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Treatment Plant Operator

City of Washington
Washington, NC Full Time
POSTED ON 10/14/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 11/12/2026
Summary

Job Description

Responsible for a variety of operational, laboratory, and maintenance duties designed to produce a safe treatment of potable water, and disposal of domestic and commercial waste materials. Monitor plant operations through observation, mechanical readings and the results of standard chemical and biological tests and making necessary adjustments in the process as conditions or test results dictate. Perform standard laboratory duties and tests and assisting with plant and facilities maintenance. Work also includes substantial record keeping of work activities.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

  • Operates a wastewater treatment plant and a separate well water treatment plant; makes regular tours of plants to inspect operations; drives back and forth between plants when necessary to complete work assignments.
  • Makes regular tours of plants and checks engines, generators, pumps, settling tanks, filters, clarifiers, chlorinators, and other equipment for proper functioning; checks influent and effluent points for visual detection of any irregularities as well as proper functioning; starts and stops pumps and motors and adjusts chemical feed and other processes to control treatment process.
  • Monitors levels in water storage tanks and telemetry and other indicators for wells.
  • Cleans splitter boxes, clarifiers, shovels iron sludge; operates loader to take sludge to landfill; repairs and replaces pumps, motors, water lines, analyzers, chlorinators, belts, and other parts; troubleshoots equipment and minor electrical problems.
  • Takes and records data from various meters, gauges, and dials; logs daily, weekly, and monthly activities; may enter various data into the computer; reviews information for trends and problems or anomalies.
  • Performs standard laboratory chemical and biological tests.
  • Performs general preventive and scheduled maintenance; assists maintenance staff on major maintenance and repairs.
  • Regulates and adjusts motors, pumps, blowers, valves and other apparatus to meet changing operating conditions.
  • Performs routine building and equipment maintenance including cleaning and painting; performs grounds maintenance activities such as mowing.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education And/or Experience

High school diploma or general education degree (GED) for all levels.

Water Plant Operator I – Must have the following certifications;

Grade 1 Biological Water Pollution and C-Well or the ability to obtain within (18) eighteen months of employment.Special Requirement

Valid N.C. driver's license and acceptable driving record

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

  • Knowledge of the operating characteristics and maintenance requirements of a water treatment plant.
  • Knowledge of state and federal water treatment and water quality regulations.
  • Knowledge of the occupational hazards of the work and necessary safety precautions.
  • Ability to make decisions about water quality and water supply in the absence of a supervisor.
  • Ability to detect problems in the operation of mechanical equipment and report those problems to a supervisor or the appropriate employee.
  • Ability to conduct routine water quality tests and read meters and charts accurately, and record results.
  • Ability to perform environmental science calculations and to keep detailed records.
  • Ability to receive and carry out instructions provided by a supervisor.

Physical Requirements

This is heavy work requiring the exertion of 100 pounds of force occasionally, up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Work requires climbing, balancing, stooping, crouching, reaching, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, and repetitive motions. Verbal communication is required to express or exchange ideas. Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels. Visual acuity is required for visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, use of measuring or testing devices, assembly of equipment, operating plant equipment including motor vehicles, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work performed, and observing general surroundings and activities

Working Conditions

Employees are subject to hazards associated with wastewater and plant operations including working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme hot and cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as loud noises, moving mechanical parts, electrical current, chemicals, fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation, working in small spaces such as sewer pipes, and oils. Workers may be required to wear respirators when working around chlorine tanks. Employee may also work in close quarters, crawl spaces, shafts, small enclosed rooms and other areas which could cause claustrophobia.

Health, Dental And Vision Insurance

The City of Washington provides, at no cost, employee only coverage for Medical (High-Deductible with H.S.A), Vision and Dental insurance. Coverage is available for all regular status full-time employees scheduled to work 40 hours. Employees may also choose to cover eligible dependents. Benefits begin on the 1st day of the month following 30 days of employment.

Paid Life Insurance

The City provides $15,000 of term life insurance and $15,000 of accident death insurance to all full-time employees at no cost. Employees may elect additional coverage, including dependent coverage, at their own cost.

Employer Paid Leave

Paid Vacation: Full-Time employees earn 8 hours of vacation leave per month. Leave accruals increase based on the number of years of City service. (Ex: at 5 years increases to 10 hours per month)

Paid Holidays: The City of Washington observes 13 paid holidays per calendar year. The approved holidays are New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, 2 days at Thanksgiving and 3 days at Christmas.

Sick: Full-Time employees earn 8 hours of sick leave per month (Fire Personnel earn 14.15 hours). Sick leave hours accumulate without limits and may be used toward credible service upon retirement from the NC Local Government Retirement System.

Retirement

The City assists our employees in securing their financial future during retirement by participating in the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, administered by the State of North Carolina. Regular status employees, scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week, become members in the retirement system upon employment. As a member of this system, employees are required to contribute 6 percent of their gross salary on a tax-deferred basis.

Deferred Compensation Plans

To further assist employees in saving for retirement, the City offers two supplemental retirement savings programs. These programs offer employees an opportunity to save a portion of their salary on a tax-deferred basis to supplement their retirement benefit. The programs offered are 401(k) Supplemental Retirement Income Plan and the 457 Plan through Prudential.

Cafeteria Plan / Supplemental Benefits

Realizing that each employee may have different insurance needs, the City offers its employees the opportunity to supplement City-provided benefits by selecting from the benefits listed below. These benefits are offered at employee's expense through payroll deduction:

  • Supplemental Term Life Insurance
  • Cancer Insurance
  • Accident Insurance
  • Critical Illness Insurance
  • Whole Life Insurance
  • Disability Insurance
  • Healthcare and Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (Pre-tax basis)

Death Benefit

After one year as a contributing member of the Retirement System, a death benefit is provided that is equal to the highest 12 months' salary in a row during the 24 months before death, no less than $25,000 and no more than $50,000. There is no cost to the employee for these benefits.

Pay Periods/Direct Deposit

City employees are paid bi-weekly, every other Friday through direct deposit.

Full benefit details may be viewed here: https://mymarkiii.com/cityofwashingtonnc/booklet

Salary : $15,000 - $50,000

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