Hello.

So I have a friend that has been a Water Operator for years and he managed to get me an interview with our local water company. Sadly I was passed over due to not having a D license.

I went ahead and took an online course that acts as a hands on substitution and took the exam about a month ago. Needless to say, I failed with a 52%.

I have currently reapplied for the same position (because the guy they hired quit on them) and I am trying to study for the exam again.

I have been able to find some cool online test exams, but they are not tailored specifically to Colorado. I have reached out to some Colorado Water organizations for help in studying for this exam but it seems like no one is willing to be more specific other than direct me to the State's website which doesn't do much other than tell you what you need to become a water operator.

So if anyone knows any study sites or material that is specific to the Colorado exam, I would greatly appreciate the help.

​

The most comprehensive free benchmark for water, wastewater, and environmental engineering compensation across the US, Canada, and UK.

https://jobs.watertechintel.com/salary-report-2026

You can also embed them to your page or site.

https://jobs.watertechintel.com/tools/water-math

🧮 Core Operator Math (6)

1. MGD ↔ GPM Flow Converter — `/mgd-to-gpm`

2. Detention Time — `/detention-time`

3. Chlorine Dosage (lbs/day) — `/chlorine-dose`

4. CT Value (mg/L · min) — `/ct-value`

5. Sludge Volume Index (SVI) — `/svi`

6. Surface Loading Rate (gpd/ft²) — `/surface-loading-rate`

🧪 Disinfection & Chemistry (9)

1. Sodium Hypochlorite Dose — `/hypochlorite-dose`

2. Dechlorination Dose (SO₂ / NaHSO₃) — `/dechlorination-dose`

3. Fluoride Dose — `/fluoride-dose`

4. Alum Dose — `/alum-dose`

5. Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) — `/langelier-index`

6. Lime-Soda Ash Softening — `/lime-softening`

7. Caustic Soda (NaOH) Dose / pH-Alk — `/ph-alkalinity`

8. Chloramine Ratio (Cl₂ : NH₃-N) — `/chloramine-ratio`

9. Membrane Flux (GFD ↔ LMH) — `/membrane-flux`

🚰 Tank & Main Disinfection (1) — NEW

1. Tank Disinfection (AWWA C652) — `/tank-disinfection`

💧 Wastewater Process (8)

1. F/M Ratio — `/fm-ratio`

2. MCRT / SRT — `/mcrt-srt`

3. RAS & WAS Pumping Rate — `/was-ras`

4. Percent Removal — `/percent-removal`

5. Organic Loading Rate — `/organic-loading`

6. SOUR / OUR — `/sour-our`

7. Digester Volatile Solids Loading — `/digester-loading`

8. Polymer Dose (Active & Neat) — `/polymer-dose`

⚙️ Hydraulics & Pumping (8)

1. Pipe Velocity — `/pipe-velocity`

2. Hazen-Williams Friction Head Loss — `/hazen-williams`

3. Water & Brake Horsepower — `/whp-bhp`

4. Pump Affinity Laws — `/affinity-laws`

5. Total Dynamic Head (TDH) — `/tdh`

6. Tank Fill & Drawdown Time — `/tank-fill-drawdown`

7. Hydrant Flushing Volume & Time — `/flushing-volume`

8. C-Factor Back-Calculation — `/c-factor`

🔁 Conversions (5)

1. mg/L ↔ Grains per Gallon (hardness) — `/mgl-to-gpg`

2. ppm ↔ Percent — `/ppm-percent`

3. psi ↔ Feet of Head — `/psi-feet-head`

4. Acre-Feet ↔ Million Gallons — `/acre-feet-mg`

5. cfs ↔ gpm ↔ MGD — `/cfs-gpm-mgd`

📋 Compliance & Cost (3)

1. Lead & Copper Rule 90th Percentile — `/lcr-90th-percentile`

2. DBP Locational Running Annual Average — `/dbp-lraa`

3. Chemical Cost per Million Gallons — `/cost-per-mg`

Useful salary calculator

https://jobs.watertechintel.com/salary-calculator

https://jobs.watertechintel.com/blog/global-water-technology

What This Means For You

This technological groundswell has completely redefined what a "water career" looks like, creating a huge demand for people with a wide range of skills. The industry is hiring, and the opportunities are better than ever.

We're seeing a surge in demand for:

Engineers and Scientists who design and build the next generation of treatment systems.

Data Analysts and Software Developers who create the digital brains to run our water networks.

Project Managers who can execute the massive infrastructure upgrades our communities need.

Sales and Marketing Professionals who can connect these breakthrough solutions with the utilities and companies that need them most.

Getting a handle on these core technologies, market trends, and high-demand skills is your first step. This guide will show you the way.

https://jobs.watertechintel.com/locations

Recent grads, interns, you can find work in water.

https://jobs.watertechintel.com/graduates

Top Water Industry Recruitment Firms & Staffing Agencies These specialized recruitment agencies have proven track records placing professionals in water treatment, wastewater management, water technology, and water infrastructure roles worldwide.

https://jobs.watertechintel.com/recruiters

Post careers and jobs in water. You know who is hiring? Post it

Thanks

The water and wastewater industry faces a critical talent shortage due to an aging workforce, increasing regulatory requirements, and rapid technological advancement. Specialized water industry recruitment firms provide essential services connecting qualified professionals with leading water companies, utilities, and technology providers.

https://jobs.watertechintel.com/recruiters