operators regularly monitor water samples, perform preventive maintenance, and participate in ongoing training. Collaboration with engineers, laboratory technicians, and regulatory agencies is also essential to ensure safe, compliant, and efficient operations. Staying updated on industry best practices and technological advancements further helps operators meet these challenges effectively.

What is the difference between Drinking Water vs Water Treatment Plant Operator?

AspectDrinking WaterWater Treatment Plant Operator
CertificationsWater Distribution Operator Certification, EPA certificationsWater Treatment Certification, EPA certifications
Work EnvironmentMunicipal water systems, treatment facilitiesWater treatment plants, industrial facilities
Employer & IndustryPublic water utilities, municipalitiesPublic utilities, industrial sectors

Drinking Water professionals focus on ensuring safe, clean drinking water for the public, often working within municipal systems. Water Treatment Plant Operators manage the operation and maintenance of water treatment facilities, which may include broader industrial processes. While both roles require similar certifications and work environments, Drinking Water specialists primarily serve public water systems, whereas Water Treatment Plant Operators may work in various industrial settings.

More about Drinking Water jobs

What cities are hiring for Drinking Water jobs?

Cities with the most Drinking Water job openings:

What states have the most Drinking Water jobs?

States with the most job openings for Drinking Water jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Drinking Water jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Drinking Water jobs are:

Drinking Water jobs near you
Infographic showing various Drinking Water job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 1% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 95% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 3% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $28,530 per year, or $13.7 per hour.

Drinking Water Project Manager

HDR

Omaha, NE • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago

HDR rating

9.2

Company rating: 9.2 out of 10

Based on 59 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

32nd of 449 rated engineering

Job description

At HDR, our employee-owners are fully engaged in creating a welcoming environment where each of us is valued and respected, a place where everyone is empowered to bring their authentic selves and novel ideas to work every day. As we work to weave diversity, equity, and inclusion into our work and foster a sense of belonging throughout the company and within our communities, we constantly ask ourselves: What is our impact on the world?
Watch Our Story:' https://www.hdrinc.com/our-story'
Each and every role throughout our organization makes a difference in our ability to change the world for the better. Read further to learn how you could help make great things possible not only in your community, but around the world.
We believe water is more than a resource, it's a shared responsibility. As part of our Water Business Group, you'll help shape how communities manage water for generations to come. From delivering safe drinking water and treating wastewater responsibly to developing sustainable water supplies and protecting lives and property through flood control, your work will directly support public health, environmental sustainability, and infrastructure resilience. We bring together experts across disciplines to solve complex challenges with bold thinking and technical excellence. Whether you're modernizing aging systems or pioneering innovative approaches, your contributions will make a meaningful difference in people's lives. This isn't just a job, it's a chance to lead change, drive progress, and leave a lasting legacy.
In the role of Drinking Water Project Manager we'll count on you to:
Independently lead multidisciplinary teams to develop facility planning documents, process design, detailed designs, plans, specifications, and cost estimates for water treatment plant upgrades including lime softening, membrane treatment, disinfection, chemical feed systems; water supply improvements including water production wells and well field development; as well as distribution system infrastructure. The candidate will lead the administration of construction contracts during the construction of the improvements. The candidate will also support marketing efforts, is expected to be a client manager for multiple clients, who are primarily centered in the Iowa and Nebraska areas, and be an integral component in the expansion of our drinking water portfolio in the area.
Other specific responsibilities include working directly with clients, drinking water process design, establishing appropriate design methods, report preparation and coordination, equipment sizing and selection, reviewing engineering specifications, and permitting and regulatory compliance. The project manager will be responsible for independently coordinating the work of staff engineers and CADD/BIM technicians throughout the development of projects while ensuring deadlines are met and within budget.
The selected candidate will have excellent writing, presentation, and speaking skills, as they will work directly with the facility owners. The ability to establish client relations is important because they will be involved in client development, marketing, contracting, design, and production.
Preferred Qualifications
  • 7 years of related experience, including municipal water planning, design, and project management.
  • Strong technical background in process design for water treatment facilities.
  • Demonstrated business development and strategic planning skills.
  • Self-motivated with an ability to work both independently and collaboratively with project teams
  • Strong communication and organizational skills.
  • Experience handling multiple assignments.
  • Experience leading teams and coordinating project details.
  • Preference given to local candidates.
  • Active in area municipal drinking water industry associations is a strong plus.

*LI-BC1
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering
  • 7 years related experience
  • A minimum 2 years project management experience
  • Professional Engineer (PE) license
  • MS Office and MS Project experience is required (Access experience would be plus)
  • Demonstrated leadership skills
  • An attitude and commitment to being an active participant of our employee-owned culture is a must

What We Believe
HDR is our company. Together, we build on each other's life experiences and perspectives to make great things possible every day. This shapes our collaborative culture, encourages organizational trust and connects us closer to the clients and communities we serve.
Our Commitment
As employee owners, we all have a role in creating an inclusive environment where each of us is welcomed, valued, respected and empowered to bring our authentic selves to work every day.
Our eight Employee Network Groups (Asian Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latino(a), LGBTQ+, People with Disabilities, Veterans, Women, Young Professionals) help create a sense of belonging and foster a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to engage and contribute. Each group has an executive sponsor and is open to all employees.

What HDR employees say

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About HDR

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

At HDR, we specialize in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. While we are most well-known for adding beauty and structure to communities through high-performance buildings and smart infrastructure, we provide much more than that. We create an unshakable foundation for progress because our multidisciplinary teams also include scientists, economists, builders, analysts and artists.

Industry

Specialized design services

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Omaha, NE, US

Year founded

1917

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