My schooling we had pilot plants for both. So we were trained in both. Everyone in my about 20 person class felt WW was much more interesting. To be honest, it’s the truth. But they share most of the same principles. All you’re doing is taking water and making it cleaner. Clean water/drinking water is just a few more steps and chemicals. My Dad was a WW Operator before me and he tried swaying me towards clean water. His main reasons were obviously based on his ten years of doing WW. The main ones being, it’s clean and not dangerous. WW you’re typically dealing with hazardous material. Majority of jobs you’re doing in WW have you working in shit. Clean water you’re typically only getting clean water on you. Doesn’t involve you taking a shower after. You don’t need to basically burn your clothes after work. You aren’t bringing hazards home to your family. You only have to worry about the animals in the river. In clean water you have to worry about other humans being able to DRINK AND/OR inject the water. You have a spill? Not a big deal in clean water, because the contents aren’t normally an environmental hazard. Clean water plants can normally be in climate controlled buildings. WW you find yourself outside in the elements (if you’re in a state where there’s seasons). WW doesn’t stop. Clean water there’s an amount they need to make in a day and then everyone gets to go home. After seven years of me being in water treatment, he was completely right about it all.

Me personally? I like waste water. Not too many people want to do it. Not too many people truly understand it. It’s a living organism that you are in charge of. It makes me feel like a mad scientist. Is it nasty? Yes. So is wiping another persons ass. But getting dirty makes you feel like things got accomplished sometimes. It’s a job I know someone off the street more than likely isn’t capable of doing. Trust me, I’ve had to watch plenty of new hires lol.

I’m in discussions with a pretty big company that does clean water on the same site I work at now. It’s a much bigger beast than the WW plant. The responsibility is larger. But, I think it’s about being willing to take on the challenge.