Operator (Public Utilities/Water Treatment Plant)

REPORTS TO: Assistant Superintendent

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt/Hourly/Classified

SUMMARY:

Under general supervision, monitors and adjusts process control systems and plant equipment to purify and clarify Water for discharge.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Prepares and updates inspection sheets, logs, and flow charts.
• Maintains records and computer data entry.
• Operates and adjusts treatment plant pumps, motors, and other equipment to maintain appropriate plant operations.
• Installs, maintains, repairs, modifies, troubleshoots and services plant operations machinery and equipment including pumps, valves, motors, meters, tanks, and analyzers.
• Performs preventative and corrective maintenance and assists in repair of equipment, plant, and remote site equipment.
• Collects samples and completes analysis as required.
• Performs routine cleaning of equipment, tanks, grounds, and work areas.
• Shall report to the Assistant Superintendent or their designee on a daily basis to present daily reports and review treatment and operational conditions.
• Shall be required to perform preventive and reactive maintenance on plant and remote site equipment.
• Operates and controls electric motors, pumps, and valves to regulate the treatment process and control production and flow of Water.
• Calculates process controls chemical dosages, adjusts process and chemical feed equipment that as required to flocculate and clarify water.
• Monitors and adjusts process control equipment, online instrumentation Water quality and flow rates using plant SCADA systems.
• Repairs, cleans lubricates and calibrates, machines and online monitoring equipment.
• Records data and conducts Water quality analysis to determine pH and related water analysis.
• Uses various lab analysis equipment, titrators, spectrophotometer, turbidity meter, and conductivity meter to determine water parameters.
• Works with hazardous chemicals such as chlorine, ozone gas, ammonia, acids and liquid oxygen.
• Shall be familiar with the plant Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Manuals and be able to go to the source of the problem, determine its nature and take the appropriate action to correct the problem.
• Shall supervise employees as assigned by immediate supervisor.
• Shall supervise work-release inmates.
• Shall have the ability to respond to emergency situations involving adverse impacts to the Water treatment process.
• Shall be required to be on 24-hour call.
• Must be able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Shall perform all other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

May be required to assign and coordinate the day-to-day activities of the Water plant staff and other personnel assigned to the Water Treatment Division.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School diploma or General Equivalency Degree (GED).
• Shall have knowledge of basic mathematics; ability to keep simple records; work with mechanical tools, gauges, and valves.
• Shall have the ability to work with instrumentation, laboratory equipment, chemicals, valves and mechanical equipment.
• Shall have knowledge of databases and be skilled in use of computers and job-related software.
• Shall have the ability to comprehend the functional nature of machines.
• Shall have the ability to read and interpret documents, regulatory requirements, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, etc.
• Aptitude to calibrate and use the following instruments – pH meter, oxygen meter, chlorine analyzer, various tape measures, conversion charts (decimal to fraction, fraction to decimal), overhead scale, flow meters, oxygen reduction potential meters (ORP), etc.
• Reasoning abilities shall include the ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, verbal or diagram form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• To be retained in this position, the employee must obtain a valid State class certification level 1 in water treatment and water production within one 1 year from hire date; shall obtain a class two 2 State certification in water treatment and production within two 2 years of hire date. Shall obtain class 3 State certification in water treatment and water production within 3 years of hire date; shall obtain class 4 State in water treatment and water production within four 4 years of hire date.

Employee shall obtain the required number of continuing education credit hours for each two 2 year cycle to remain properly certified by the Louisiana Department of Health.

This position requires the use of a city owned vehicle while conducting city business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicle safely and must possess a valid driver’s license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to stand for a long period of time; bend, stoop, climb steps or stairs, and move around work area. The employee must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be regularly exposed to moving mechanical parts. The employee may be occasionally exposed to high, precarious places. The employee will also be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, outside weather conditions, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and loud environments.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT:

Regularly use/wear safety glasses, hard hat, ear plugs, gloves, and steel-toed boots. Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) required may include a face shield, fall protection devises, respirators, safety belts, etc.

This is a security and safety sensitive position.

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