8134 Water and sewerage plant operatives

In short

• ONS unit group 8134, in minor group 813 (Plant and machine operatives) and major group 8 (Process, plant and machine operatives).
• Appendix Skilled Occupations (figures as at 3 August 2026, re-checked 26 October 2026): Transitional tables only: Table 1a, Table 2aa.
• Going rate as the tables print it:
  • Table 1a, Going rate (SW – options A and D): £38,000 (£19.49 per hour)
  • Table 2aa, Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU): £31,300 (£16.05 per hour)

What the ONS says

Description

Water and sewerage plant operatives operate valves to control water supplies in mains and pipelines, attend screening, filtering, water purifying and sedimentation plant, clear any blockages and patrol and maintain sewerage systems.

Typical entry routes

There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is provided Off and on-the-job. NVQs/ SVQs in Operating Process Plant are available at level 2.

Tasks

• attends water filtration and purification plant, monitors chemical treatment and regulates treatment of water supply within strict guidelines
• opens and closes valves to regulate quantity and pressure of water and reports defective valves or abnormal water pressure
• stops water supply in an emergency and informs consumers likely to be affected
• regulates flow of raw sewage into screening plant, releases screened sewage and regulates its flow into detritus pits, sedimentation tanks and filtration beds
• cleans out screen compartments, sedimentation tanks and filtration beds manually or using mechanical scraper
• patrols sections of sewer, examines for any blockages or gas releases and clears blockages by flushing or by using boring rods
• digs trench and assists pipe layers to lay, renew or repair sewerage pipes

Related job titles

• Controller (water treatment)
• Plant operator (sewage works)
• Pump attendant
• Water treatment engineer
• Water treatment operator

What the Appendix Skilled Occupations says

The Appendix lists this code in the tables below, with the tables’ own caption and the row as printed. Read the full table, and any condition in it, on GOV.UK.

Table 1a: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 22 July 2025

SOC 2020 occupation code

8134 Water and sewerage plant operatives

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Water and sewerage distribution operatives
• Water treatment operatives
• Water and sewerage plant operatives not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options A and D)

£38,000 (£19.49 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option B)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option C)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option E)

£33,400 (£17.13 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Table 2aa: Additional eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and related going rates for Skilled Worker applicants granted permission under the rules in place before 22 July 2025

SOC 2020 occupation code

8134 Water and sewerage plant operatives

Equivalent SOC 2010 occupation code(s)

8126

Examples of related job titles (non-exclusive)

• Water and sewerage distribution operatives
• Water treatment operatives
• Water and sewerage plant operatives not elsewhere classified

Going rate (SW – options F and I, GBM and SCU)

£31,300 (£16.05 per hour)

90% of going rate (SW – option G)

Not applicable

80% of going rate (SW – option H)

Not applicable

70% of going rate (SW – option J, GTR)

£25,000 (£12.82 per hour)

Eligible for PhD points (SW)?

No

Other unit groups in minor group 813

• 8131 Paper and wood machine operatives
• 8132 Mining and quarry workers and related operatives
• 8133 Energy plant operatives
• 8135 Printing machine assistants
• 8139 Plant and machine operatives n.e.c.

Sources

Occupation text: Office for National Statistics, SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions of unit groups (file dated 27 August 2026, version V13). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Open Government Licence v3.0. Tables: Home Office, Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations on GOV.UK, page updated 3 August 2026; re-checked against the page updated 8 October 2026 on 26 October 2026, tables unchanged.

All 412 occupation codes

SponsorFlow provides compliance software and record-keeping tools. It is not a law firm or an immigration adviser and does not give legal or immigration advice, which are regulated activities (Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, section 84). This page describes what the published Home Office guidance and the Immigration Rules say, with the paragraph for each point, so you can read the source yourself. Guidance versions and figures are those in force on the date shown; the Home Office changes them, so check the current version before you rely on any of it.