Laura Bolick

Purchasing property and becoming a landlord can be a great way to make a profit. If done correctly, it can be extremely lucrative — however, by the same token, if done in the wrong way, it can become a financial and emotional millstone. But what do we mean by the “wrong way”, and how can you make sure you don’t fall into the traps awaiting the inexperienced investor? Don’t worry — the answers are relatively simple. In recent years, Rochester NY has become a popular place for the first-time property investor looking to become a landlord. This is down to the city’s viability as an investment hotspot, with its enviable standard of living, burgeoning infrastructure, and thriving employment opportunities. According to a local property manager, Rochester NY has become one of the most impressive places in the country to invest, in terms of profitability. The caveat to that is remembering the following three points. It’s a Business This is often a hard one to come to terms with — particularly in the first instance when you’re deciding what house or apartment (or, indeed, commercial unit) to purchase. This is where experts recognise the importance of enlisting the early help of a property manager. Rochester NY’s local market is very diverse, and your choice of property will depend on a range of factors. But beyond the purchase, once you have committed to the investment as a business, you’ll need to establish realistic expectations in terms of rental income, budgets, and cashflow. Remaining objective and making all your financial decisions based on fact rather than emotion is imperative to your ultimate profitability and ongoing success. Again, this is the beauty of having a good property manager to advise you and plan accordingly. You Have Legal Responsibilities We all know “location, location, location” is vital in real estate, but “compliance, compliance, compliance” is just as important for a landlord. Along with ensuring water-tight and fair lease agreements, there’s a host of legal requirements and responsibilities you need to adhere to as a landlord. There are several levels to be aware of, including local by-laws and over-arching national laws in terms of tenants’ privacy, your responsibility to provide safe, habitable accommodation, and much more. For a new investor it’s virtually impossible to be across everything, no matter how diligent you are, which is why your property is best put in the hands of a professional to manage. The last thing you want is to be on the wrong side of the law when it comes to taxes, legislation and tenants’ rights. Your Property Manager is Your New Best Friend It may sound like a cliché, but if you want to be a profitable landlord, your best friend isn’t your tenant, it’s your property manager. Rochester NY experts are skilled not only in all the aspects of running your investment (vetting tenants, collecting rent, drafting leases, maintenance, etc), but their knowledge of the local market is also invaluable. If you make contact with a local company before the purchase of a house or apartment, you’ll have the best chance of becoming and remaining profitable from the ground up — so to speak! It's for the very reason that this relationship will be the most important in your investment journey that you need to do your homework when it comes to choosing a property manager. Rochester NY has numerous reputable management companies, and the advice from most experts is to go with one that offers “full service” — which means they’re happy to be there to advise you from the get-go, then be there to take care of every aspect for the life of your investment. Author Plate Danny Torres is from Torres Turn Key, a property management company in Rochester NY with more than ten years’ experience dealing with both domestic and international investors. Providing a holistic service for both commercial and residential properties, when you’re looking for a property manager, Rochester NY, the company brings together a host of experience and specialist knowledge to build long-term relationships and create maximum value and benefit for their customers.

Any experienced landlord knows their best professional friend is their property manager. Few people have the time or skills to manage their own investment, and this industry is definitely one that benefits from “allowing the experts to do their jobs.” Being a landlord is fraught with difficulties and challenges — in both a practical and legal sense — and having someone on your side, who understands the market, has the legal know-how, and is skilled in the administrational fine print, can be the difference between making a profit and making the biggest mistake of your life. For investors, Rochester NY has become known as a very attractive proposition. Landlords benefit from the number of good quality properties, as well as the throngs of qualified tenants drawn to a life in this vibrant, economically thriving city. According to a local property manager, Rochester NY backs up the statistics that put it as one of the most lucrative places in the country for landlords. If you’re considering purchasing a house or apartment in Rochester, it might be time to consider the following five reasons you should partner with a local property manager. Rochester NY has numerous professional companies, but a “full service” agency is advisable. They Know the Local Area One of the most important reasons to take on a management company is their knowledge of the local market. When it comes to real estate, local know-how is king — not just for the understanding of the physical lay of the land (although this is very important), but also for the quirks, history, trends and projections of the Rochester market itself. When you have a dedicated property manager, Rochester NY’s benefits as an investment location increase, because you’ll gain an insider’s view on the city, no matter where you live yourself. They Will Identify your Financial Goals and Plan Accordingly If you’re a new investor (but also even if you have an existing portfolio), having an expert on your team allows an impartial eye on your individual financial situation and future goals. Becoming a landlord isn’t simply a matter of buying a place, installing a tenant and expecting the profits to roll in. There are numerous factors to consider beyond your initial budget — including managing your expectations of rental income, contingency planning, building your portfolio, paying taxes, and much more. They’ll Keep you Compliant Your responsibilities as a landlord don’t end with paying your taxes. There are myriad factors involved in running a successful and compliant rental, including maintaining a safe, habitable property with functioning appliances, and respecting a tenant’s rights. To this end there is strict legislation in place; having an expert taking care of your interests means that you can rest assured you’re within the law and upholding your legal responsibilities. For an inexperienced landlord it can be all too easy to fall foul of compliance — even if inadvertently. They’ll Take Care of your Tenants Rental income is the backbone of your investment and ensuring that your asset is consistently tenanted is arguably the most important task of your property manager. Rochester NY has an excellent supply of potential tenants looking to rent a house or apartment, but if you’re to remain profitable they need to be the right tenants. The role of your management company is not only to vet and install qualified, responsible tenants, but also to maintain your responsibilities to them as a landlord, in order to keep them. This doesn’t end with the collection of rent, so your manager needs to be responsive and communicative to the tenants’ needs. These are just a few of the reasons to employ a professional local property manager. Rochester NY has some high-quality full-service agencies, but the advice is always to do your research, get personal recommendations, and make sure your chosen company has your individual interests at heart. Author Plate Danny Torres is from Torres Turn Key, a property management company in Rochester NY with more than ten years’ experience dealing with both domestic and international investors. Providing a holistic service for both commercial and residential properties, when you’re looking for a property manager, Rochester NY, the company brings together a host of experience and specialist knowledge to build long-term relationships and create maximum value and benefit for their customers.

Becoming a property investor can be exciting, daunting and profitable in equal measure. Making a profit through rental income is an excellent way of creating healthy cash flow, as well as potentially gaining equity through capital growth. But there are quite a few factors to consider before diving into the world of being a landlord. One of the most basic parts of the investment equation is understanding the concept and specifics of “rental yield”. If you put your investment in the hands of a professional property management company, they’ll be able to calculate the rental yield to keep you profitable, while keeping your tenants happy and making sure you have ample funds to keep up regular and emergency maintenance. For a new investor, having a trusted property management company is vital to not only your income, but also your peace of mind. Rochester NY has become an excellent place for new and experienced investors to purchase a house or apartment and rent it out. In terms of professional rental property management, Rochester NY has some excellent companies with local knowledge. Below, an expert explains rental yield: how it’s calculated and why it’s so important to understand. The Calculation In simple terms, rental yield is the amount of money you make from rent once all the relevant associated costs are deducted. It’s a vital indicator as to whether your investment can remain profitable or become a millstone around your neck. Gross yield is the amount of annual rent collected before any deductions. Net yield is the amount after the costs of running the property are deducted. (These include things like maintenance and repair costs, and monthly management fees.) What Factors Affect it? There are myriad things that can and do affect how much income a property yields. They aren’t always obvious, which is why it’s so important to place your investment in the hands of rental property management (Rochester NY locals always know best!). Some of the factors that can affect it include the following. The location: Even within a city, there will be variation between suburbs as to the price of rents that can be achieved. You’ll obviously be aiming for a higher rent in a more affluent suburb and a lower rent in the more affordable suburbs. The type: Some properties attract higher rents than others; for example, a large house with a swimming pool, garden and luxury appointments will get more rent than a basic apartment with not a lot of amenities. Expenses: There can be a huge variation in the cost of outgoings, including how much upkeep is needed, the cost of insurances, and agent fees. (Rental property management Rochester NY will vary slightly from agent to agent, but is relatively standard.) Any and all of these factors can be wildly different, so it’s very important you don’t think it’s a one size fits all equation. Costs should always be calculated on an individual basis. Why is Understanding Rental Yield Important? Not only is it important, it’s actually one of the key metrics of running a profitable property investment. It affects almost every current and future decision if you’re to be successful. A higher yield means a healthy cash flow, which defines whether you’re actually making a profit — the bottom line of being a feasible business prospect. It helps you to understand if and when it’s time to review the rent to meet the market, and, more importantly, if it’s working for your ongoing investment goals. In some cases you may be better placed investing in a different type of property or a different area altogether. Professional rental property management Rochester NY will not only take over the day-to-day operational and administrative aspects of running your investment, they should also be able to advise on the long-term profitability, by analysing data against the wider market. That’s why it’s so important to choose wisely and ensure you’re confident in a company or individual’s ability to provide relevant, informed advice — not only in the present, but for many years ahead. Author Plate Danny Torres is from Torres Turn Key, a property management company in Rochester NY with more than ten years’ experience providing a holistic service for both domestic and international investors. When it comes to rental property management, Rochester NY investors can rest assured they are in good hands. The city is one of the most exciting places to invest in both commercial and residential properties and the company brings together a host of experience and specialist knowledge to build long-term relationships and create maximum value and benefit for their customers.

Purchasing an apartment, house or commercial property and making a profit through rental income can be an excellent investment — but it’s not for everybody. You might not think there’s much to it: purchase a place, install a tenant and receive your rent money, right? On the surface that is indeed the way you go about it; but there is a lot more involved, and you really do have to be a certain type of person to manage everything. Rochester NY has, in the past decade or so, become a lucrative place to invest in property, with its great standard of living, employment opportunities, and excellent infrastructure. It’s a desirable place to live and, therefore, a good place to invest. Below are the traits rental property management Rochester NY professionals say are required to be a successful landlord. Be Realistic, Patient and Resilient It’s important to identify and fully understand not only your financial position before you make any big purchases, but also your long-term financial goals. This requires that you are completely honest, so that you don’t make decisions based on emotion. You need to be real about how much you can afford to borrow, how much risk you can carry, how much you expect to profit (this can be a tricky one!), and how being a landlord will affect your day-to-day commitments. A key aspect when it comes to your expectations is the correct calculation of rental yield — how much money you’re left with after all the expenses are taken out. This is where you should ideally get help from professional rental property management. (Rochester NY experts can help you with this before you even start looking for a house or apartment to rent out.) Property investment is rarely a get-rich-quick scheme, nor is it a one size fits all — so along with the need to be realistic you must be prepared to be patient and resilient in case of setbacks. Be a Good Communicator Good communication is imperative if you’re to succeed as a property investor/landlord. It’s vital that you stay on top of every aspect of your investment: from any maintenance and repairs needed to the suitability of your tenants, staying compliant with local laws, and managing your mortgage repayments alongside regular lifestyle costs. While a good property manager will deal with tenants and contractors, you may at times need to get involved. The most important relationship you’ll have is the one with your rental property management. Rochester NY has some excellent companies, but it’s extremely important you feel confident and comfortable you can build a healthy and communicative relationship with whoever you choose. Put your Trust in the Experts Even if you’re a seasoned investor with multiple properties, there’s no shame in not knowing everything. If you’re about to buy a first property and become a landlord, that goes hundred-fold and, when you’re serious about long-term financial goals, consulting experts is a no-brainer. This goes for taxation requirements as well as professional help to manage every aspect of the rental process. Most people don’t have the time or the knowledge to take care of the day-to-day running of things, which can include (but is not limited to) selecting appropriate tenants, taking care of maintenance and urgent repairs, ensuring vacancies are minimized, rent collection, and compliance to legal requirements. All those things and many more will be taken on by your rental property management. Rochester NY is a big city and there’s no substitute for local knowledge — this applies to the initial choice of house or apartment, so it’s a wise idea to enlist their help even before you begin your search. Do you have what it takes to be a successful landlord and make a profit? Only you can decide in the end, but if you are able to see the above traits in yourself it’s a very good start. Author Plate Danny Torres is from Torres Turn Key, a property management company in Rochester NY with more than ten years’ experience providing a holistic service for both domestic and international investors. When it comes to rental property management, Rochester NY investors can rest assured they are in good hands. The city is one of the most exciting places to invest in both commercial and residential properties and the company brings together a host of experience and specialist knowledge to build long-term relationships and create maximum value and benefit for their customers.

Property investing to make a profit by renting out is no longer the domain of the traditional wealthy landlord stereotype. Anyone with the means to secure and service a mortgage can purchase a house or apartment and rent it out to tenants with the view to (hopefully) making a profit. There are, of course, caveats to that, and it’s important not only to do your research, but also engage the help and advice of property experts before you make any financial commitment. If you’re new to the investing game, you might be wondering how you can make money from being a landlord in somewhere like Rochester, NY (which is a popular place for investors for many reasons). Here are three of the most basic ways you can profit, with tips from a professional in rental property management, Rochester NY. Rental Income The most obvious way to make money as a landlord is through rental income. The key is consistency, though, and that relies on multiple aspects. You need to have good tenants, who pay their rent on time; you need to maintain and achieve a realistic rental income for the market and location; and you need to ensure that the returns are enough to cover any mortgage repayments, maintenance, and other costs of running before taking a profit (this is called determining the gross yield). There are also various legislative requirements to comply with. If you employ the services of good local rental property management, Rochester NY, not only will they ensure you attract and keep quality tenants, but they’ll also take care of rent collection, maintenance and all compliance issues. You’ll pay them a monthly fee and in return you’ll receive peace of mind and regular rental income. Capital Gains Wealth creation through property investment can also be achieved through capital growth — which basically means that the value of the house or apartment grows over time, creating equity (which can often be used to add to a portfolio). It should be noted that capital growth is not guaranteed, which is why it’s so important to a) understand your personal financial goals and expectations, and b) ensure you analyse the viability of a particular property before you purchase it. This includes aspects like size, type, location, and potential rental income. It’s also a fact that the market is cyclical, so when you purchase can also be an important factor. Again, nothing beats expert local advice, and you would be well advised to take it before you begin your search and definitely before you purchase. Tax Benefits Depending on where you live, there are various tax benefits of being a landlord. You’ll need professional guidance from a specialist taxation accountant to ensure you’re working within the law, but some of the most common claimable deductions are as follows. Costs of tenancies: this includes things like marketing, advertising, and letting fees paid to your rental property management (Rochester NY has some excellent professional companies). Maintenance/repairs: the definition of these can be very specific, particularly if renovations are involved. Make sure you speak with your accountant to get the details so there is no ambiguity. Interest: you can claim interest paid on an investment loan. Depreciation and costs: you may be able to claim depreciation costs on the asset, which will be incorporated into how much tax you pay for the year. You can also claim some of the costs involved in owning a rental, including things like insurance, owner’s corporation fees, and gardening costs. Engaging the services of a reputable and experienced property manager right from the get-go will ensure that you purchase the right house or apartment that fits your investment goals. They will then take care of the day-to-day running of things, so you continue to reap the profits in all the above ways. When it comes to rental property management, Rochester NY has some highly reputable companies, but you should always do due diligence before you sign anything. Author Plate Danny Torres is from Torres Turn Key, a property management company in Rochester NY with more than ten years’ experience providing a holistic service for both domestic and international investors. When it comes to rental property management, Rochester NY investors can rest assured they are in good hands. The city is one of the most exciting places to invest in both commercial and residential properties and the company brings together a host of experience and specialist knowledge to build long-term relationships and create maximum value and benefit for their customers.

When you’re considering becoming a landlord, it’s not quite as simple as sticking a pin in a map, purchasing a house or apartment, installing a tenant and sitting back to count your money every month. Although we all wish that were true… You’ve no doubt heard the saying “location, location, location”? It may sound like a cliché, but it’s absolutely true that where a property is situated is one of the most important considerations of becoming a landlord/investor. Rochester, NY, has become one of the most popular and profitable places to purchase a house or apartment to rent out in the country, with astute investors drawn to its continuing growth potential. Here are just a few of the things you should think about when deciding on a location to purchase a house or apartment to rent out for profit, offered as tips by someone with experience in professional rental property management, Rochester NY. Population Growth This is a fairly simple equation: a strong growth in population equals an increase in demand for housing. This is obviously important for potential landlords, because having quality, qualified tenants is the bedrock of your investment. Affordability With this we’re not only talking about the affordability of the purchase price, but also an acceptable standard of living for potential tenants — and that means affordable rent. It’s important to be able to attract a large pool of renters, so there’s always demand and vacancies are minimised, but it’s no good investing in a high-end home in an area that doesn’t suit that demographic and can’t sustain the high rent you’d expect. Local Infrastructure and Type It’s much easier to rent out a house or apartment if it’s in an area that is serviced by a good range of amenities, schools, shops, parks, public transport and lifestyle facilities. You should also do research into aspects like crime rates and demographics, along with the type of property. If you’re aiming to capitalise on the family demographic, for example, there’s no point looking at high density one-bedroom apartments. (This is where it’s valuable to speak with someone in rental property management. Rochester NY has some suburbs that are a better proposition than others for particular demographics.) A Buoyant Employment Market This is a slightly less obvious aspect to research, but it can be quite illuminating and very important. Of course, everyone wants to find the next real estate “hotspot”, but understanding the employment market can provide extremely valuable markers for a far-sighted investor. Burgeoning employment opportunities (through proposed developments and thriving industries, for example), bode well for the investor, as jobs mean growth for both infrastructure and population. A little research can go a long way. Potential for Capital Growth There’s more than one way to make money through an investment property and capital growth is an important consideration. It’s certainly not a guarantee, though, and for a house or apartment to increase in value over any number of years, it depends on numerous factors. The location is obviously most important, but you should also research land size, population demographics, the local real estate market, economic activity, recent sales in the area, and the general state of the market (growth is cyclical, so the old “buy low, sell high” adage needs careful analysis). It's easy to become overwhelmed by everything you need to know and consider if you’re thinking of dipping your toes into the property market. And while it is absolutely a bonus to get a handle on the basic aspects, for a new investor the most sensible course of action is to take on the services of professional rental property management (Rochester NY has numerous reputable companies, but always do your research). By consulting with these experts before you sign anything, you’ll be able to make use of their valuable insight into the real estate market. Author Plate Danny Torres is from Torres Turn Key, a property management company in Rochester NY with more than ten years’ experience providing a holistic service for both domestic and international investors. When it comes to rental property management, Rochester NY investors can rest assured they are in good hands. The city is one of the most exciting places to invest in both commercial and residential properties and the company brings together a host of experience and specialist knowledge to build long-term relationships and create maximum value and benefit for their customers.

The process of water softening is essential for a huge range of industrial applications. It tackles the issue of “hard water”— which has high levels of calcium, magnesium and other minerals. This can cause debilitating limescale build-up on boilers and other vital equipment, decreasing their efficacy and causing costly downtime and other operational expenses. The heart of a water softening system is a resin bed, where an ion exchange process takes place. Hard water passes through the bed, and the calcium and magnesium ions are exchanged for sodium ions (which are similar in composition) from a brine solution, creating “soft” water. Advanced softening can be as simple as installing a small standalone unit, or as complex as a fully integrated tailored system, depending on a company’s operational needs. Because every industry and every application have specific requirements, it’s essential that a solution is installed and maintained by a professional industrial water treatment company. Below is a simple explanation of the five stages of the process, in which salt brine flows to the resin bed and goes on to create the ion exchange that effectively removes the unwanted minerals. Stage One: Fill Water flows directly into a salt storage container. Inside the container, the salt dissolves and the liquid goes on to form the brine solution that’s needed for the resin bed to facilitate the ion exchange process. Stage Two: Brining Next, the brine is sent into the resin bed/tank, which contains resin beads. This is when the ion exchange occurs; the brine absorbs the calcium, magnesium and other minerals which cause the hardness, and replaces them with sodium ions. Stage Three: Slow Brine Rinse When a defined volume of the brine solution has been used (the amount depends on flow rate and other factors which should be determined by a professional industrial water treatment company), a valve will close and prevent any more from entering. The liquid then travels on to the next stage, without the brine, and the brine (along with the unwanted minerals) is discharged safely. Stage Four: Backwash In this next stage, the liquid travels upwards at a faster flow rate than previously, through a larger resin tank. This has the effect of removing any remaining dirt and sediment and flushing it out. Stage Five: Fast Rinse After the backwash is finished, fast rinsing happens, when liquid flows very fast through the resin tank. In this stage, any leftover brine is sent through the resin beads, which will cause it to adhere to them. This is the final part of the process, after which it will start all over again. Times will vary, but on average the five stages of water softening regeneration will be complete in around two hours — however this will depend on the type of system installed by the industrial water treatment company. High demand applications that require a continuous flow of softened water will use a complex system with two resin tanks; whereas for industries where continuous flow is not required, a standalone tank with automatic regeneration capability may be installed. Bespoke Solutions It’s imperative to install a system that is appropriate for the needs of your particular industry and application. A professional industrial water treatment company will consult on your individual needs and provide a customised solution to cater to your requirements. Not only that, they’ll set up a regular maintenance schedule, so you can rest assured your system and plant are working to their optimal ability at all times. Author Plate Sean Clifford is an advisor at AllWater Technologies Ltd, a wholly independent industrial water treatment company providing consultation and equipment, including reverse osmosis water systems. Bringing together a host of experience and specialist knowledge, the company is committed to building and maintaining long-term relationships and creating maximum value and benefit for their customers.

Reverse osmosis (RO) has been around since 1959 (although the process of osmosis was observed in a laboratory setting as far back as 1758) and today it is used in a vast number of applications. In an industrial context, the process has become invaluable, and if not for this vital water purification technology, the world might look a very different place. With globally declining natural resources, the effective treatment of industrial wastewater has never been more important and RO is one of the most popular solutions used by an industrial water treatment company. You may have heard the term, but do you understand what it is? If not, these three fast facts will help give you some insight into its use and applications. It Works Extremely Well The RO process can remove up to 99.9% of all contaminants, which is more than any other method available. The system has the capability to remove bacteria, dissolved solids, ions and other contaminants, making it very popular across a diverse range of industries. These include pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, electronics manufacturing, power generation, and many more. The process works by forcing liquid (wastewater) through a semipermeable membrane by applying pressure. Only clean water — free of bacteria, dissolved solids and other contaminants — passes through the membrane, while the other substances are washed away. One huge benefit of the RO process is that it requires minimal use of chemicals, meaning less hazardous waste and reduced risk to workers’ safety on the job. It’s Cost Effective While the initial cost to set up an RO system and plant can be expensive (and should, ideally, be installed by a professional industrial water treatment company), they come into their own in the longer term. Not only are the operating costs low in relation to the system’s efficacy in removing impurities and contaminants when compared to other methods of wastewater purification, they require minimal maintenance (membranes must be replaced regularly), and there is high potential to reuse the purified wastewater. The latter can hugely affect a company’s bottom line by reducing the need for constant intake of fresh water to run the operations. All the above aspects hinge on the installation of the most effective and appropriate system and plant for an individual company’s needs. It’s vital to consult with a professional industrial water treatment company to ensure a tailored solution is installed. It's Good for the Environment With more and more focus on the environment and the need to remain compliant to stringent local, national and global legislation around discharge limits, industrial RO is one of the most environmentally friendly methods available. The system does not require the use of toxic chemicals, which puts it ahead of the game from the get-go. Because it recycles water to be reused throughout a plant (up to 90% can be recovered), it means less impact on precious fresh water supplies. In terms of legal compliance, RO easily purifies discharge to acceptable limits. There is certainly a lot more to learn about reverse osmosis, however these three basic facts offer a sense of why it is so popular in an industrial context. It is, however, important that a system is designed, implemented and maintained by a professional industrial water treatment company. They will consult on the individual needs of an operation and create a bespoke system that provides consistent and optimal results. Author Plate Sean Clifford is an advisor at AllWater Technologies Ltd, a wholly independent industrial water treatment company providing consultation and equipment, including reverse osmosis water systems. Bringing together a host of experience and specialist knowledge, the company is committed to building and maintaining long-term relationships and creating maximum value and benefit for their customers.

There are many industries that require the installation and use of a wastewater treatment plant, including food processing, textile manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and mining - to name just a few. The effective and ethical management of large quantities of effluent produced by manufacturing or processes is essential, not only to ensure the smooth running of the operation, but also to stay compliant with strict discharge limits created to protect the environment and our dwindling natural resources. Installing wastewater treatment systems is a job for trained professionals, but so too is the management of the site and equipment used. A plant operator in an industrial water treatment company is a highly specialised position. It requires well-honed skills and in-depth knowledge of the characteristics, technology and workings of a wide range of equipment, machinery, chemicals, and processes. Below are some of the tasks a plant operator needs to be proficient in to work in an industrial water treatment company. Monitoring the Quality of Wastewater The plant operator needs to regularly monitor the quality of the water that comes through for treatment. They will take samples (using a variety of methods) and compare the levels of contaminants at any given time to permitted discharge levels to ensure they comply, and take immediate action if they don’t. Data Collection and Reporting The operator also needs to record a large amount of operational data, and generate or create reporting on the findings. Examples of the type of data collected include chemical use, results, and flow measurement. Data logs need to be extremely accurate and detailed as they are used to ensure regulatory compliance. Operation of Specialised Equipment Depending on the plant, the operator must be skilled in multiple kinds of equipment used in the treatment of effluent. This may include sedimentation tanks, filters, boilers, pumps, water softening equipment, and aeration systems. (The appropriate methods and systems should be determined by a professional industrial water treatment company.) Handling Chemicals Some of the chemicals used in the treatment of effluent are, by their nature, dangerous if mishandled. The plant operator needs to be trained in the safe handling, management, and application of these chemicals, including emergency procedures. They might include things like neutralising agents, coagulants, acids, chlorine, bases and flocculants. Routine Maintenance and Repairs The operator needs to be able to troubleshoot and identify any problems that may arise with plant and equipment, and ensure that routine maintenance schedules are followed. If there are any major breakdowns or equipment malfunctions, the operator will liaise with engineers or professional repair people from an industrial water treatment company. A Job that Requires Wide Ranging Skills A wastewater plant operator needs to be familiar with the specific challenges faced by whatever industry they are working in, and have a wide range of up-to-date knowledge and skills. They need to understand the ins and outs of safety protocols around hazardous waste and chemicals, and in addition to all the above, they also need to stay abreast of the relevant environmental legislation around discharge limits, on a local and national level. It is not an easy job, but on the flip side it can be extremely interesting, varied and rewarding. There is an ongoing demand for skilled wastewater treatment plant operators, and it provides a career path with a wealth of opportunities across multiple industries. Author Plate Sean Clifford is an advisor at AllWater Technologies Ltd, a wholly independent industrial water treatment company providing consultation and equipment, including reverse osmosis water systems. Bringing together a host of experience and specialist knowledge, the company is committed to building and maintaining long-term relationships and creating maximum value and benefit for their customers.