What are the responsibilities and job description for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator position at ONWASA?
Days Worked: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
ON THE JOB TRAINING AVAILABLE!
Summary
Performs skilled trades work in the operations of wastewater treatment plant processes and flow throughout the plant ensuring compliance with operating permit requirements, maintains equipment, and completes reports. Work is performed under the moderate supervision of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor/ORC and Treatment Facilities Administrator.
Qualification Requirements
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential Functions
Deliver excellent customer experiences in all interactions with internal and external customers.
Operating a wastewater treatment plant; ensuring compliance with operating permit requirements; maintain records; preparing reports.
Makes regular inspections of plants and equipment to ascertain that it is in proper operation at all times; monitors treatment process and flow throughout plant; performs repair and maintenance of plant equipment and reports major repair needs to department maintenance personnel; troubleshoots electricity, telemetry mechanical, chemical, biological, hydraulic and pneumatic systems; conducts repairs.
Maintains records of plant operations and prepares periodic reports for submission to local, state, and federal regulatory agencies, supervisors or others as required. Inspects and monitors wastewater treatment plant equipment and machinery to determine that all machinery is operating properly and to ensure proper treatment of wastewater and the disposal of sludge and bio-solids; takes samples of wastewater at various stages of treatment processes in the wastewater plant.
Documents shift operations; prepares reports.
Reads various charts, graphs, gauges and meters; monitors and regulates tank levels and flow pressures. Maintains sufficient operating supplies.
Monitors lift stations; performs field inspections; performs custodial duties.
Participates in cross-training exercises.
Must operate ONWASA vehicles and equipment.
Requires the ability to work outside normal work hours in emergency and on-call situations.
In case of disaster, either natural or man-made, as a condition of employment employee will be called upon to serve ONWASA customers. Service to customers during a disaster will result in the assignment of other duties, which will take precedence over duties described in this class description.
Performs related tasks as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Thorough knowledge of the operating characteristics and maintenance requirements of the wastewater treatment equipment in the plant; thorough knowledge of hydraulic, chemical and mechanical principles pertinent to wastewater treatment plant operations; thorough knowledge of the occupational hazards of the work and of necessary safety precautions; ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals; ability to write routine reports and correspondence; ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization; ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry; ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations; ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram or schedule form; ability to detect flaws in the operation of mechanical equipment and to determine proper remedial measures; ability to understand and follow moderately complex oral and written instructions; ability to read meters and charts accurately and to maintain records of shift operations; skill in the use and care of laboratory testing and analysis equipment and instruments; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates.
Physical Demands & Work Environment
This work requires the regular exertion of up to 25 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, walking, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and reaching with hands and arms and occasionally requires climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, smelling, pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arms-length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work regularly requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working near moving mechanical parts, working in high, precarious places, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), exposure to the risk of electrical shock, exposure to vibration and exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment; work is generally in a loud noise location (e.g. grounds maintenance, heavy traffic).
Education and Experience & Special Requirements
High school diploma or GED with experience in water and wastewater operations.
Grade II NC Biological Wastewater certification or obtain within 2 years.
Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Must meet the minimum driving standards set by ONWASA and have possession of a valid driver's license in the State of North Carolina
This is a safety-sensitive position requiring a background check, driving record check, and pre-employment and random drug screening in accordance with ONWASA's Drug-Free Workplace policy. ONWASA's Drug-Free Workplace policy establishes a zero tolerance.
Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of the position. All employees may have other duties assigned at any time.
