Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I/Environmental Compliance Inspector

City of Sanger; Sanger (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Sanger is hiring for a hybrid role focused on environmental compliance and wastewater plant operations. The role involves inspecting discharges, enforcing regulations, and supporting the pretreatment program, while performing plant operation duties on an assigned shift.

The position requires a high school diploma, at least one year in industrial waste inspection and WWTP experience, plus relevant certificates and a valid California driver’s license.

Qualifications

• Education: completion of the twelfth grade or equivalent; ability to read/write.
• Experience: 1+ year in industrial waste inspection and WWTP operations.
• Certifications: Grade I WWTP Operator; CWEA Grade I Environmental Compliance Inspector within 18 months.
• Driver license: valid California Class C; willingness to drive for duties.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and conduct inspections for compliance with regulations.
• Inspect industrial/commercial users for regulatory compliance.
• Perform field sampling and testing; preserve samples and conduct field tests.
• Calculate defensible pollutant limits and enforce code violations.
• Coordinate with other departments and public; issue correction notices.
• Operate WWTP during assigned shift and maintain logs.
• Read meters and record data; perform routine maintenance and cleaning.

Skills

Physical labor

Identify deficiencies

Analyze technical information

Read meters/gauges

Follow instructions independently

Communicate program objectives

Prepare technical documents

Maintain records

Work safely with chemicals

Operate plant equipment safely

Investigate routine complaints

Issue correction notices

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Grade I Certificate

Ability to obtain CWEA Grade I Environmental Compliance Inspector within 18 months

Job description

DEFINITION

Under general supervision, inspects and monitors discharges into wastewater systems by commercial and industrial users in order to enforce applicable federal, state and local regulations; establishes and implements new procedures and discharge limits for the City's pretreatment program. To meet City needs, will also perform skilled and semiskilled work in the operation of the City’s wastewater treatment plant on an assigned shift involving responsibility for the operation, maintenance, servicing, and care of a variety of electric motors, gas engines, valves, vacuum pumps, and other equipment, and performs related work as assigned.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This is a hybrid role derived from the Environmental Compliance Inspector and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I classifications. The primary role will be the Environmental Compliance Inspector. Environmental Compliance Inspector is required to interpret regulations and initiate appropriate enforcement action after identifying noncompliance with local, state, or federal requirements. This class is differentiated from the Operator in that the latter focuses on routine plant operations while the Environmental Compliance Inspector handles non-routine enforcement issues in the field. Operator I is the entry level class in the Operator series. Under supervision, incumbents learn and perform a variety of duties in the operation, maintenance and repair of a water or wastewater treatment plant. Operators in this classification are responsible for the operation of the more routine treatment units and processes within the treatment plant.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Completion of the twelfth grade or equivalent and the ability to read and write at a level required for successful job performance.

Experience:

At least one (1) year experience in industrial waste inspection, operating a wastewater treatment plant and basic computer skills.

Certification:

Possession of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Grade I Certificate at time of appointment, and the ability to obtain certification by the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) as a Grade I Environmental Compliance Inspector is required within eighteen (18) months of appointment.

Driver License:

Possession of a responsible driving record and a valid Class C California Driver’s License is required at the time of appointment and is a condition of continued employment. Loss of the Class C License is a cause for discipline. Individuals who do not meet this requirement due to a physical disability will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. A California Class B is desirable.

OR

An equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the capabilities to perform the described duties.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

Strength: Heavy Work – Must possess sufficient strength and stamina to lift and carry objects weighing up to 90 pounds.

Respiratory Protection Equipment: Work in this class requires wearing respiratory protective equipment at times.

Must be willing to be on a 24-hour emergency call-out list. May be assigned a cell phone during non-working hours and holidays. Must be willing to work in all weather conditions and confined spaces, climbing ladders to service lift stations and sewer lines as necessary with exposure to unpleasant odor and potentially hazardous conditions. Must have the ability to work weekends, and holidays. Must be able to report to the WWTP within 1 hour after receiving notification of being called back.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Coordinates and conducts inspections related to compliance with solid waste accumulation, disposal, and collections;
• Inspects industrial and commercial users to determine compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and ordinances;
• Performs field sampling duties, such as installing and adjusting sampling equipment to obtain representative samples, preserving samples, and performing field tests;
• Performs technical calculations to derive defensible pollutant limits;
• Coordinates with other departments and agencies to assist the public in obtaining solutions to code violations;
• Sets deadlines, tracks cases, and documents the procedures taken by the City to hold responsible parties accountable for abating code violations;
• Initiating appropriate enforcement action after identifying noncompliance or code violation;
• Answers inquiries and provides information to the public regarding industrial wastewater control;
• Operates a wastewater treatment plant during an assigned shift;
• Performs procedures to assure on-going proper wastewater treatment;
• Obtains water or wastewater samples for the plant laboratory or the health authorities;
• Reads meters, takes temperatures, and completes daily logs, including meter readings;
• Performs routine maintenance and cleaning work on buildings and equipment as assigned;
• Maintains plant premises;
• Performs other job duties as assigned.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Ability to:

• Perform physical labor.
• Detect operating deficiencies in plant machinery and equipment.
• Analyze technical information, read meters/gauges correctly and properly record readings, take appropriate action.
• Follow oral and written instructions work independently without continuous supervision.
• Effectively communicate the objectives of the industrial waste program to representatives of commercial and industrial firms.
• Prepare clear, concise, and complete technical documents, reports, correspondence, and other written materials.
• Maintain records.
• Learn to work safely with chemicals and power equipment.
• Operate equipment safely and effectively.
• Handle both routine and non-routine enforcement issues.
• Investigate routine complaints.
• Issue correction notices.

KNOWLEDGE OF

(depending upon assignment, may require knowledge of some or all of the following)

• Methods of installation, operation, and maintenance of equipment used for monitoring industrial waste discharge.
• Principles and best management practices for sanitary and storm sewer discharge at industrial and commercial, construction; and municipal activity sources, including but not limited to; fats, oils and grease (FOG); significant industrial users (SIUs), pump stations, corporation yards, illicit discharge screening sites, low-impact development treatment and hydrograph modification systems, City and storm sewers, interceptor systems, and from receiving waters.
• Basic principles of chemistry and bacteriology, math.
• Basic principles of performing routine and complex physical, chemical, biological, and bacteriological tests on samples collected, including field and site tests.
• Safety practices involved in sampling wastewater and storm water; water quality control and/or water resources management.
• Hazards relative to industrial plants.
• Methods of handling and preserving samples using basic principles of sample collection.
• Basic principles to establish chemical and biological sampling schedules for the purpose of identifying the sources of code violations.
• Operation and servicing requirements of plant machinery and equipment including pumps, motors, valves, engines, piping and blowers.
• Safety equipment, practices and procedures.
• Related federal, state, and local laws, including provisions of the City Sewer Ordinance and related federal and state pretreatment and hazardous waste regulations.
• Inspecting, sampling, and testing of industrial wastewater.
• Safety practices, procedures, and equipment.
• Related computer applications.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

WOMEN, MINORITIES & HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS ARE

ENCOURAGED TO APPLY