The UK water industry is one of the largest and most consistent employers of PLC and SCADA engineers in the country. With 11 regional water companies, hundreds of water treatment works, thousands of pumping stations, and a regulatory framework that mandates continuous investment in infrastructure, the sector offers something rare in engineering: genuine long-term job security.
If you are considering a career in automation or looking for a sector with stable demand, the water industry deserves serious consideration.
Why Water is Different
Unlike manufacturing, which is subject to economic cycles and offshoring, the water industry is:
- Essential service — People always need clean water and wastewater treatment, regardless of economic conditions
- Heavily regulated — Ofwat (the economic regulator) and the Environment Agency mandate investment in infrastructure upgrades, creating a continuous pipeline of automation projects
- Geographically fixed — Water treatment works cannot be moved to another country. The jobs stay in the UK permanently
- Capital-intensive — The current AMP8 investment cycle (2025-2030) allocates over £88 billion for infrastructure improvements across England and Wales
The Scale of Automation in Water
Every aspect of water treatment and distribution involves automation:
Water Treatment Works
A typical water treatment works contains:
- Inlet works PLC — Controlling screens, grit removal, and flow measurement
- Clarification PLC — Managing chemical dosing (coagulant, flocculant, pH correction)
- Filtration PLC — Operating rapid gravity filters with automatic backwash sequences
- Disinfection PLC — Chlorine dosing and UV treatment control
- Distribution PLC — Managing treated water storage and pumping to supply
Each of these systems is controlled by Siemens S7-1500, Allen-Bradley CompactLogix, or Schneider Modicon PLCs, with a site-wide SCADA system (typically AVEVA/Wonderware or Siemens WinCC) providing operator interface, alarm management, and data logging.
Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater works are even more complex:
- Preliminary treatment — Screening, grit removal, storm water management
- Primary settlement — Sludge scraper control, desludging sequences
- Biological treatment — Aeration blower control, dissolved oxygen PID loops, MLSS management
- Final settlement — Return activated sludge pumping, surplus sludge wasting
- Tertiary treatment — UV disinfection, phosphorus removal dosing
- Sludge processing — Thickening, digestion, dewatering, cake storage
A large wastewater works may have 20-50 PLC panels, 500+ analogue instruments, and thousands of digital IO points. The SCADA system ties everything together with alarm management, process trends, and regulatory reporting.
Network Infrastructure
Between treatment works and customers lies a vast network of:
- Pumping stations (over 30,000 across the UK) — Each with local PLC control and telemetry
- Service reservoirs — Level control, chlorine monitoring, inlet/outlet valve control
- Pressure management zones — PRV control, flow monitoring, leakage detection
- Combined Sewer Overflows — Event Duration Monitoring (EDM) using PLC-based data loggers
Who Employs Water Automation Engineers?
Water Companies (Direct Employment)
- Thames Water, Severn Trent, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water, Southern Water, South West Water, Wessex Water, Northumbrian Water, Welsh Water, Scottish Water
- Typical roles: Control systems engineer, SCADA engineer, telemetry engineer, automation support engineer
Framework Contractors
The water companies outsource significant capital delivery to framework contractors:
- MWH Treatment (now Stantec), Mott MacDonald Bentley, Costain, Galliford Try, Barhale, Black & Veatch, Jacobs
- These contractors employ large teams of PLC programmers and SCADA engineers for new build and refurbishment projects
Specialist Systems Integrators
- Primayer, Metasphere, Servelec (now Itron), Ovarro, Atkins, T-Systems
- These companies design and build control systems for the water industry, offering varied project work
Panel Builders
- Companies like Chesterfield Special Cylinders, Smith Brothers, and numerous local panel builders supply MCC and PLC panels for the water industry
Salary Guide
Water industry automation salaries are competitive and stable:
| Role | Salary Range | |------|-------------| | Graduate/Junior control systems engineer | £28,000 – £35,000 | | Control systems engineer (3-5 years) | £38,000 – £48,000 | | Senior SCADA/PLC engineer | £48,000 – £60,000 | | Lead control systems engineer | £55,000 – £68,000 | | Control systems manager | £62,000 – £78,000 | | PLC contractor (water sector) | £280 – £420/day |
Water companies also typically offer excellent benefits packages including final salary or defined contribution pensions, generous annual leave (25-30 days), and flexible working arrangements.
How to Get In
Step 1: Get Trained
Complete a structured PLC and SCADA training programme. Our Professional Module at EDWartens covers the exact skills water companies look for: Siemens TIA Portal programming, WinCC SCADA configuration, HMI design, and industrial networking. The PID control content is particularly relevant for water treatment applications.
Step 2: Target the Right Roles
Look for these entry-level positions:
- "Control Systems Technician" — Maintenance-focused, good entry point
- "Telemetry Engineer" — Working with remote outstations and communications
- "Junior SCADA Engineer" — Office-based configuration and development
- "Commissioning Engineer" — Site-based role testing and commissioning new systems
Step 3: Build Sector Knowledge
Learn the terminology and processes specific to water:
- Understand the AMP cycle (Asset Management Period) and how it drives investment
- Learn about key regulations (Water Industry Act, Urban Wastewater Directive, Drinking Water Quality standards)
- Familiarise yourself with common water industry instruments (flow meters, level transmitters, analysers)
Step 4: Get Connected
- Join the IET Water Special Interest Group
- Attend WWT (Water & Wastewater Treatment) exhibitions
- Connect with water industry recruiters (Matchtech, HR GO, Hays Engineering)
- Use EDWartens' employer introduction service — we have established relationships with multiple water companies and framework contractors
The Long-Term Outlook
The water industry's automation needs are growing, not shrinking. The Environment Agency's tightening discharge consent standards require more sophisticated process control. Smart metering rollouts need telemetry engineers. The move toward predictive maintenance and digital twins creates demand for engineers who can bridge the gap between operational technology and IT systems.
For engineers who value stability, meaningful work (everyone needs clean water), and a clear career progression, the water industry is hard to beat. And it all starts with the PLC and SCADA skills that form the foundation of every control system in every treatment works in the country.