Plant Maintenance Mechanic

Scope of Role

Performs responsible technical and skilled work in the operation, maintenance, and repair replacement of pumps and equipment in the water and wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations.

Performs journey level mechanical work in the operation, maintenance, and repair of large and specialized equipment and machinery in water and wastewater treatment plants and pumping stations. Work involves responsibility for maintaining and repairing a variety of pumps and motors and other equipment. Work requires a knowledge of trade skills in mechanical and plumbing areas with some knowledge of electrical troubleshooting and repairs. The employee is subject to hazards associated with water and wastewater and mechanical operations including working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme hot and cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as loud noises, vibrations, moving mechanical parts, electrical current, working on scaffolding, exposure to chemicals fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation, and oils. The employee may be required to wear a respirator. Work also requires on-call and call-back responsibilities. Work around raw sewage is also subject to the final standards of OSHA on blood borne pathogens. Work is performed under regular supervision. Work is evaluated in terms of effectiveness in returning equipment to proper operating conditions within given time schedules, and overall effectiveness of system performance.

Essential Duties

• Makes regular inspection tours of plant equipment and water and sewer pumping stations, intake and raw water pumps to check for proper operations, perform preventive maintenance, and make repairs.
• Maintains and repairs pumps, motors, and hydraulic systems, electrical systems, SCADA systems, and other apparatus and equipment; repairs pipes.
• Plans and participates in regular preventive maintenance such as checking and lubricating bearings, gear boxes, checking and replacing filters, cleaning out wet wells, packing pumps, changing out rotating assemblies; changing out flapper valves; changing out gears; troubleshoots, diagnoses, and repairs parts or equipment due to failure; dismantles and overhauls various equipment; cleans, replaces and repairs gauges, engines, and other equipment; repairs check valves, chemical pumps, air release valves, impellors, and re-packs pump; builds and repairs sheds; paints equipment.
• Rebuilds and overhauls defective parts and machinery, instrumentation and equipment; maintains and services electrical generators for emergency power sources during outages.
• Participates in facility maintenance; paints; repairs roofs; mows plant and pumping station sites; applies pesticides.
• Researches, finds and orders parts as needed.
• Maintains assigned vehicles and equipment in clean and working order.
• Performs welding and metal fabrication to repair or build parts.
• Maintains records of maintenance and repair activities.
• Operates a wide variety of equipment and tools including boom trucks, measuring devices, computers, generators, etc.
• Backs up other staff; may operate plant when needed.
• Performs related tasks as assigned

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school supplemented by courses in mechanical or plumbing trades, and utility mechanical system maintenance experience including pump repair; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license; may require commercial driver’s license.
• Possession of or ability to obtain Class I Maintenance Technologist certification with twelve (12) months
• Possession of, or ability to, obtain North Carolina Wastewater Treatment Plant grade I or Water Treatment Plant grade C certification within twenty-four (24) months.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Must be able to perform heavy work exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally; and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently; and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly.
• Must possess the visual acuity to operate machines and equipment including close inspection of moving and small parts, using measurement devices, perform assembly and fabrication of parts, prepare maintenance records and operate a computer terminal.