Utility Plant Technician

The City of El Paso Texas; El Paso (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life and Health Insurance

Dental, Vision, Disability options

Health Savings Account

Wellness Program

Tuition Assistance

Vacation/Sick Leave

Job summary

The City of El Paso is seeking personnel to operate and maintain water and wastewater treatment systems. Under supervision, you will monitor processes, control equipment, and ensure regulatory compliance. Training includes the EPW Operator Trainee program and progression to licensed operator roles.

Responsibilities include pump and valve operation, chemical feed adjustment, data logging, and routine preventive maintenance. A strong emphasis on safety and quality is required.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED or higher required.
• One year of mechanical maintenance experience or twelve semester hours of college credit.
• Six months of maintenance experience or completion of EPW Operator Trainee Program with Class D license.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and control water or wastewater treatment processes.
• Operate pumps, valves and related equipment to move water or wastewater.
• Calibrate laboratory equipment and test water quality.
• Maintain proper water levels and adjust chemical feeders.
• Assist in installation and preventive maintenance of treatment systems.
• Follow safety and regulatory requirements.

Skills

Mechanical maintenance

SCADA monitoring

Analytical testing

Electrical repairs

Education

High School Diploma or GED

12 college semester hours or equivalent

Texas Class D Water/Wastewater Operator’s License

Tools

SCADA system

Laboratory equipment

Job description

MOS Codes: MK (Coast Guard)
Education and Experience: High School Diploma or GED or higher, and one (1) year of mechanical maintenance experience or twelve (12) semester hours of credit in any field of study from an accredited college or university, and six (6) months of maintenance experience or have completed the El Paso Water (EPW) Utility Plant Operator Trainee Program and have a Class “D” Water or Wastewater Operator’s License issued by the State of Texas.

Requirements
MOS Codes: MK (Coast Guard)
Education and Experience: High School Diploma or GED or higher, and one (1) year of mechanical maintenance experience or twelve (12) semester hours of credit in any field of study from an accredited college or university, and six (6) months of maintenance experience or have completed the El Paso Water (EPW) Utility Plant Operator Trainee Program and have a Class “D” Water or Wastewater Operator’s License issued by the State of Texas.

Licenses and Certificates: Valid Texas Class “C” Driver’s License or equivalent from another state at the time of appointment. Class “D” Water or Wastewater Operator’s License issued by the State of Texas is required within six (6) months of appointment. Class “D” license must be replaced by a higher-level Water or Wastewater Operator’s License issued by the State of Texas within thirty (30) months of the hire date. Some positions may require a CDL Class “C”, Class “B”, or Class "A" with HAZMAT endorsement or equivalent from another state within twelve (12) months of appointment.
Special Requirements: Positions requiring a CDL or positions of a safety-sensitive nature are subject to drug and alcohol testing in accordance with federal regulations.
General Purpose
Under general supervision, assist in the operation, maintenance, and repair of water or wastewater treatment systems and equipment.
Typical Duties
Monitor and control water or wastewater treatment processes. Involves: Monitoring and controlling water and wastewater treatment processes and equipment to remove solid materials, chemical compounds, and micro-organisms from water or wastewater in compliance with state and federal permits. Monitor the water or wastewater treatment process through the SCADA system, including carbonation, fluoridation, chlorination, or other processes. Check water for turbidity, odors, alkalinity, chlorine residual, and other requirements to assure compliance with water quality regulations. Monitor and perform required analytical tests. Monitor laboratory tests of water or wastewater and ensure samples are taken and tested in accordance with federal and state regulations. Assist in controlling routine water or wastewater treatment processes in compliance with state and federal permits. Learn to calibrate laboratory equipment. Adjust chemical additives according to established guidelines. Maintain proper water levels in tanks and draw water from wells or canals as needed. Operate pumps, valves, and other processing equipment to move water or wastewater through various treatment processes. Read and learn to interpret meters and gauges to ensure plant equipment and processes are working within established operational ranges. Activate or adjust controls as needed to effect process control. Take water or wastewater samples at various stages of processing. Test and add chemicals such as chlorine to water by a predetermined formula. Operate chemical-feeding devices, as required. Observe the condition of security systems at facilities and report deficiencies.
Assure proper operation of gauges, meters, pumps, motors, chemical feeders, automatic control devices, or other equipment. Involves: Assisting in the installation, preventative maintenance, and repair of treatment systems and complex equipment. Assist in the repair of pumps, motors, aeration systems, chlorinators, chlorine dioxide generators, multiple chemical feeders, or similar mechanical equipment. Inspect machinery for proper operation and to detect faulty parts. Replace parts using hand tools. Check electrical equipment for shorts, faulty wiring, loose connections, loss of power, and overload. Perform minor electrical or mechanical repairs, including basic welding. Perform plumbing tasks such as installing valves and meters on water lines. Install fire sprinkler systems and meters. Lubricate plant equipment. Clean and flush sludge lines. Wash or replace filters and perform other required preventive maintenance. Learn to utilize computer databases to store sampling results, schedule, and record shift activity.
May perform groundskeeping, building maintenance, general labor, and housekeeping duties as needed. Perform other job duties as assigned.

General Information

Benefits

LIFE AND HEALTH INSURANCE

The City of El Paso is a self-insured entity with a third-party administrator for Medical and Pharmacy benefits. Basic Life Insurance Coverage is available at no cost to eligible employees. Additional Life Insurance and coverage for your dependents are also available.

Employees can select optional Dental, Vision, and Short Term Disability coverage. Employees also have the option to participate in a Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account (healthcare and/or dependent care for daycare expenses). All of these insurance and coverage options can be configured within a month of your new employee orientation date.

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with access to mental health sessions, therapy, and more is available at no cost. A trained counselors are also available to help you and your dependents cope with life’s stressors so that you can live a happy productive lifestyle.

The City’s Wellness Program seeks to promote better health and wellness amongst the workforce through various programs and incentives in which employees may choose to participate in, to include wellness education, fitness tests, biometric screenings, group fitness, health coaching and so much more!

Keep Learning, Growing & Reinventing Yourself! The City of El Paso's Tuition Assistance Program encourages employee personal and professional development by sharing educational costs with those employees who have successfully completed their original probation, and in turn retain a skillful workforce. Each year, employees can obtain Tuition Assistance for Degree, Certifications, Continuing Education, and Books & Equipment.

ELIGIBILITY FOR VACATION LEAVE

All regular employees who are regularly scheduled to work on an average, a minimum of twenty (20) hours per week, who have held a position in the City Service for a period of six months from date of employment, shall be eligible for vacation allowance as hereinafter set forth. Part-time employees shall accrue vacation leave at a pro-rated amount of full-time entitlement based on the number of hours that they are scheduled to work. Employees covered by collective bargaining agreements shall accrue vacation as provided in the applicable agreement.

For 0 - 5 Years Of Service (12 Days)

Regular employees in the City Service shall accrue vacation credit at the following rates per pay period, calculated from the date of employment of each employee:

40 hour per week employees - 3.70 hours per biweekly pay period

For >5 to 15 years of service (17 days):

40 hour per week employees - 5.24 hours per biweekly pay period

For >15 or more years of service (20 days):

40 hour per week employees - 6.16 hours per biweekly pay period

SICK LEAVE WITH PAY

Employees shall be entitled to accrue sick leave with pay in accordance with the Rules of the Civil Service Commission.

ACCIDENT WITH PAY LEAVE

The Amended Section 4.4 of the Ordinance shall become effective upon adoption and shall apply to occupational injuries and occupational diseases occurring on and after date of adoption. Occupational injuries and occupational diseases occurring before such date will be governed by the Ordinance in effect at the time of the date of injury or disease.

PREGNANCY LEAVE

• Pregnancy shall be treated the same as any other temporary physical disability.
• An employee on pregnancy leave shall use accumulated and unused regular sick leave time and then (unless granted use of special sick leave) shall be on leave without pay, unless the employee chooses to use any accumulated and unused annual leave.
• An employee going on pregnancy leave shall give written notice to her department head with appropriate medical verification. Before returning to work from pregnancy leave, the individual will provide appropriate medical documentation releasing the employee to return to work, as is required for any individual who has been on leave for a temporary physical disability.

LEGAL HOLIDAYS

The following days are hereby declared legal holidays for all the City departments, provided that the provisions of this section shall not apply to members of the Fire Department whose duties are to prevent or extinguish fires, or to members of the Police Department whose duties are those of law enforcement: (Amended 10/03/95)

• First day of January (New Year's Day)
• Third Monday in January (Martin Luther King Holiday)
• Thirty-first day in March (Cesar Chavez Day)
• Last Monday in May (Memorial Day)
• June 19 (Juneteenth)
• Fourth day of July (Independence Day)
• First Monday in September (Labor Day)
• Eleventh Day in November (Veteran's Day)
• Fourth Thursday in November (Thanksgiving Day)
• The Friday following the fourth Thursday in November (Day after Thanksgiving)
• Twenty-fifth Day in December (Christmas Day)
• Employee's Birthday

In addition to the above days, the following days are also declared to be legal holidays: 1. Any day designated as a holiday by City Council. 2. When any legal holiday falls on a Saturday, the preceding Friday shall be considered a legal holiday. 3. When any legal holiday falls on a Sunday, the following business day shall be considered a legal holiday.