Water Treatment Plant Operator Grade IV

Job Summary

Under general direction and within guidelines set by policies rules and regulations this position is responsible for operating all equipment and systems of a large municipal water or wastewater treatment plant in accordance with accepted standards and regulations. This employee makes necessary corrections to obtain effective and efficient operations and performs maintenance of equipment during the shift if necessary.

Essential Job Functions

• On an assigned shift; operates electric pumps; control panels; chlorinators; chemical feed equipment; electric motors; air compressors and other water or wastewater plant equipment.
• Examines chemical flow charts; collects and performs routine and required sampling tests.
• Collects a variety of water samples for laboratory analysis; process control; and regulatory compliance.
• Cleans; paints; and otherwise repairs the general physical properties of the plant.
• Assists in the repair and maintenance of pumps and other mechanical and electrical equipment at the assigned plant.
• Responds to emergency breakdowns of plant equipment.
• Makes periodic rounds of the plant; checking charts on level gauges and flow meters.
• Maintains log of plant operations.
• Answers calls from the public concerning water system problems; complaints; or emergency situations; dispatches service requests.
Performs other reasonably duties in a safe manner as assigned by immediate supervisor or other supervisors as required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or equivalent with related work experience in a Grade IV water or wastewater plant ; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Special Qualifications:

• Must possess and maintain a valid Alabama Grade IV Water or Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator License.
• If Wastewater; must possess and maintain a valid; State of Alabama Class B CDL (Commercial driver’s license) within twelve (12) months of start date.
• Must have regular attendance on the job.
• Must be available to be on call for weekends; holidays; and other shifts as required.
• Possession of a valid; State of Alabama driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle.
All Special Qualifications requirements exists at the time of hire and as a condition of continued employment.

Knowledge; Skills and Abilities

Knowledge; Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the functions and mechanics of pumps and other mechanical equipment.
• Knowledge of the operation of electric motors and equipment.
• Knowledge of the proper methods of lubricating mechanical equipment.
• Knowledge of water purification processes.
• Knowledge of City ordinances; policies; and procedures.
• Knowledge of modern office practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word; Excel; PowerPoint; and other similar programs).
• Skill in the use of bench and hand repair tools and equipment.
• Skill in planning and organizing work.
• Skill in utilizing such office equipment as a calculator; typewriter; facsimile machine; and copier.
• Skill in interpersonal relations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees and the general public.
• Skill in verbal and written communication.
• Skill in the use small office equipment; including copy machines or multi-line telephone systems.
• Skill in using computers for data entry; word processing; and/or accounting purposes.
• Ability to check the operation of equipment and to detect flaws or defects in operation.
• Ability to make repairs to pumps and other electrical and mechanical equipment.
• Ability to take accurate readings; to keep routine records and to make mathematical computations.
Ability to move in and about confined spaces and rough terrain.

• Ability to organize and communicate effectively.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

The work is heavy work which requires exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally;

and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently; and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Additionally; the following physical abilities are required:

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking; standing or crouching on narrow; slippery; or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects; such as size; shape; temperature or texture by touching with skin; particularly that of fingertips.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Sitting: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Handling: Picking; holding; or otherwise working; primarily with the whole hand. Must have the ability to place records; files; and boxes weighing no more than 25 pounds on shelves about head level.
• Hearing 1: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication; and to make the discrimination in sound.
• Hearing 2: Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication; and to make the discrimination in sound. Must have the ability to hear well enough to carry on a normal conversation with clients both in person and on the telephone.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Manual Dexterity: Picking; pinching; typing; or otherwise working; primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling. Must have the ability to efficiently operate a computer; calculator; fax; copy machine and other related office machines.
• Mental Acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist; hands; and/or fingers.
• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Talking 1: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately; loudly; or quickly.
• Talking 2: Shouting in order to be heard above ambient noise level.
• Visual Acuity 1: Have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading. Must have the ability to see well enough to interpret data on a computer monitor.
• Visual Acuity 2: Including color; depth perception; and field vision.
• Visual Acuity 4: Have visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment.
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks; particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another. Must have the ability to move freely about the office.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed indoors and outdoors. Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions; such as dirt; dust; pollen; odors; wetness; humidity; temperature and noise extremes; bright/dim light; toxic agents; disease; pathogenic substances; animal/wildlife attacks; animal/human bites; smoke; and/or rude/hostile citizens.

Disclaimer

To perform this job successfully an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.