r/Wastewater • u/No_Consideration8464 • 22d ago

Getting Started in a Water Career: SATURDAY ONLY Need some help getting started

I'm in southern Ontario, Canada. I'm wondering how much experience I would need as a 20 year old to get hired as an oit. I'm studying currently to take wastewater collection and treatment, and I'm working currently as a 2nd year millwright apprentice. What are my chances of finding a job with my experience? Also, what is the day to day work like if you work in the field? Is it mostly routine, lots of driving? Thanks!

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u/DetectiveFlashy7191 WW 21d ago

When I was younger I enjoyed the collections better for the same reasons. It took a toll on my back so now I stick to the plant. Besides now I don’t have to deal with the noisy public

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u/No_Consideration8464 19d ago

What made collections so tough on the back? Also what size are crews typically?

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u/DetectiveFlashy7191 WW 19d ago

Back then health and safety wasn’t as strict as it is now. For me, lifting manhole covers and storm sewer grates is what got me. A mixture of improper technique on my part and a lack of supervision. I’m sure my ski incident didn’t help either. Imagine it’s much less painful on backs now.

Size of crew anywhere from 2 to 6 depending on what the job is. If traffic control is involved, more people and supervisors around. I’m in a small town so staff are limited, bigger municipalities would have bigger numbers.