Treatment Plant Operator I

Performs intermediate skilled trades work in the operation and maintenance of a water and/or wastewater treatment plant, conducting regular plant inspections, recording readings, performing preventive maintenance on equipment, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work is performed under the moderate supervision of the Treatment Plant Supervisor.

• Operates, monitors, and maintains a water or wastewater plant; performs maintenance and lubricates equipment and pumps, blowers, and motors.
• Assists with changes in plant process as necessary to improve plant efficiency.
• Makes regular inspection of plant, equipment, biological, and chemical systems to ascertain that it is in proper operation at all times, notifies personnel of operating and maintenance issues; prepares work orders.
• Regulates and adjusts motors, pumps, blowers, valves, and other apparatuses to meet changing operating conditions as directed by operational procedures and by the plant supervisor; calibrates equipment, meters, and pumps (chemical).
• Reads meters, gauges, and dials; records readings from instruments and maintains records on plant operations. 
• Assists with laboratory functions; collects samples and performs minor laboratory tests; analyzes results and enters data into the operations database; follows the Quality Assurance/Quality Control measures and other laboratory procedures.
• Operates a variety of equipment such as a front-end wheel loader, skid steer, small dump truck, mower, pressure washers, etc.
• Assists with maintaining all equipment including blowers, pumps, motors, electrical equipment, instruments, valves, and other apparatuses as needed to meet the operating conditions and State and Federal requirements.
• Assists with monthly, quarterly, and annual compliance internal audits and inspections.
• Performs general custodial and grounds maintenance work; sweeps, mops, and buffs floors; cuts grass; cleans and paints equipment.
• Assists with communication with customers; addresses concerns, issues, and complaints; coordinates sampling with customers.
• Reviews, trains, and follows all standard operating, emergency, and safety procedures.
• Required to work outside normal working hours in stand-by, on-call or emergency situations.

High school diploma or GED and minimal experience in the operation of a water and/or wastewater treatment plant including some experience in the operation and maintenance of machinery and equipment, or equivalent combination of education and experience. Obtain North Carolina Grade I Biological Wastewater Treatment Operator and/or Class C Surface Water Treatment Operator certificate within eighteen months of hire. Valid driver's license in the State of North Carolina.

Some knowledge of the operating characteristics and maintenance requirements of a water and/or wastewater treatment plant; some knowledge of hydraulic, chemical, and mechanical principles pertinent to and water and/or wastewater treatment plant operations; some knowledge of the occupational hazards of the work and of the necessary safety precautions; skill in the use and care of hand and power tools; skill in the use of personal computers, associated software packages, hardware, and peripheral equipment; ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; ability to read meters and charts accurately; ability to operate SCADA systems; mechanical aptitude; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, other City department employees, State personnel, engineers, vendors, and the general public.To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This work requires the frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work frequently requires standing, walking, sitting, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms and pushing or pulling and occasionally requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, tasting or smelling, lifting and repetitive motions; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arm’s length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals and exposure to blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment, frequently requires exposure to wet, humid conditions (non-weather) and exposure to fumes or airborne particles, and occasionally requires exposure to the risk of electrical shock, exposure to vibration, working in high, precarious places, and wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).