Most people who are employed in systems operator jobs will work with local companies that supply utility services to residences and businesses. Systems operator jobs might involve work in a power plant, water and sewage facility, or government agencies. Essentially, systems operators are responsible for monitoring, operating, and troubleshooting process systems to ensure adequate and safe services are available for use. The scope of duties is related to the size and type of plant where the operator works.
The process systems at a power company affect how electricity is distributed to residences and businesses. Systems operator jobs with a power company entail monitoring the voltage, transmission, and conduits of electricity flow. In monitoring electrical currents, a systems operator checks the flow of power between the various stations and substations that harness electrical grids to produce power. They may also work with other plant personnel responsible for different components at the power company.
Daily monitoring at a power company may also involve watching different weather patterns and preparing for peak seasons. The weather could have an impact on how the power grids perform. The job of a systems operator is to identify this impact and make a judgment call to prepare the system for an increase in demand.
Water and sewage systems typically control water supply and the purity of water used in private residences, businesses, and other facilities. On one side, certain water levels are needed to supply a local region based on the number of citizens and businesses in the area. The other side deals with how the water availability flows through a filtering process that protects the citizens who drink and use the water.
The responsibility of systems operator jobs a water treatment facility includes overseeing systems that are connected to natural sources of water. Monitoring and maintenance of these systems usually requires controlling how the water flows from a reservoir to the water treatment plant. Training for systems operator jobs may include extensive training on sophisticated equipment designed to regulate the water flow.
The job of a systems operator at a water treatment plant is to ensure that the water flowing through the process systems is safe and clean. Water that has flowed through the sewer system will generally need to go through a filtering process to remove impurities from the water before it reaches a residence or business. Most systems operators are accountable for how the equipment functions, both normally and during times of emergencies.
Most systems operators will run tests on the purity level of water. These tests are usually to ensure that natural and man-made chemicals used to treat the water do not exceed recommended safety levels. The operators are responsible for maintaining records of these tests to use for improving process systems and for reporting to regional government authorities.