Water Treatment Operator

Water Treatment Plant Operator

Position Profile

Status: Full-time regular position, non-exempt

Salary: Starts at $32.48 - $37.51 per hour (Depending upon qualifications) with built-in overtime

Additional Pay: Employees are eligible for additional premium pay types (emergency seasonal disruption pay, snowplow on-call pager pay, and utility on-call pager pay)

Benefits: Qualifies for full-time benefits date of hire

Location: Water Treatment Plant, 14100 Technology Drive, Eden Prairie

Hours: Works 12 hour shifts in accordance with staffing plan, shifts adjust seasonally; work schedule is 4 days on 4 days off; scheduled overtime is required for this position

Reporting Relationship: Reports to Water Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor

Public Works Department

The Public Works Department is comprised of Engineering, Utilities, Street Maintenance, Fleet Services, and Environmental Services. The department is responsible for the environmental management, design, construction, and maintenance of the street, water, sewer, and drainage infrastructure systems in the community.

Position Responsibilities

The Water Treatment Plant Operator is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the city’s lime softening water treatment plant in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, the operation of the treatment plant residual de-watering equipment and associated processes, and the water system maintenance procedures established by the Utilities Division Management. The primary position responsibilities and areas of impact are:

• Provides safe, high quality drinking water in adequate supply to meet the needs of the city’s customers; conducts laboratory testing and monitors the treatment process to meet the Safe Drinking Water Act requirements.
• Maintains proficiency in lime softening chemistry with the specific intent to interpret laboratory results and respond to those results to optimize water treatment chemical processes, including understanding and optimizing all Water Treatment Plant processes.
• Performs record keeping for plant operations; maintains chemical inventory; responds to related customer service inquiries; and conducts Water Treatment Plant tours as assigned.
• Assists with the general water treatment plant maintenance and preventative maintenance as directed; performs operator level maintenance of water treatment, water supply, and water storage and if necessary, the water distribution systems; coordinates water treatment plant operations with organizational maintenance activities and assists outside contractors as required.
• Actively participates in educational programs to maintain required Department of Health licensing and treatment plant certification, and makes steady, positive progress toward improving individual certification, job skills, and professional training.
• Maintains an excellent driving record and a valid Minnesota Driver’s License.

While these areas are the primary focus of the position, we believe strongly in teamwork and employees will be called upon to perform a variety of duties as a part of their role with the City.

City of Eden Prairie Values

We are a service organization. We take pride in what we do. We cultivate a supportive, encouraging and productive culture with a strong customer focus. We promote wellness and plan work/life balance into our goals. We value differences and foster inclusion. We achieve success by exhibiting our core values: collaboration, innovation, integrity, performance and relationships.

Position Requirements

Education: Associates degree or a diploma in water treatment/chemistry, or equivalent combination of education and experience required; Graduate of Water Environment Technology or Water Quality Science Program preferred; Minnesota Department of Health Water Supply System Operator – Class D License required or higher (or equivalent level of water certification from another state); Must obtain a Minnesota Department of Health Water Supply System Operator – Class C License within 6 months of first becoming eligible to take the exam, or within 30 months of hire, whichever comes first. Must obtain each successive Water Supply System Operator license (Class B and Class A) within 1 year of becoming eligible to take each examination; “Special Engineers License” from the Department of Labor and Industry within 12 months of employment required; Completion of Water Utility Treatment and Technology courses in Water Treatment (120 hours) will be required of new employees without an equivalent education within the first 36 months of employment. Must possess and maintain a valid Minnesota Driver’s License with excellent driving record.

Work Experience: Minimum of one year experience required in Water Treatment Plant Operations, or diploma in Water and Wastewater Technology or Water Quality Science. Experience operating a Lime Softening Water Treatment Plant and working experience with water treatment chemistry and calculating chemical dosages preferred.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and strong math skills preferred.

Physical Effort: Occasionally exertion of force in excess of 50 and/or up to 100 pounds to move objects or equipment accessories is required. Must be able to exert 20-50 pounds of force frequently to move objects. Must be able to routinely climb ladders in excess of 120 feet and descend into and work inside confined spaces.

Working Conditions: Most work is performed within a water treatment facility, in-and-around water supply wells and water storage reservoirs and will involve working inside and outside of vehicles and in confined spaces. Seasonal conditions can include excessive heat or cold. Conditions can include working in wet, muddy, slippery, or dusty and windy conditions. At these times there may be intermittent exposure to very disagreeable working conditions. Some assignments involve exposure to odors and potentially toxic gases. There is often exposure to working within deep water treatment basins and mixers, climbing ladders into and out of water treatment equipment, and working at heights requiring fall-protection equipment. There is considerable attention to detail when handling equipment in tight quarters or around people.

Position Specific Expectations

Communication: Able to convey a message to get a point across; communicates in a clear and concise manner; able to write clearly and succinctly; tailors’ message to a variety of communication settings and styles.

Attention to Detail: Able to find errors in work and solve problems; anticipates issues and performs at a high level of accuracy; sets up systems to ensure errors are not repeated.

Accountability: Follows through on commitments; focuses on appropriate tasks throughout the shift; takes responsibilities for actions both as an individual and on behalf of the organization; actions and words are in sync; follows all policies and procedures; maintains confidentiality; is prepared and punctual to all scheduled shifts.

Problem Solving: Uses judgment to solve difficult problems in a timely manner; compares possible options; uses reasoning to explain necessary next steps; looks beyond the obvious; challenges the first answer and seeks alternatives; probes several resources to obtain relevant information.

Technical Learning: Effective at acquiring skills, abilities, and knowledge; quickly learns new industry, organization, and product information; has an aptitude for retaining and applying technical information; able to communicate techniques, software, or product information to others; is a quick study; able to work under tight deadlines and pressure.

City of Eden Prairie Pre-employment Process

The City of Eden Prairie conducts the following pre-employment checks for this position:

• Professional Reference Checks
• Criminal History and Driver’s License Check
• Education and work history verification
• Pre-employment Physical
• Drug Testing

All final candidates must successfully complete and pass the City’s evaluation of the pre-employment process before their first day of employment.

City of Eden Prairie Application Timeline

To apply, complete an online application (www.edenprairie.org and click on the employment tab) by the application deadline.

Position Posted: Thursday, August 18th, 2022

Application Deadline: Thursday, September 8th, 2022, by 4:00pm central time

Review Applications: Friday, September 9th, 2022, through Tuesday, September 13th, 2022, as needed.

First Round Interviews: Tuesday, September 20th, 2022, and/or Wednesday, September 21st, 2022

Final Round Interviews (In-Person): Thursday, September 29th, 2022

Pre-Employment Process: October 2022

Estimated Start Date: November 2022