Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to ensure reliable, efficient and safe supply of domestic and industrial grade water that meets or exceed all state and federal water standards. The incumbent accomplishes this through operational control and monitoring of the entire water system including water supply, plant filtration and treatment, related equipment, storage facilities, and pump stations.

This position is part of the Water Plant Operations team which must operate and monitor the drinking and industrial water systems year round, 24 hours a day.  During evenings, nights and weekends, the plant operator may be the only personnel assigned to the water plant.  As such, the Water Plant Operator is the final and essential link in ensuring a safe and reliable water supply that all stakeholders in the community rely upon.

Examples of Job Duties:

The following is intended as a brief description/illustration of the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of this position and are not intended to be all encompassing or all-inclusive.

Operates a 48 million gallons per day (MGD) water treatment plant, raw pumping facilities, and distribution system, involving operation of one industrial and two domestic treatment process streams.

Utilizes SCADA computer system to control pressure, operate pumps, monitor turbidities, adjust flow rates, operate remote pumps and valves, and control water towers. Continuously monitors and makes adjustments so plant operates efficiently and pressure is maintained throughout distribution system according to regulatory requirements.

Determines adequate levels for treatment, flow, chemistries, and operation of three process streams. Each of the streams has independent clarifiers, filters, chemical feeds, pumps and different water chemistries.

Disinfects harmful disease-causing bacteria in the water to ensure public health and safety while complying with EPA's Surface Water Treatment Rules by testing and monitoring for microbial contaminants, disinfectants, and filter turbidity.

Receives all water emergency calls. Communicates with central dispatch, assists customers with emergencies, and contacts Miss Dig when necessary. Evaluates situation and calls appropriate personnel to handle issues and emergencies.

Collects water samples, performs more than 90 chemical analyses, including hardness, alkalinity, chlorides, chlorine residual, fluoride, pH, UV254, calcium, conductivity, turbidities and bacteriological tests and uses this data to monitor and respond to the process variations as well as to meet regulatory requirements.

Gathers readings on chemical feeders and storage tanks, calculates chemical doses and adjusts feed rates according to changing water conditions and keep water within regulatory requirements.

Creates and evaluates daily analysis reports using data from flow numbers, chemical usage, filter turbidities, laboratory data, and sludge depth levels.

Monitors filter operation according to state and federal standards; backwashes media filters when needed or required.

Transfers lime, ferric chloride, and fluoride to storage tanks and bins. Prepares dry phosphate and polymer solutions to correct dilution specifications and transfers to storage tanks.

Receives chemical deliveries from bulk chemical tankers, direct delivery to the correct storage tanks/silos and ensures integrity of chemicals.

Ensures safe chlorine management practices. Responds promptly to chlorine leaks as well as initiating practice drills on a regular basis for emergency prevention. Assumes responsibility for monitoring and providing instructions to plant staff in emergency situations such as terrorist threat, tornado warnings, fires, etc.

During loss of power situations, responsible for initiating generator back-ups t