Water Plant/System Specialist – The City of Pierre seeks a passionate individual to join our team in making Pierre one of the best places to live, work, and visit. This position will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the City’s new state of the art Water Treatment Facility and distribution systems. Qualified applicants must have the ability to learn water treatment techniques and be able to perform a multitude of hands on maintenance activities that pertain to drinking water systems.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: Work involves responsibility for performing a variety of tasks in maintaining the public water system. The Water Plant /System Specialist controls and maintains treatment machines and equipment involved in production of water to drinking water standards; participates in specialized technical work at the municipal water treatment plant, distribution system, and related facilities of the raw and potable water system; duties in the operation of the Water Treatment Plant and Distribution systems, including water sampling, testing, chemical dosage calculations, treatment, repair, maintenance and operation of pumps, wells, motors, SCADA as well as installation, maintenance and repair of water distribution parts and facilities. Work involves contact with regulatory officials, the public and contractors regarding production and distribution quality of the drinking water. In addition, this position will work with other employees in the plant on a day to day basis. Work is reviewed upon completion for adherence to prescribed standards and procedures and compliance with state and federal regulations.

Water Plant / System Specialist

Water

JOB SUMMARY

This position is responsible for performing specialized technical work at the municipal water treatment plant, distribution system, and related facilities of the raw and potable water system.

MAJOR DUTIES

• Ensures city compliance with local, state and federal regulations governing public water supplies.

• Analyzes data on water quality and generates reports from this data to complete drinking water reporting requirements.

• Prepares, distributes, and maintains required records.

• Draws samples for analysis by the state or state approved laboratory to ensure water meets state and federal requirements.

• Makes production and distribution decisions on treating and distributing water to meet the demand of city water use.

• Plans and works with other water treatment plant personnel on the operation of treatment machines and equipment to purify and clarify water for human consumption and industrial use.

• Operates, adjusts, and determines specific chemical dosages to maintain drinking water standards.

• Works on the maintenance and repair of large production water wells.

• Repairs, maintains, and tests wells and pumps.

• Ensures compliance with the preventative maintenance program and completes day to day maintenance activities.

• Completes operation, maintenance, and repair of water treatment systems.

• Investigates complaints of poor water quality.

• Responds to problems affecting the immediate operation of the water treatment plant and distribution system components such as well, pump, or SCADA failures.

• Completes general maintenance of water reservoirs.

• Performs rotating 24-7 on call duties for the water plant and distribution system.

• Performs utility locating and leak detection functions

• Performs related duties.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION

• Knowledge of and experience with general maintenance and construction tools, equipment, and practices.

• Knowledge of water distribution system components, features, and operations.

• Knowledge of computers and job-related software programs.

• Knowledge of the occupational hazards and safety precautions necessary to the proper execution of assignments.

• Skill in diagnosing equipment malfunctions.

• Skill in reading, interpreting, and working from blueprints, schematics, and maintenance manuals.

• Skill in maintaining work records, pump and well maintenance records, and water quality sampling records.

• Skill in the diagnosis, repair, and maintenance of mechanical equipment.

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The Water Superintendent assigns work in terms of general instructions. The supervisor spot-checks completed work for compliance with procedures and the nature and propriety of the final results.

GUIDELINES

Guidelines include state and federal regulations, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act, city ordinances, and city policies and procedures. These guidelines are generally clear and specific but may require some interpretation in application.

COMPLEXITY/SCOPE OF WORK

• The work consists of related specialized and technical duties. Changing water conditions contribute to the complexity of the position.

• The purpose of this position is to provide specialized support for the operation, repair, and maintenance of the water plant and distribution system. Successful performance helps ensure the provision of safe drinking water for customers.

CONTACTS

• Contacts are typically with co-workers, other city employees, representatives of state and federal agencies, vendors, suppliers, contractors, and the general public.

• Contacts are typically to give or exchange information, resolve problems, motivate personnel, and provide services.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work is typically performed while intermittently sitting, standing, stooping, or walking. The employee occasionally lifts light and heavy objects, climbs ladders, uses tools or equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity, distinguishes between shades of color, and utilizes the sense of smell.

• The work is typically performed at water treatment facilities, and outdoors, occasionally in cold or inclement weather. The employee is exposed to noise, dust, dirt, grease, machinery with moving parts, contagious of infectious diseases, and irritating chemicals. Work requires the use of protective devices such as masks, goggles, gloves, etc.

SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

None.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with completion of specialized training in the field of work, in addition to basic skills typically associated with a high school education.

• Sufficient experience to understand the basic principles relevant to the major duties of the position usually associated with the completion of an apprenticeship/internship or having had a similar position for one to two years.

• Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid driver’s license issued by the State of South Dakota for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.

• Possession of or ability to readily obtain South Dakota Water Plant Class II certification within eighteen (18) months.