Utilities Water Operator

City of Stoughton; Stoughton (WI); On-site; USD 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Wisconsin Retirement System

No dental insurance premium

Low medical premiums and out-of-pocket

Free Anytime Fitness membership

Job summary

The City of Stoughton is seeking a Water Operator to join its Utility Division. The role focuses on safe drinking water through sampling, testing, and system monitoring, plus maintaining the water distribution network.

You will operate pumping, storage, and distribution systems, perform lab analyses, and prepare reports. A consistent schedule and strong benefits are offered in a community-focused environment.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent and 1+ years water/wastewater operator experience.
• Commercial driver’s license with tanker and air brake certification required.
• Demonstrated mechanical and/or plumbing aptitude.

Responsibilities

• Obtain, test, and record drinking water samples; monitor well pumps and storage tanks.
• Operate and monitor the water/wastewater SCADA system; maintain records and data.
• Repair/maintain water distribution mains, pumps, valves, hydrants, and related equipment.
• Prepare monthly pumpage and wastewater reports for DNR; analyze test results to adjust operations.

Skills

Water sampling

SCADA monitoring

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Water/wastewater operator experience

CDL with tanker & air brake

Tools

SCADA system

Lab testing equipment

Job description

The City of Stoughton, an equal opportunity employer, is seeking a skilled and motivated Water Operator to join our Utility Division. This is a great opportunity to work close to home, with a consistent schedule and excellent benefits.

Why Join Us?

• Excellent benefits
• No overnight travel required
• Regular work schedule with evenings at home and half-day Fridays*

Excellent benefits, including:

• Wisconsin Retirement System
• No premium for dental insurance
• Low medical premiums and out-of-pocket costs
• Free Anytime Fitness membership

This position plays a key role in ensuring safe drinking water through sampling, testing, and system monitoring, as well as maintaining and repairing the water distribution system. You will maintain and repair water distribution infrastructure and assist in operating the City’s pumping, storage, and distribution systems. While similar in scope to other Operator roles, day-to-day assignments and required qualifications may vary.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

- The following duties are the primary duties of this position but do not compose an exclusive or all-encompassing list of duties. Other duties may be assigned or required to accomplish the main goals of this position.

• Provides safe drinking water conditions to protect Stoughton Utilities customers via obtaining and testing routine water samples, monitoring and recording well pump operations and storage tank volumes, monitoring and testing water and wastewater quality conditions, and monitoring and recording data and operations on the water/wastewater SCADA system.
• Ensures environmentally responsible wastewater treatment and discharge via obtaining and testing routine wastewater treatment samples throughout the treatment process, monitoring and recording plant operations and tank volumes, monitoring and testing wastewater influent and effluent quality conditions, and monitoring and recording data and operations on the water/wastewater SCADA system.
• Repairs and maintains water distribution mains, pumps, valves, curb stops, services, and hydrants. Installs and maintains water service connections. Performs routine maintenance to other water system infrastructure and equipment. Exercises system valves and flushes hydrants.
• Repairs and maintains sanitary sewer collection mains and pumps. Performs routine maintenance to sanitary sewer collection system infrastructure and equipment. Flushes, televises, cleans, and repairs the sanitary sewer collection system.
• Repairs and maintains pumps, motors, valves, flow meters, screens, and all other equipment at the wastewater treatment facility.
• Obtains and prepares samples of drinking water and wastewater treatment, and performs laboratory analysis including sample testing and calculations for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), suspended solids, pH levels, volatile solids, phosphorus, ammonia, fecal coliform, chlorine residual, fluoride content, industrial effluents, glucose glutamic acid, and other analysis as directed. Prepares graphs, charts, and reports from sample data, and reports out findings. Makes adjustments to drinking water and wastewater treatment operations and calculates amount of chemical additives according to test results.
• Prepares, or assists with the preparation of monthly water pumpage and wastewater treatment reports, and submits to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
• Maintains, calibrates, and repairs testing equipment. Maintains knowledge regarding testing requirements for wastewater treatment facilities. Cleans and maintains lab equipment. Prepares and sends EPA samples as directed.
• Operates the water/wastewater SCADA system to monitor system health, record data and equipment readings, operate controls, evaluate system performance, and investigate trouble conditions.
• Responds to customer inquiries and complaints and performs corrective measures. Communicates with customers as required to resolve inquiries and complaints, and to provide notice of planned system outages.
• Performs work tasks at active job sites to plan, direct, and oversee system and equipment maintenance and repair tasks. Works onsite to recommend operational changes and safety improvements, and to evaluate safety compliance.
• Attends and assists with utility-sponsored public events, prepares public educational materials and participates in outreach efforts, conducts system demonstrations and tours, and gives safety and conservation presentations.
• Completes and maintains work orders, timesheets, preflight checklists, tailgate meetings, inventory forms, and all other division paperwork, and maintains records and prepares reports as directed. Conducts system inspections and records findings.
• Maintains GIS software applications and databases, including service connection details, flushing and exercising maintenance records, televising records, equipment maintenance tasks, and other records as directed.
• Maintains an ability to work a flexible schedule to accommodate planned activities outside of the typical work schedule, including but not limited to planned customer outages or system maintenance work, as well as planned seasonal schedule changes and tasks.
• Maintains an ability to serve on standby on-call duty, scheduled on a rotational basis within the Water and Wastewater System Divisions. Maintains an ability, whenever possible to respond to utility emergencies and assist those serving on-call.
• Complies with all Stoughton Utilities safety programs, and guidelines and regulations set by the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW). Ensures full Water and Wastewater System Divisions compliance of the same.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities

- The following duties are necessary for operations, but may be shared with or performed by other employees. The listed duties do not compose an exclusive or all-encompassing list of additional duties. Other duties may be assigned or required to accomplish the main goals of this position.

• Disconnects water service to customers upon receipt of disconnection workorders due to delinquency or safety violations, and at customers’ request.Conductsperiodicreviewsofdisconnectedpropertiesforconnection evaluation.

• Installs water meters at customer premises, including temporary and permanent services. Assists the meter technician with the maintenance and repair of water meters. Reconnects water services and transfers water meters.
• Maintains grounds and facilities, such as painting surfaces, ice and snow removal, custodial tasks, basic carpentry, basic commercial electrical maintenance, basic plumbing, and similar tasks as assigned.
• Provides emergency after-hours support to the Electric System Division, including basic system repair, traffic control and direction, site preparation and cleanup, equipment transport and operation, groundsman duties, and other tasks as directed. Provides local and regional emergency disaster response.
• Performs routine vehicle maintenance.
• Performs other Stoughton Utilities tasks as directed.

Education/Training/Certifications

• High School diploma or equivalent, and one or more years water and/or wastewater operator experience.
• Demonstrated mechanical and/or plumbing aptitude.
• Commercial driver’s license with tanker and air brake certification required.

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication Skills

• Ability to perform mid-level data analysis, including the ability to audit, deduce, assess, conclude and appraise. Requires discretion in determining and referencing such to established criteria to define consequences and develop alternatives.
• Ability to classify, compute, and tabulate data and information, following a prescribed plan requiring the exercise of some individual judgment, with reference to established criteria/standards. Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure, and sort information, as well as assemble, copy, record, and transcribe data and information.
• Ability to utilize a variety of advisory data and information, such as work orders; utility maps and diagrams; construction specifications; blueprints; lab records and reports; facilities operation and maintenance manuals; technical operating manuals; city and utility policies and procedures; guidelines; non- routine correspondence; and safety rules and manuals.
• Ability to explain, demonstrate, and clarify to others within well-established policies, procedures, and standards, as well as the ability to follow specific instructions and respond to requests.
• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally with customers, department and all levels of City personnel, plumbers, contractors, regulatory representatives, and the general public.

Mathematical Ability

• Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; calculate percentages, fractions, and decimals; interpret and develop basic descriptive statistical reports; and may require the ability to perform mathematical operations with algebra.

Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability

• Ability to carry out directives without direct supervision. Ability to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution.
• Ability to apply principles of influence systems such as leading and teaching.
• Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness, and creativity required in situations involving the evaluation of information against sensory and judgmental criteria.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to operate equipment and machinery such as impact tools, sewer line jet truck, backhoe, roller, loaders, dump truck, forklift, wood chipper, meters, hand and power tools, snow plows and blowers, lab instruments, excavation hand tools, and other equipment requiring monitoring multiple conditions and making multiple, complex, and rapid adjustments. Ability to repair complex equipment and machinery.
• Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet, and limbs in performing skilled movements such as operating heavy excavation and pumping equipment.
• Ability to install and repair meters and perform coordinated activity, potentially in tight spaces.
• Ability to exert regular and sustained heavy physical effort in very heavy work, typically involving some combination of climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting, carrying, pushing shoveling and digging, and pulling heavy objects and materials in excess of 100 pounds.
• Ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities or differences between characteristics of color, shape, sound, texture, and odor associated with job‑related objects, materials, and tasks.

Environmental Adaptability

• Ability to work under uncomfortable and potentially unsafe conditions that require exposure to severe environmental factors such as temperature variations, high winds, rain and snow, odors, toxic agents, noise, vibrations, wetness, dusts, machinery, explosives, gas, vehicular traffic, high voltage electrical currents, and disease. This exposure may cause discomfort and presents a high risk of injury or death.