Assistant water operator

CLASS TITLE: Assistant Water Plant Operator

DEPARTMENT: Water

DIVISION: Waterworks

DATE: November 19, 2025

GENERAL PURPOSE:

Performs a variety of semi-skilled and skilled technical and maintenance work in the operations, maintenance and overseeing repairs of the water plant and water distribution system.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

Works under the general supervision of the Borough Manager, Public Works Director, and Water Plant Operator 1.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

None generally. May serve as a lead worker over assistant plant operators and/or maintenance workers.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Monitors the performance of all equipment, gauges and charts in the treatment plant, well houses and distribution system. Maintains, operates, oversees repairs and has equipment replaced as necessary. Charts lab test results for water analysis and maintain accurate records of analyses and test results. Evaluates data and writes reports as required.

Operates, maintains and has malfunctions repaired at the water treatment plant. Gauges, pumps and other controls and equipment have been repaired.

Collect samples and identifies concentrations of chemicals, physical or biological characteristics of water required in accordance with Local, State, and Federal requirements. Gathers and tests water samples for plant efficiency reports as required.

Performs quality control tests of lab equipment and lab analyses. Evaluates procedures and results for accuracy and determines appropriate methods to maintain this accuracy.

Assures that plant operates within required standards.

Lab requirements include hourly turbidity testing on the finished water and frequent testing on the chlorine residuals to maintain the highest standard of potable water according to the safe drinking water regulations.

A number of these jobs require both operators for backup and safety reasons. The changing of any chemicals or acids, any maintenance work performed on pumps or motoes, electrical panel boards of any other equipment require both operators. There is also other work performed in the plant, water meter pits or in well houses that require both operators for safety reasons, or in case something goes wrong there is always a backup operator available.

Trains and maintains less skilled operators in acceptable lab methods and procedures to assure accuracy of test results.

Contains and disposes of hazardous wastes generated by the lab.

Calibrates, modifies and/or has instrumentation, control equipment, recorders, flow meters and other quality monitoring equipment repaired.

Operates and maintains well pumps, storage tanks. Clean well houses. Operates pumps and valves to control and adjust flow and treatment process.

Rotate equipment for testing on a weekly and monthly basis and record to make sure backup equipment is operational and ready to go on line as needed. Change CL2 chemicals as needed to keep operations and residuals up to par to run smooth and eliminate problems. Record information for DEP, daily, monthly and yearly reports as required.

Investigate, take care of and report on consumer complaints, which might include high water bills, water meter problems and leaks.

Repair leaks on water meters, install new and replace old water meters and record. Get out bad and old water meters and replace with new meters to keep up revenue. Do repairs to outside readers and wire as needed. Test all old meters that have taken out.

Alternate and test booster pumps weekly to make sure they come up to speed and run on line. Check for any water leaks or unusual noises that might indicate a problem.

Take water samples at various locations in the distribution system and test to make sure everything is running smoothly. Do chlorine testing on new water mains laid.

Read water meters every three months. Read water readers for final readings and if old or badger meter, then replace with a new one.

Turn off water for non-payment or other reasons. Turn on water for various reasons. If water boxes are clogged, clean them out.

Locate unknown water boxes and expose and clean out.

Take care of grounds, well houses and other borough owned property

Winter – snow and ice

Summer – grass

Fall – leaves

Clean the plant weekly, clean the floors, etc.

Take water samples to the lab for testing when needed.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES:

Serves on various employee and other committees as assigned.

Have drawings and schematics of electrical and other systems in the treatment plant maintained.

DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

· Graduation from high school or GED Equivalent.

· Two (2) years of experience in water utility or any equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· Working knowledge of equipment, facilities, materials, methods and procedures used in water treatment plant maintenance and operation activities. Working knowledge of laboratory procedures and practices.

· Skill in operation of some of the listed tools and equipment.

· Ability to perform process control calculations, to work safely, to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other departments and the public and to understand and carry out written and oral instructions.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Valid PA State Driver's License, Class B CDL. Waterworks Operators Certification Class B,E Subclass 11.

On-Call

Must alternate every other weekend for testing requirements.

TOOL AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Motor vehicles, plant generators, pumps, gauges, common hand and power tools, shovels, wrenches, detection devices, mobile radio, telephone, calculator and a variety of lab equipment.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by any employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, manipulate or operate objects, tools or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee is frequently required to stand. The employee is required to walk, talk, hear, sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and smell.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally move 550 pound drums of chemicals. Specific vision abilities required by this job include vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential function of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, risk of high electrical shock and vibration. The employee is frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately loud all the time and sometimes extremely loud.

SELECTION GUIDELINES:

Formal application. Rating of education and experience. Oral interview and reference check. Job related tests may be required.

JOB DISCRIPTION UPDATED: November 19, 2025

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $ $31.23 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Dependent health insurance coverage
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $31