Wastewater Plant Operator I

City of Burlington, NC; Burlington (NC); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Sick leave

Health insurance

401k plan

Life insurance

Job summary

The City of Burlington, NC is seeking a Wastewater Operator I to monitor and operate the East Burlington WWTP, ensuring compliance with state and federal regulations.

Qualified candidates will have a high school diploma or GED with vocational training and experience in wastewater treatment. The role requires on-site work, safety focus, and ability to perform routine testing and maintenance tasks.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED with vocational training in relevant mechanics/electronics/chemistry or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of wastewater treatment processes and regulatory requirements.
• Strong safety awareness and adherence to standard operating procedures.
• Ability to perform routine wastewater testing, read meters/SCADA data, and document results.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and operate the City’s wastewater treatment facility to ensure compliant, efficient operations.
• Adjust equipment and chemical dosing based on plant conditions and process controls.
• Collect samples and perform lab tests to assess treatment performance.
• Perform routine maintenance and assist with minor repairs as needed.
• Provide responsive customer service and communicate issues to leadership.

Skills

Wastewater operations

Regulatory compliance

Safety procedures

Analytical testing

Education

HS diploma or GED

Job description

Job Description

Do you have experience in wastewater treatment and are seeking new opportunities? The City of Burlington is seeking a Wastewater Operator I!

Who We Are

The East Burlington WWTP was put into service in 1959 and upgraded in 1993. It has the capacity to treat 12 million gallons per day (MGD) of domestic and industrial sewage. The treatment facility uses a biological process to separate organic matter from the water. Water is disinfected by the addition of chlorine and dechlorinated before being discharged into the Haw River. Organic matter (biosolids) removed by the process is treated and used as a soil conditioner on area farmland.

Job Description

Do you have experience in wastewater treatment and are seeking new opportunities? The City of Burlington is seeking a Wastewater Operator I!

Who We Are

The East Burlington WWTP was put into service in 1959 and upgraded in 1993. It has the capacity to treat 12 million gallons per day (MGD) of domestic and industrial sewage. The treatment facility uses a biological process to separate organic matter from the water. Water is disinfected by the addition of chlorine and dechlorinated before being discharged into the Haw River. Organic matter (biosolids) removed by the process is treated and used as a soil conditioner on area farmland.

What You Will Do

An employee in this class is responsible for monitoring and operating the City's wastewater treatment plant.

Examples of Duties

Plant Monitoring & Equipment Operation

• Conducts regular tours of the plant to ensure optimal functioning of bar screens, grit collector, engines, generators, pumps, aerators, settling tanks, filters, clarifiers, cooling systems, water filters, and other equipment
• Records readings from SCADA, meters, and instruments to ensure accurate data collection

Operational Adjustments & Chemical Management:

• Adjusts motors, pumps, blowers, valves, and apparatus based on dynamic plant conditions
• Applies chemicals and monitors their effects on plant operations to maintain system stability

Sample Collection & Lab Testing:

• Collects state and process control samples for lab analysis and conducts routine tests to monitor treatment efficiency

Maintenance & Troubleshooting:

• Skims floatables from settling tanks, cleans bar screens, disposes of sand and debris, and washes basins and clarifiers for optimal plant performance
• Assists Lead Operators with minor repairs and preventive maintenance tasks as required

Customer Service & Communication:

• Answers calls, addresses inquiries, and provides responsive customer service as needed

General Wastewater Operations:

• Performs all necessary wastewater and plant duties to maintain seamless operations and plant integrity

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Wastewater Treatment Operations Knowledge: Understands the operating characteristics and maintenance needs of wastewater treatment plants, ensuring efficient and safe operations
• Regulatory Awareness: Well-versed in state and federal wastewater treatment rules and regulations to ensure compliance with industry standards
• Safety Protocols & Hazard Management: Knowledgeable about the occupational hazards inherent in wastewater operations, with a strong focus on adhering to safety precautions and maintaining a secure work environment
• Analytical & Testing Skills: Proficient in conducting routine wastewater tests, accurately reading meters, SCADA systems, and charts, and recording results to monitor plant performance and compliance

Minimum Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalency supplemented with additional vocation training in mechanics, electronics, or chemistry and some experience in wastewater treatment or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Valid North Carolina Driver's License

Special Requirements:

• Must be able to acquire a grade 1 Wastewater certificate within 6 months of employment.

Supplemental Information

Physical Requirements And Working Conditions

• Work in this class is described as strenuous.
• Work typically involves the ability to physically perform the basic life operational functions of balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, and repetitive motions.
• Work necessitates visual acuity to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned in preparing and analyzing figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal viewing and extensive reading, conduct visual inspection of small defects or parts, operate a machine, use measurement devices, and to assemble parts at distances close to the eyes.
• Employee is subject to hazards including a variety of physical conditions, such as proximity to moving mechanical parts, electrical current, noise, vibration, oils, and atmospheric conditions.
• Employee is required to wear a respirator when necessary. Employee may frequently work in close quarters, crawl space, shafts, manholes, small, enclosed rooms, small sewage and water lines, and other areas which could cause claustrophobia.
• Employee is required to function in narrow aisles, passageways, and catwalks. Working conditions include both inside and outside environmental conditions.

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Inclement Weather Classification: Essential

Benefits for full-time employees of the City of Burlington (with the exception of full-time sworn police officers) are as follows:

• Paid vacation and sick leave
• Ability to transfer North Carolina local government earned sick leave.
• Paid holidays for New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas
• Enrollment in the Local Government branch of the North Carolina State Retirement System
• Enrollment in Empower 401k
• Health and dental insurance coverage for employee and children; spouses may be added to the policy if they are not offered coverage at their own place of employment
• Voluntary enrollment in a Flexible Spending Plan
• Life insurance
• Long-term care insurance
• Other voluntary insurances and deferred compensation plans