Advanced Water Plant Operator I/II/III

Introduction

THE CITY OF OCEANSIDE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

The Water Utilities Department is finalizing a salary and compensation study to maintain standing as a regionally competitive water and wastewater employer. The results of this study may impact compensation rates in mid-2025.

About Oceanside’s Water Utilities Department & Our Pure Water Oceanside Plant

The Oceanside Water Utilities Department is an innovative and forward-looking organization whose goal it is to ensure ongoing access to safe & affordable drinking water, reliable wastewater collection & treatment services, and environmental sustainability by maintaining top talent, resource resiliency, dependability, and system efficiency.

Our Department accepting applications for the position of Advanced Water Plant Operator Grades I/II/III for Pure Water Oceanside- San Diego County’s first indirect potable advanced water treatment facility. This treatment plant is responsible for improving water resiliency and reliability to Oceanside’s water customers by providing an additional supply from a local and reliable water source.

About the Advanced Water Treatment Plant Operator

This operational professional is essential to ensuring the effective operation of out Pure Water treatment plant. The Advanced Water Plant Operator I carries out the daily duties required to operate and maintain the City’s advanced water treatment plant under direct supervision; the Grade II operates the plant with a detailed understanding of plant processes, and working with heightened independence on daily duties; the Grade III acts in a mostly independent capacity, relying on personal initiative and judgement to decide and conduct daily and higher-level plant operations and analyses.

You should be excited about this opportunity because you will…

• Apply various levels of training and experience to become an integral part of our advanced water treatment system.
• Refine your treatment knowledge working with highly-talented operators.
• Become integral to the operation and management each aspect of our advanced treatment process.
• Collaborate with operation and maintenance staff to improve our processes.
• Leverage a modernized SCADA system to remotely control treatment processes in addition to manually reading and operating the system.

Who we are looking for…

The ideal candidate for this position will be confident in water treatment processes and will be able to make decisions that ensure safe, efficient and reliable production of drinking water for Oceanside’s residents, businesses and tourists.

If this sounds like you, keep reading!

Examples of Duties

Performs a variety of skilled or semi-skilled maintenance duties involved in the operation and upkeep of plant equipment and facilities; reads meters, gauges and graphs; regulates water flow in accordance with established procedures; adjusts and calibrates feed machinery of a variety of chemicals to keep treatment at prescribed standards; collects and labels water samples for chemical testing purposes; adjusts pump settings and chemical feed settings; maintains operation logs and records; operates and inspects plant equipment including pumps, valves electric motors, switch gear, compressors, blowers, chemical mixers, engines, generators and various advanced water treatment processes; cleans, oils and greases equipment; maintains building; makes minor repairs; paints inside and outside of buildings; reports malfunctioning equipment calls for maintenance assistance in the event of serious breakdown; operates pumps and other allied equipment; inspects equipment to determine operating condition and makes necessary adjustment; performs general maintenance and repair of equipment utilized in and around the plant; records instrument readings; changes chemical tanks and cylinders; performs all necessary control tests and calculations to maintain efficient operations; records results of test and other measurements and trends data on SCADA; may assist in training subordinates.

Minimum Qualifications

ADVANCED WATER PLANT OPERATOR I

Knowledge of:

• Basic principles of advanced water treatment plant operations.
• Basic tools, equipment, and software used in the operation and maintenance of motors, engines, pumps, and other advanced water treatment plant equipment.
• Operational and safety regulations pertaining to advanced water treatment plant operations and vehicle and equipment usage.
• Principles of water sampling and testing.
• Methods and techniques of preventive maintenance.
• Operational characteristics of advanced water treatment plant equipment and tools.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

Ability to:

• Perform a variety of maintenance duties.
• Perform inspections of treatment plant equipment.
• Monitor and adjust plant processes.
• Learn principles and procedures of advanced water treatment plant operations.
• Operate the distribution system using SCADA controls.
• Learn to collect a variety of samples and conduct appropriate tests.
• Learn to operate a variety of advanced water treatment plant equipment in a safe and effective manner.
• Learn operational and safety regulations pertaining to advanced water treatment plant operations and vehicle and equipment usage.
• Learn methods, equipment, chemicals, and materials used in the treatment, storage, and distribution of water.
• Learn pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Maintain and update accurate records.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Experience: One year in a capacity performing functions relative to the operation and maintenance of a water, wastewater, or advanced water treatment facility.

• Six (6) months of experience may be substituted with an Associate’s Degree (or above) in a related field OR a Certificate of Achievement in Water Technology Education.

In addition to the qualification for Advanced Water Plant Operator I:

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of an advanced water treatment plant.
• Principles and procedures of advanced water treatment plant operations.
• Tools, equipment, and software used in the operation and maintenance of motors, engines, pumps, and other advanced water treatment plant equipment.
• Methods, equipment, chemicals, and materials used in the treatment, storage, and distribution of water.
• Chemical and biological reactions in the treatment process.
• Basic laboratory practices and techniques.

Ability to:

• Operate and maintain advanced water treatment plant facilities.
• Operate distribution system using SCADA controls.
• Ensure drinking water is in compliance with State and Federal guidelines and regulations.
• Collect a variety of water samples and conduct appropriate tests.
• Operate plant equipment and appropriate vehicles.
• Operate office equipment including computers.
• Operate a variety of advanced water treatment plant equipment in a safe and effective manner.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.

Experience: Two years in a capacity performing functions relative to the operation and maintenance of a water, wastewater, or advanced water treatment facility.

Up to one and a half (1.5) years of experience may be substituted with any combination of the following:

• One (1) year of experience may be substituted with an Associate’s Degree in a related field OR a Certificate of Achievement in Water Technology Education.
• One and a half (1.5) years of experience may be substituted with a Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by training in Water Treatment Operations or a related field.

License/Certificate:

In addition to the qualification for Advanced Water Plant Operator I & Advanced Water Plant Operator II:

Knowledge of:

• Operations, services, and activities of an advanced water treatment facility.
• Principles and procedures of advanced water treatment plant operations.
• Principles and processes of screens, membranes, ultraviolet radiation, chlorination, clean-in-place systems, and chemical stabilization.
• Tools, equipment, and software used in the operation and maintenance of motors, engines, pumps, and other advanced water treatment plant equipment.
• Methods, equipment, chemicals, and materials used in the treatment, storage, and distribution of advanced treated water.
• Operational and safety regulations pertaining to advanced water treatment plant operations and vehicle and equipment usage.
• Operational characteristics of advanced water treatment plant equipment and tools.
• Principles of water sampling and testing.
• Chemical and biological reactions in the treatment process.
• Laboratory practices and techniques.
• Methods and techniques of preventive maintenance.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.

• Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), Supervisory, Control, & Data Acquisition (SCADA) and Microsoft Office software applications.

Ability to:

• Perform a variety of skilled maintenance duties.
• Operate and maintain the advanced water treatment plant facility.
• Operate all advanced water treatment processes including but not limited to screens, membranes, ultraviolet radiation, chlorination, clean-in-place systems, and chemical stabilization systems.
• Operate injection wells and blending station.
• Collect a variety of water samples and conduct appropriate tests.
• Operate plant equipment and appropriate vehicles.
• Operate office equipment including computers.
• Operate a variety of advanced water treatment plant equipment in a safe and effective manner.
• Monitor and adjust plant processes.
• Ensure product water is in compliance with State and Federal guidelines and regulations.
• Perform inspections of treatment plant equipment.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Maintain and update accurate records.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Up to one and a half (1.5) years of experience may be substituted with any combination of the following:

• One (1) year of experience may be substituted with an Associate’s Degree in a related field OR a Certificate of Achievement in Water Technology Education.
• One and a half (1.5) years of experience may be substituted with a Bachelor’s Degree in a related field.

• Possession of, at a minimum, a Grade III Advanced Water Treatment Operator certificate issued by the California-Nevada AWWA/California Water Environment Association. As mandated by the California-Nevada AWWA/California Water Environment Association, specialized and continuing education/training is mandatory for renewal of the certificate.
• Possession of an appropriate, valid driver’s license.

Working Conditions and Selection Process

Environmental Conditions: Water treatment plant environment; exposure to noise, dust, grease, smoke, fumes, gases, electrical energy, radiant energy, toxic materials, and inclement weather conditions; work in or with water.

Physical Conditions: Essential functions may require maintaining the physical condition necessary for standing, walking, or bending for prolonged periods of time; heavy, moderate, or light lifting; and operating motorized equipment and vehicles.

Selection Process: All applications will be reviewed and the most appropriately qualified individuals will be invited to continue in the selection process. The process may include a written exam, application appraisal based on training and experience, oral board exam, and/or skills assessment to further assess job-related qualifications. Candidates who successfully complete the examination process will be placed on an eligible list according to their scores and will remain eligible for employment consideration for a minimum of six months.

Note: Prospective candidates will undergo a background reference check and a medical examination, a drug screening may be required.

RESUMES ARE NOT ACCEPTED IN LIEU OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS, BUT MAY BE ATTACHED. CANDIDATES WHO REQUIRE A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION IN THE SELECTION PROCESS SHOULD STATE THEIRNEEDS IN WRITING WHEN SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION.