Water System Operator

Under close to general (depending on the Grade Level), this classification performs a variety of skilled work tasks in the installation, inspection, operation, maintenance, and repair of the City’s Water Infrastructure (Distribution) system.
 
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The duties listed below represent the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them if the work is related or a logical assignment to this class. This Job Description does not constitute an employment agreement and it is subject to change at any time by the employer.

OPERATOR I
Under immediate supervision performs basic installation, inspection, maintenance, and repair of water distribution system.

• Assist and operate specialized equipment, machines, and vehicles to install, clean, maintain, and repair water lines, fixtures, and equipment.
• Determine the location of water lines, taps water and sewer lines, locates, and manipulates valves, and installs water hydrants.
• Install, adjust, and test flow, sampling, and metering equipment.
• Monitor water wells, tests water chlorine, and collects/records daily meter readings.
• Maintain and monitor booster station, pumps, chlorinators, generators, pressure tanks, and related equipment.
• Collect, label, and document water samples for laboratory testing and performs simple tests on water.
• Install water meters and assists with installs of fire hydrants.
• Flush fire hydrants to facilitate water circulation and control mineral buildup.
• Apply and properly disposes of chemicals, pesticides, disinfectants, and oxidizing agents encountered in duties.
• Establish and maintain appropriate worksite traffic control/warning devices and measures.
• Respond to complaints on water leaks, water pressure, and meter readings.
• Perform operator-level service, adjustment, and maintenance of specialized tools, equipment, assigned vehicles, and machinery.
• Comply with all operational safety regulations by maintaining and using safety and personal protective equipment.
• Assure that backflow prevention assemblies continue to protect the drinking water. 
• Assist with inspections and examines backflows annually or when needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

OPERATOR II
Under general supervision perform all the essential functions of Operator Level I, at a higher skilled level, in addition to the following essential duties:

• Conduct maintenance of fire hydrants.
• Perform water valve exercising.
• Perform duties requiring backhoe operations.
• Perform commercial installation and troubleshooting as well as repairs to meter box.
• Maintain record-keeping in excel spreadsheets, charts and log sheets.
• Respond to customer complaints and service work orders.
• Perform AZ 811 Blue Stake Locators.
• Perform new construction systems inspections.
• Perform Backflow Assembly devices testing and certification.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

OPERATOR III – Lead
Under general supervision functions in a lead capacity, guiding lower-level operators, providing instruction, training, and assessing performance in addition to the following essential functions:

• Leads operators on tasks of a more complex and progressively responsible level and monitor their performance.
• Compiles data on daily, weekly, and monthly basis; tracks logs; perform complex data interpretation and prepares reports.
• Perform complex water system mechanical and electrical troubleshooting.
• Perform water system tapping and flow/pressure tests.
• Maintain AZ 811 – Blue Stake Locator and creation of online ticket response and creation of field tickets.
• Install water main pipelines and valves.
• Perform copper soldering.
• Prepare traffic control plan draft for projects and repairs.
• Perform advanced backhoe operations.
• Assure compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations.
• Participate in budget preparation and records data on various spreadsheets.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Will possess knowledge of:

• City policies and procedures
• Methods, materials, tools, and equipment used in the operation of water distribution systems.
• State and Federal laws and regulations governing potable water treatment plant and emergency response.
• Safe work practices and occupational hazards.
• Basic operational practices and principles of conventional water treatment processes. 
• Advanced water treatment processes such as water filtration systems.
• Laboratory practices to properly evaluate treatment processes such as DO, pH, jar test, CL2 residual, turbidity, color, hardness, TSS, TDS, etc.
• Chemical/physical processes used in water treatment processes such as coagulation, flocculation, settling, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.
• Mechanical and electrical trouble shooting.
• OSHA guidelines related to treatment facilities.
• Microsoft Office products.

Will have the ability to:

• Use and maintain tools and equipment to perform maintenance and repairs.
• Successfully pass the medical assessment as part of the City of San Luis Respirator Program.
• Complete mathematical calculations and draw logical conclusions.
• Make routine operating adjustments and repairs to equipment.
• Follow safe work practices, and verbal and written instructions.
• Inspect and monitor machinery and equipment to verify compliance with prescribed operating conditions and safety standards.
• Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with others.
• Operate a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Be subject to call back, overtime, and weekend/holiday emergency call-outs and on-call duty.

All Operators:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• A valid Arizona driver’s license at the time of application

Operator I

• (1) year of experience in plumbing and/or construction experience. 
• Satisfactory completion of the one-year Water/Wastewater Apprenticeship Program can suffice the required one year of experience for Level I
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Water Distribution Certification must be maintained at the appropriate level throughout employment.
  1. Grade I – attain within 6 months of employment as Level I Operator.  Must possess ADEQ Water Treatment Grade I Certification at time of application.
• Other Certifications 
  • Excavation Trenching & Shoring Certification
  • Flagger Certification
  • Forklift Certification
  • Electrical & Mechanical Certification

Operator II

• Two (2) years of experience in a water distribution system operation. 
• Valid Arizona Commercial Driver’s License – Class B with Tanker Endorsement at the time of application and must be maintained throughout employment.
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Water Distribution Certification must be maintained at the appropriate level throughout employment.
  1. Grade II – must possess at the time of application.
• Other Certifications
  • Excavation Trenching & Shoring Certification
  • Flagger Certification
  • Forklift Certification
  • Electrical & Mechanical Certification
  • Asbestos Certification
  • Backhoe Certification
  • Backflow Assembly Certification

Operator III

• Three (3) years of experience in a water distribution system operation.
• Valid Arizona Commercial Driver’s License – Class B with Tanker Endorsement at the time of application and must be maintained throughout employment.
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Water Distribution Certification at the appropriate level and must be maintained throughout employment.
  1. Grade III – must possess at time of application.
• Other Certifications
  • Excavation Trenching & Shoring Certification
  • Flagger Certification
  • Forklift Certification
  • Electrical & Mechanical Certification
  • Asbestos Certification
  • Backhoe Certification
  • Backflow Assembly Certification
  • Backflow Assembly Certification

Desired/Preferred:

• Bilingual in Spanish.
• San Luis residency.

Special Requirements

• Residency in the United States and within 25 miles of the City of San Luis.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS:
The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk and hear; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and perform repetitive movements of hands or wrists. The employee must have strength sufficient to lift and move items weighing up to fifty pounds. Employees must be physically capable of operating City vehicles, for job-related purposes, safely. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands
While performing the duties of this class, an employee uses written and oral communication skills; reads and interprets data, information, and documents; analyzes and solves problems; uses math and mathematical reasoning; performs highly detailed work; deals with multiple concurrent tasks; and interacts with others encountered in the course of work, including frequent contact with customers and/or the public and dissatisfied individuals.

Work Environment: 
The employee may be exposed to safety hazards including extreme weather conditions such as excessive heat and cold, dangerous gases, dangerous chemicals, biological hazards, confined spaces and dangerous tools and equipment.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
This position requires working a rotating on-call schedule, including weekends and holidays.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

To be considered, online applications MUST include all required documents listed under the Minimum Requirements section of the Job Posting.  All documents should be uploaded as attachments.

Please note:

• The online application must be completed in full.
• Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Salary : $21 - $27