Wastewater Facility Intern

Description

As a Wastewater Facility Intern, you'll gain hands-on experience in an essential public service that protects public health and the environment. Working alongside experienced wastewater professionals, you'll learn how wastewater treatment facilities use laboratory testing, equipment maintenance, and daily operational monitoring to support the community and local waterways.

This internship offers a foundation in wastewater treatment, water quality analysis, environmental compliance, and public utilities. Whether you're exploring a future career in environmental science, biology, chemistry, public works, or a skilled trade, you'll build real-world experience while contributing to services that support the entire community.

Offered in partnership with Fort Lewis College, this educational internship is available to students who have successfully completed the Spring 2026 Fundamentals of Water Operations training program. This educational internship pays $20/hour for up to 100 total hours and must be completed by July 31, 2026.

City of Durango’s Trail to Excellence

The City of Durango is a purpose-driven organization with more than 400 full-time and 300 part-time and seasonal employees across 15 departments, all working together to provide a wide range of services that keep our community running every day. From public safety and utilities to parks and recreation, our team is dedicated to delivering high-quality services that enhance the lives of all who live, work, and visit here.

At the city, we focus on continually improving how we work and serve the community. This effort is called the Trail to Excellence (T2E), and every employee plays a part in it. Whether you work outdoors, in an office, or lead a team, your daily efforts connect to the city’s mission of providing excellent service and reaching the city’s vision of being a multigenerational community that is authentic, diverse, engaged, thriving, and environmentally responsible. The full details of this vision are outlined in the city’s strategic plan .

As a member of our team, your work will be meaningful because:

• Your ideas help shape citywide improvements.
• The work you do ties directly into measurable goals.
• You'll be part of a system that values collaboration, innovation, and results.
  
  

We're looking for team members who share our core values of teamwork, dependability, professionalism, service, respect, innovation, and wellbeing — and who are excited to make a difference in the community we serve.

Essential Job Duties

What You’ll Do in This Role:

• Collect water and wastewater samples and assist with laboratory testing and analysis.
• Perform routine water quality testing, including pH, alkalinity, BOD, TSS, and other assigned analyses.
• Assist with monitoring treatment processes and collecting operational data.
• Inspect pumps, valves, pipes, and other equipment to verify proper operation.
• Use laboratory equipment, hand tools, and basic computer systems as part of daily work.
• Help maintain buildings, grounds, and facility landscaping.
• Perform janitorial and general maintenance tasks that support a clean and safe facility.
• Work alongside wastewater staff on a variety of operational and maintenance projects.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

You Have:

• Successfully completed the Spring 2026 Fundamentals of Water Operations training program.
• An interest in learning about wastewater operations, maintenance, chemistry, biology, or environmental systems.
• The ability to follow written and verbal instructions.
• Basic computer skills and a willingness to learn new software and equipment.
• The ability to perform physical work, including lifting, carrying, walking, and working outdoors in varying weather conditions.
  
  

You Will Succeed in This Role If You:

• Enjoy learning through hands-on experience.
• Pay attention to details when collecting data and completing tasks.
• Work well as part of a team and communicate respectfully with others.
• Take initiative and are willing to help with a variety of assignments.
• Are comfortable working both indoors and outdoors.
  
  

Supplemental Information

What We Can Offer You: The following perks are available for part-time and seasonal employees.

• Free pass to the Durango Community Recreation Center and Chapman Hill Ice Rink and Ski Area
• Free Transit pass
• Eligibility to participate in the City’s Annual Wellness Challenge and a chance to receive prizes and cash rewards
  
  

View the full Wastewater Facility Intern job description here.

Belong At The City Of Durango

We believe in creating an inclusive workforce that welcomes diversity of thoughts, viewpoints, and experiences.

The City of Durango is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis age 40 and over, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or any other applicable status protected by state or local law. It is our intention that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors.

City of Durango's Indigenous Land Acknowledgement