Wastewater Treatment Lead

GENERAL PURPOSE

The Lead Wastewater Reclamation Plant Operator is responsible for the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of the City's wastewater treatment facility, currently utilizing a 2.4 million gallon-per-day (MGD) oxidation ditch system with secondary clarification. This position functions as a working lead, providing field-level supervision, training, and support to plant operators while assisting the Wastewater Supervisor with process optimization, daily operations, regulatory compliance, and maintenance coordination. The Lead Operator will also play a key role in preparing for and supporting the future transition to a 6.0 MGD membrane bioreactor (MBR) facility.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the direct guidance and direction of the Wastewater Supervisor.

Supervision Exercised

Provides general guidance and direction to Wastewater Treatment Operator(s) IV, III, II and I.

Essential Functions

Field Leadership and Coordination

• Assists the Wastewater Supervisor in the scheduling and coordination of daily plant operations and personnel assignments.
• Serves as the acting lead in the Supervisor's absence; directs staff and ensures that work is completed in accordance with established protocols and safety regulations.
• Provides hands-on leadership in the field; trains operators in procedures, safety practices, and use of equipment.
• Evaluates work in progress and upon completion for adherence to operational and regulatory standards.
  
  

Plant Operations and Process Control

• Operates and monitors all phases of the oxidation ditch system, clarifiers, RAS/WAS pumps, blowers, and related treatment equipment.
• Analyzes SCADA trends, flow data, and laboratory results to optimize treatment performance.
• Analyze and recommend adjustment to biological and hydraulic loading rates and chemical feed systems as needed to maintain permit compliance.
• Ensures proper operation of disinfection systems, reuse effluent distribution, and rapid infiltration basins (RIBs).
  
  

Laboratory Sampling and Regulatory Compliance

• Collects process and compliance samples; performs field testing for pH, DO, solids, ammonia, nitrates, and other parameters.
• Coordinates with certified laboratories for monthly NPDES sampling and reporting.
• Prepares and maintains operational logs, sampling records, chain-of-custody forms, and discharge monitoring reports (DMRs).
• Assists in compiling data for monthly, quarterly, and annual reports submitted to the Division of Water Quality (DWQ).
  
  

Maintenance Oversight

• Conducts and directs routine preventative maintenance activities on pumps, motors, valves, blowers, chemical feed systems, and instrumentation.
• Operates and maintains heavy equipment and tools such as backhoes, skid steers, loaders, forklifts, trash pumps, and hand tools for facility and system maintenance.
• Identifies maintenance needs and assists the Supervisor with scheduling and tracking work orders.
• Participates in facility cleaning, groundskeeping, and upkeep of mechanical buildings and generator systems.
  
  

MBR Facility Transition Support

• Participates in training, orientation, and commissioning activities associated with the upcoming 6.0 MGD MBR facility.
• Assists in the development and revision of SOPs for MBR operations, membrane maintenance, and clean-in-place (CIP) systems.
• Works with contractors, engineers, and city personnel to support the integration of new systems into daily operations and SCADA platforms.
• Helps facilitate a smooth transition from the current system to the future MBR plant through operational testing, monitoring, and staff support.
  
  

Inventory and Purchasing

• Monitors usage of chemicals, tools, and replacement parts; maintains organized inventory systems.
• Generates purchase requests, solicits vendor quotes, and assists in procurement processes in coordination with the Supervisor.
• Tracks spending related to routine plant operations and minor capital projects.
  
  

Emergency Response and On-Call Duties

• Responds to plant alarms, equipment failures, power outages, and process interruptions as required.
• Participates in a rotating on-call schedule and provides after-hours support to maintain operational continuity.
• Coordinates emergency repairs and ensures proper documentation and communication of all incidents.
  
  

Other Duties

Performs other related duties as assigned to support the division's goals and maintain permit compliance and to help the growth of Eagle Mountain City or other departments as necessary

Minimum Qualifications

• Education and Experience:
• Graduation from high school or equivalent;
  
  

AND

• Six (6) years of experience performing the above or closely related duties; two (2) years of which must have included daily direct responsible charge (DRC).
  
  

OR

• An equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
  
  

Considerable knowledge of principles of supervision; construction requirements for wastewater collection systems and treatment facilities; hazards and precautions associated with trench work and sewer line construction and maintenance; state or federal regulations governing installation and maintenance of sewer collection systems; water quality laws; water sampling methods and regulations; budget preparation and fiscal management; interpersonal communication skills; city wastewater operations system network, lines and manhole locations; basic hand and power tools required to install and maintain pipe line; traffic control and diversion; typical wastewater line problems. Working knowledge of tools and equipment required to lay and repair wastewater lines; care of required tools and equipment; city policies and procedures; laws, ordinances and regulations governing wastewater purification and discharge; general laboratory processes and procedures; use of respirators; OSHA safety standards; computer and various applications including GIS software, spreadsheet, database, word processing, etc. Some knowledge of basic bacteriology.

Skill in the operation of heavy mechanized equipment as required by the position, i.e., skid steers, backhoes, trackhoes, loaders, tractors, crane trucks, jet/vac trucks, forklifts, trash pumps, weed whips, etc.

Ability to adapt to emergency or unusual situations; tolerate weather extremes in the work place; communicate effectively, verbally and in writing; plan and organize work of subordinate personnel; evaluate employee performance and make related decisions; enforce policies, procedures, regulations, and standards without partiality; perform strenuous manual labor; develop working relationships with supervisors, co-workers and the public. Ability to lift 100 lbs.

• Special Qualifications:
  
  

Must be a certified Wastewater Treatment Operator IV.

Must possess a class "A" commercial driver's license (CDL).

Must work on a twenty-four (24) hour stand-by or on call. (Rotating with all other operators for seven (7) days at a time.)

Must work weekends and holidays, rotating with all wastewater operators.

Must be a certified flagger.

Must be confined space certified.

Must be forklift certified.

Must know basic functions of Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, OpenGov and other wastewater specific software.

• Work Environment:
  
  

Employees in this position normally work in an outdoor environment, subject to changing and seasonal weather extremes. Frequently, tasks require a variety of physical activities, generally involving muscular strain, related to walking, standing, stooping, sitting, reaching, and lifting; daily potential for hazardous exposure to electrical shock, industrial wastes and raw sewage (containing pathogens such as typhoid, paratyphoid, dysentery, polio, tetanus, etc.); daily exposure to moving parts and equipment such as pumps, motors, heavy equipment, etc.; daily or regular exposure to traffic hazards working in the public right-of-way; daily or regular exposure to hazards associated with confined space operations. Talking, hearing and seeing essential to performing required job functions. Common eye, hand, finger dexterity exist. Mental application utilizes memory for details, verbal instructions, emotional stability, discriminating thinking and creative problem solving.

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