Overview
UIC Municipal Services is based in Utqiagvik. Our mission is to help the North Slope Borough achieve their goals “to sustain and improve the quality of life for the North Slope Borough residents by providing a wide range of cost-effective and well-coordinated essential municipal services.” During their certification training, the USS Apprentice will be expected to work with a Utility System Specialist (USS) on the operation and maintenance of treatment, distribution and collection systems. The USS Apprentice will be under the direct supervision of the USS (Utility System Specialist). Work with a team of local operators to maintain operational and regulatory compliance status of local municipal water and sewer utility systems. USS Apprentice will rotate in and out of each of the seven villages on North Slope, where populations range from 250 to 1000 residents. Work schedule will be 10 hours daily at a minimum, with longer days to meet repair and call out needs. Summer water pumping will be 12 hour days for approximately 3 calendar months. Rotation schedule will be 3 weeks on (23 days), 3 weeks off (19 days). $70 a day per diem is provided.
The USS Apprentice will be staying in provided local housing (no camp) Travel from / to Anchorage, AK or Fairbanks, AK to the villages are paid by employer - all other travel expenses are responsibility of the employee. The USS apprentice will report directly to the Field Operations Lead, or to the Project Manager when the Field Operations Lead is unavailable. Equipment preventative maintenance and repairs will be required. This will include directing or accomplishing the excavation and repair of buried pipes in arctic conditions, and repair of individual residential and commercial service connections. The USS Apprentice will be trained to maintain, clean and organize the Water and Wastewater plants. Maintain daily reporting to the central office in Utqiagvik. Report emergency incidents when they occur. Communicate system issues to engineers. Keep daily water and wastewater logs on the Windows softwares. Prepare and send wastewater samples on a timely basis for monthly discharge monitoring reports. These are municipal sites and systems; they are not industrial. The USS Apprentice must be able to interface with the public, maintain a professional demeanor, and work with municipal employees to maintain utility service. On-the-job training of local operators maybe required.
GENERAL SYSTEM DESCRIPTIONS :
Water Treatment :
- Raw water intake
- Bag / Micro / Nano filtration with chemical disinfection, backwash, and cleaning systems
- Short water production season to store annual water supply
Water Distribution :
Water storage tanks with volumes totaling 3 to 10 million gallons in storageCentral water circulation plant with fire pumps, water monitoring systems, and chemical dosingDirect-buried water circulation loopsResidential and commercial service connectionsWastewater Collection :
Direct-buried gravity or vacuum collection systemsSewage holding tanksWastewater Treatment :
Extended aeration / activated sludge / MBBR waste treatment and sludge dewateringOcean, surface water, and sub-surface effluent dischargeResponsibilities
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS :
Ensures Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation compliance of utility plantsMaintains a safe working environment and reports safety concerns to supervisorMay train, mentor, or directs and oversees local resident utility operators as needed or as requestedDaily reporting to central office by phone or emailPerforms a variety of duties essential to the operation of a small water and wastewater treatment facilityPerforms a variety of duties essential to the operations of water distribution and wastewater collection systemsInspects; operates; monitors; and maintains a variety of facilities; equipment; and systems involved in various processes of a water and wastewater treatment plantsMonitors plant operation through visual observation and SCADARegulates flowsPerforms chemical analysis and testsPerforms a variety of related duties to ensure the facility’s final finished water and effluent is of the best quality and compliant to regulatory requirementsPerform seasonal raw water pumping and treatment to meet anticipated water reservesMaintains logs of plant operations – periodic checks on fire hydrants, fire pumps, generators, valves, etc…Perform annual inspections of residential service barrel servicesDaily completion of work order reporting – detailing incidents, repairs and call outs conducted by all the W&S staff on all aspects of W&S infrastructure.Supports the maintenance (preventive and corrective) of the utility plants and systemsImplement emergency protocols to protect the W&S systems, water reserves and general public safety during W&S emergencies or system failures.Coordination between W&S Operators and other local resources to identify, locate, isolate and repair leaks in W&S systems within the expertise of the W&S Operators onsite.Notify public of boil water notice or shut down of W&S servicesProvide temporary water and sewer to individuals that experience interrupted servicesMaintain and inventory parts and materials in the utility plantsWork with vendors on soliciting quotes for parts and suppliesSubmit purchase requisitions and receiving reports on ordersSubmit service requests to local municipality for non-water / sewer repairs to facilities and equipmentCoordinate water and sewer repairs with local village supervisorWill act as the waster / sewer plant manager oversee all water sewer related activitiesAssume the lead operators role in the absence of a local operator or as neededOperation of heavy equipment, if pre-approvedMonitor assigned village cell phoneSubject to twenty-four (24) hour call outs and works varied shifts as assignedThis position has no supervisory responsibilities.Other duties as assigned.Qualifications
Essential Knowledge; Skills and Expertise :
Follow directions and respond to requests given by the USS, Training Administrator, and other Water and Sewer Project staffStudy the exam prep materials outside of normal work hours.Coordinate with the Training Administrator and exam proctors to take the required exams while off rotation.Take one exam while off work every six weeks.Required Qualifications :
Ability to pass a respirator fit testValid driver's licenseHigh school diploma or equivalent.
Salary : $70
