Water Treatment Plant Operator II - BC-11

Assists and participates in the operation, maintenance, and repair of a Class IV and lower classed water treatment plants; independently operates, maintains, and repairs a Class II Water Treatment Plant; conducts various tests and analyses of water samples, interprets findings, and makes necessary adjustments to the treatment processes; and performs other duties as required.

There is one (1) immediate permanent full-time vacancy with the Department of Water Supply - Operations Division in S. Kohala (Geographic District II - North Hilo, Hamakua, South Kohala, North Kohala).

Special Working Conditions: Must be available for stand-by duty, be able to respond to emergency calls during non-working hours, and must reside within the geographic district employed in when on stand-by duty. Must be able to work overtime as needed.

This is a shortage category class of work. Person selected for vacancy will receive a shortage differential of $400.00 per month in addition to the starting salary indicated above. 

The eligible list may be used for other permanent and temporary vacancies as they arise during the life of the list. Temporary appointment may lead to conversion to permanent appointment. 

• Assists and participates in the operation and maintenance of a Class IV and lower classed water treatment plant utilizing various treatment techniques to comply with federal and state regulations relating to potable water quality standards and surface water sources or ground water sources under the direct influence of surface water. 
• Conducts periodic operating checks of plant equipment such as pumping systems, chemical feeders, influent screens, strainers, valves, mixers, flocculators, clarifiers, filters, contact tanks, storage tanks reservoirs, compressed air systems, sampling, aerators, and monitoring control systems. 
• Starts-up, shuts-down, and conducts the timely and efficient backwash of filters.  
• Calibrates, tests, repairs, programs, and overhauls chemical pumps, feeders, disinfection equipment, water quality testing equipment, valves, solenoids, sample pumps, and auxiliary pumps; assists electronic technicians and mechanics in major repairs, calibrations, and installations of process control systems, water quality analyzers, streaming current detectors, process turbidimeters, recorders, alarm systems, telemetry, and high-lift pumps.  
• Assists and participates in the inspection, maintenance, and installation of plant equipment and systems.  
• Observes, interprets, and records readings and indications of gauges, charts, and meters to monitor plant status in relationship to flows, pressures, chemical feed rates, levels, and water quality.  
• Makes appropriate changes in plant processes to optimize its performance and efficiency.  
• Runs jar tests to determine dose requirements.  
• Collects representative water samples from raw, processed, and finished water points in the treatment stream and performs various laboratory tests to determine quality in terms of turbidity, chlorine residual, pH, color, alkalinity, taste and odor, residual chemicals and contaminants.  
• Assists and participates in the loading and unloading of chemicals such as chlorine ton cylinders, bulk liquids, and dry bagged chemicals using equipment such as forklifts, floor jacks, hoists, and by hand.  
• Assists and participates in the maintenance of plant records including operating logs, diaries, laboratory results, research, inventories, time sheets, delivery records, lubrication and maintenance records, visitor logs, as well as computer entries and reports.  
• Operates Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system equipment to check water system tank levels, pumps running, etc. remotely.  
• Determines compliance with State DOH and Federal Safe Drinking Water Act laws.  
• Performs general grounds and building maintenance work.  
• Attends training seminars, workshops, and conferences to meet continuing education requirements.  
• Cleans and maintains intakes, reservoirs, filters, etc.
• May perform shift work under supervision of the operator-in-charge for training and continual on-the-job development.  
• Operates a motor vehicle to transport personnel, materials, and equipment.

Training and Experience: 
A combination of education and experience substantially equivalent to:

• graduation from high school, and
• possession of a current Hawai'i Mandatory Water Treatment Plant Operator Certificate (Grade II or higher) at time of filing (scan and attach your current State of Hawai'i Water Treatment Plant Operator Certificate to your application), and
• possession of valid State of Hawai'i driver's license (Class 3) or any other valid comparable driver's license at time of filing. (You will be required to submit your valid driver's license at time of hire.)

Note:  Certified Water Treatment Plant Operators shall obtain continuing education units to maintain their certification as set by the State of Hawai'i Board of Certification of Operating Personnel in Water Treatment Plants.

Examination:   All applicants who meet the minimum qualification requirements will be assigned a score of 70 points.  An education and experience evaluation will be conducted based on the applicant's training, education and experience as presented in the application.

Please read the minimum qualification requirements carefully.  Be certain to list all pertinent training and experience, as this may be important in determining your examination score.  It is essential that the applicant describe fully the duties and responsibilities of each position held, specify the date of each position held (from and to, month and year), and indicate the number of hours worked per week.   

Attach all required documentation (e.g. official transcript, professional license(s)/certification(s), DD-214, etc.) at the time of submitting your application. 

Note:   In-person interviews and/or further testing in Hawai'i County may be required at the discretion of the hiring department/agency.  If in-person interviews and/or further testing are required, applicants who are referred to the hiring department/agency must be available to participate in person and at their own expense at that phase of the selection process.

Knowledge of:  principles and practices used in the operation and maintenance of water treatment, filter, and chlorinator plants, principles of hydraulics, principles of electricity, laboratory procedures and techniques, elementary principles of general science, practices and procedures involved in collecting and testing samples and in recording, assembling, and compiling observations and statistical data, types and functions of machinery and equipment used in water treatment, filter, and chlorinator plants, operating and servicing requirements of machinery and equipment, hazards and safety practices involved in working with and around moving electrical equipment and corrosive and toxic chemicals, and arithmetic.

Ability to:  learn, interpret, understand, and apply theories, methodologies, and applicable regulations necessary to obtain Water Treatment Plant Operator Grade II license, operate and maintain electrical pumping units and auxiliary equipment relating to a Class IV or lower classed water treatment plant, diagnose malfunctions and problems in plant equipment, read and interpret meters and gauges, maintain operating records and statistics, review operational reports of equipment and laboratory analyses of water, and determine need for adjustments, learn operating principles, uses, and maintenance of new equipment, learn and perform the required laboratory tests and analyze results, make arithmetical computations, understand and follow oral and written instructions, work harmoniously with others, handle weights and loads, occasionally work in hazardous and/or obnoxious conditions, and perform shift work.

Physical Requirements:  Persons seeking appointment to positions in this class must meet the health and physical condition standards deemed necessary and proper to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

Physical Effort Grouping: Heavy

The Water Treatment Plant Operator certification is administered by the State of Hawaii, Department of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch.  Here’s a link to their website regarding the operator certification:  https://health.hawaii.gov/sdwb/operatorcert/
 
Applicants that possess a Water Treatment Plant Operator Grade II certification in another state can apply for reciprocity by downloading a Water Treatment Plant Operator certification application from the following link. https://health.hawaii.gov/sdwb/files/2023/08/2024-WTPO-Certification-Application.pdf   Applicants may contact the State of Hawaii, Department of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch at (808) 586-4258.

Contact Information for State of Hawai'i Department of Health:
State of Hawai'i
Safe Drinking Water Branch - Environmental Management Division
2385 Waimano Home Road, Suite 110
Uluakupu Building 4
Pearl City, Hawai'i  96782-1400
Phone: 808-586-4258
Email: sdwb@doh.hawaii.gov 

Benefits of County employment: The County of Hawai‘i offers a competitive compensation package.  Your total compensation is comprised of your salary and a generous range of valuable benefits, subject to eligibility requirements.

• Flexible Working Arrangements:  Options may include telecommuting, alternate work schedules (4-10) and flexible working hours.  (Not all Departments/Agencies participate and not all positions are eligible.)    
• Vacation:  Start accruing paid vacation time immediately upon hire – up to 21 days per year.
• Sick Leave:  Start accruing paid sick leave time immediately upon hire – up to 21 days per year.
• Holidays:  The County provides 13 paid holidays per year (plus General Election Day when applicable).
• Training and Development:  The County has a variety of training and development opportunities for employees.   
• County Tuition Reimbursement Program: This scholarship program rewards employees who take the initiative to advance their education and learning.
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program:  You may be eligible for this federal program which forgives portions of federal student loans for individuals working in public service.  
• Retirement Plan:  The Employees’ Retirement System is a qualified defined benefit public pension plan that provides retirement, disability, survivor and other benefits to all eligible full-time and part-time county employees in the State of Hawaii as well as their beneficiaries.
• Deferred Compensation:  Save additional money for retirement - this voluntary supplemental retirement savings plan allows for the investment of tax-deferred contributions.
• Flexible Spending Plan:  Use pre-tax dollars to pay for qualified dependent care and/or medical expenses, as well as insurance premiums.
• Health Benefit Plans:  The County of Hawai‘i offers a variety of health benefit plans for eligible employees.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP):  This voluntary assistance program provides employees and their family members with free professional and confidential assistance in overcoming personal and work-related problems.
• Group Life Insurance:  Free life insurance policy for active employees.  
• Credit Union Membership
• Other Leaves:  You may be eligible for other leaves, including Family Leave, Funeral Leave, Leave Sharing, Military Leave, Donor Leave, Victims Protection Leave, as well as leave for Parent-Teacher Conferences, Disaster Relief, Blood Bank Donations, and Jury Duty.

All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and change due to legislative actions and/or changes negotiated through collective bargaining.  Please check out the benefits tab for additional information.Please scan and attach these supporting documents to your on-line application, if required:

• an official college transcript,
• a valid driver's license,
• a temporary assignment verification, 
• professional licenses, and/or
• certificates.

Veterans applying for veteran's preference points shall also scan and attach their DD-214 form and as needed, their VA claim letter to the on-line application.

PLEASE APPLY IMMEDIATELY AS THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME.

ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATION TO APPLICANTS:
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Salary : $73,044