Water Quality Environmental Tech

Summary Statement

We’re hiring a dedicated Water Quality Environmental Technician to support the city's commitment to clean water. In this role, you’ll contribute directly to public health, environmental integrity, and resource conservation by:

• Performing a wide range of detailed and technical water quality and biological sampling, monitoring, and administrative activities to support city permit compliance requirements under the federal Clean Water Act and Enhance the River Program.
• Ensuring that sampling practices comply with all city policies and ordinance, state and federal regulations, and published sampling protocols.
• Maintaining collection permits, compliance documentation, and data that is entered into environmental databases.

Essential Functions

Calibrates, troubleshoots, and uses continuous and instantaneous temperature and multiparameter water quality meters to collect water quality data. Maintains accurate data records. Summarizes data and transfers results for upload to the database.

Performs sampling and analyses to quantify chemical and physical parameters in used water, freshwater, groundwater, and geothermal systems.

Collects samples using isokinetic depth integrated sampling techniques and sampling compositing methods to collect representative, lotic, and surface water samples to meet Idaho Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (IPDES) permit sampling requirements. Assists in sample splitting, filtration, and preservation of samples using strict contamination prevention protocols.

Measures stream discharge or interprets flow gauging devices. Assists with installation of flow meters, flumes, automated samplers, and other sampling equipment into collection system lines and associated parts of the used water process and distribution system and assists in sample collection activities.

Conducts biological and habitat assessment using scientific methods and protocols including field habitat and GIS based stream map surveys, environmental DNA data collection, macroinvertebrate sampling, snorkel surveys, and electrofishing.

Performs administrative tasks to support the sampling and monitoring projects. Participates in project planning activities, quality assurance/quality control program development and annual reviews, field collection method external audits, and data summaries.

Maintains water quality and biological equipment calibration and maintenance records for the SAM. Attends safety and related training programs. Uses water quality and biological databases and spreadsheets to creates data summary tables/charts.

Performs other duties as assigned. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.

Requirements

Required Knowledge, Experience, And Training

• Associate's degree and 4 years of experience in environmental and water quality monitoring, supplemented by college-level courses in the theories and principles of water quality sampling, water chemistry, biological sampling, and wastewater treatment operations,
• or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.

• water quality sampling methods, flow monitoring equipment, and testing procedures used in obtaining and testing surface water, domestic, and industrial used water samples and related hazards;
• chemical and biological principles, terminology, and sampling techniques;
• surface and groundwater hydrology;
• quality assurance/quality control methods and practices; and
• computer usage including related software

• operate a water craft safely;
• read and interpret maps and specifications, draw sketches, and perform technical mathematical calculations;
• interpret and apply city, state, and federal policies, ordinances, laws, codes, rules, and regulations;
• work within safety training guidelines to perform tasks utilizing personal protective equipment, electroshocking backpack, and boat equipment.;
• communicate effectively in the English language at a level necessary for efficient job performance; and
• perform all essential functions as assigned by an authorized employee, supervisor, and/or manager with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Bachelor's degree in environmental science, biology, natural resource management, water/wastewater technology, or a related field and
• 4 years of experience in monitoring water and environmental quality.

• Valid state-issued driver's license.
• First Aid and CPR Certification.

• City of Boise background check processes which includes a criminal history check and reference checks in accordance with the City of Boise Hiring Process Regulation
• Driving Record Check

Working Conditions

The physical effort characteristics and working environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Efforts
While performing the duties of this job the employee is always lifting/carrying up to 35 pounds and occasionally lifting/carrying up to 100 pounds. Also, the employee is always pushing/pulling up to 35 pounds, occasionally pushing/pulling up to 75 pounds, and rarely pushing/pulling up to 100 pounds. The noise level is frequently loud and occasionally moderate. Work includes sensory ability to talk, hear, smell, and touch. Work in this position also includes close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. Employees will sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, grasp, climb, and balance. Position requires hand/finger dexterity. Additional physical efforts include: wading in rivers, raft/backpacking, electrofishing, and snorkeling in the river.

Working Environment
The work environment will include inside conditions, outdoor weather conditions, extreme temperatures, in wet and humid conditions, areas of dust, odors, mist and gases, or other airborne matter. Employees are exposed to mechanical and electrical hazards, work in/at heights, and confined spaces. Employees will also drive a vehicle as part of this position. Work includes protected exposure to infectious bacteria, bodily fluids, and chemicals. Subject to hazards associated with work at industrial sites, on roadways and bridges, in rivers and streams, and manholes or sewer lines. Potential exposure to West Nile virus while performing field work. Potential exposure to wasp/bee stings. Wading in river, snorkeling, electrofishing, and rafting.