Water Quality Specialist

City of DeSoto; DeSoto (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of DeSoto is seeking a Water Quality Technician to administer the City’s water quality and sampling program, ensuring compliance with TECQ and the Safe Drinking Water Act. The role performs technical tasks related to monitoring plans, water sampling, and data management to uphold drinking water standards.

Responsibilities include sample collection, routine lab tests, data review, and backflow program oversight, with strong emphasis on safety and regulatory compliance.

Qualifications

• HS diploma or GED; Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, environmental science or related field preferred.
• One year of related hands-on utility plant operations or maintenance of water and/or wastewater systems.
• Valid Texas Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Administer the City’s water quality and sampling programs; ensure work quality and adherence to established policies and procedures.
• Create, implement, and coordinate testing and monitoring plans to ensure regulatory compliance (TECQ/SDWA).
• Prepare and organize water sampling bottles, collect samples from the distribution system.
• Perform routine water quality laboratory tests and process control testing (DO, alkalinity, pH, turbidity, chlorine residual, etc.).
• Deliver samples to the laboratory, maintain complete and correct documentation, monitor schedules.
• Review statistical data for regulatory compliance and store data as required.
• Investigate and resolve customer complaints regarding taste, odor, pressure, or other water quality concerns.
• Participate in oversight of the backflow prevention program.

Skills

Water sampling

Laboratory testing

Regulatory compliance

Communication skills

Field measurements

Safety procedures

Education

HS diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, or environmental science

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Our Core Values

• We LOVE DeSoto
• L- We lift up our community
• O- We take ownership of our collective performance
• V- We value and respect all employees
• E- We empower employees to grow

The purpose of the position is to administer the City’s water quality and sampling programs; ensure work quality and adherence to established policies and procedures; and performs technical tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility. Performs various tasks related to water quality compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TECQ) and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).

• Create, implement, and coordinate water quality programs; establish and implement testing and monitoring plans to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations;
• Prepares and organizes water sampling bottles, containers, and related tracking documents; collect water samples from the distribution system;
• Collect liquid and/or semi-liquid samples; perform a variety of routine water quality laboratory tests; performs process control testing including, but not limited to: dissolved oxygen, stability, microscopic evaluation, alkalinity, fluoride, hardness, specific conductance, turbidity, chlorine residual, pH, and carbon dioxide;
• Delivers water samples to the laboratory for analysis, ensures the required documentation for each sample is complete and correct, monitor sampling schedules daily to ensure the timely completion of sampling;
• Flush the distribution system and maintain system flushing records;
• Reviews statistical data for regulatory compliance and store that statistical data according to regulation;
• Investigates, diagnose and seek resolution to customer complaints and inquiries regarding taste, odor, pressure, and physical characteristics of the drinking water;
• Participate in oversight of the backflow prevention program.
• Performs other assigned duties.

Minimum Requirements to Perform Work

• HS diploma or GED; Bachelor’s degree from accredited university or college in biology, chemistry, environmental science, or other related field preferred;
• One (1) year of related work experience of hands-on utility plant operations or maintenance of water and/or wastewater systems;
• Or equivalent training, education, and/or experience; and
• Valid Driver’s License.

Licenses and Certifications

• Possession of a valid Texas driver’s license with good driving record and ability to maintain while employed;
• Possession of TCEQ-issued Customer Service Inspector License within 18 months of start date;
• Possession of current TCEQ-issued Water Operators License or ability to obtain within one (1) year of start date.

Special Requirements

• Position is subject to callback during and after business hours.

• Knowledge of City policies and procedures and ability to interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies and regulations;
• Knowledge of techniques involved in taking water samples and performing related field measurements;
• Knowledge of standard safety processes, work gear and procedures;
• Knowledge of functions and purposes of water treatment systems;
• Knowledge of basic principles of chemistry, biology and mathematics;
• Knowledge of basic laboratory analysis techniques;
• Knowledge of the functions and purposes of water treatment systems;
• Skill in the operation and use of standard office software which includes databases and presentation programs, along with standard Microsoft products;

• Ability to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, with co-workers, the public, and elected and appointed officials;
• Ability to operate heavy equipment;

• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with City administration, other employees, and the general public.