Water System Operator

tucsonaz; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Tucson Water Department is seeking a Water System Operator to operate, monitor, and control our water treatment facilities, distribution systems, and related equipment. You will identify issues, adjust procedures, and ensure reliable water supply, quality, and pressure for customers.

Responsibilities include analyzing SCADA data, maintaining logs, and coordinating with field crews to respond to alarms and scheduled maintenance.

Qualifications

• ADEQ Water Treatment Grade 2 or equivalent out-of-state certification.
• ADEQ Water Distribution Grade 2 or equivalent out-of-state certification.
• ADEQ Water Treatment Certification Grade 3 within 12 months of hire.
• ADEQ Water Distribution Certification Grade 3 within 12 months of hire.
• Pre-employment medical tests: Basic Physical, Non-NIDA Drug Test, Respirator Physical.

Responsibilities

• Operates, monitors, and controls water treatment facilities and distribution systems using SCADA; adjusts operations to meet daily demands and maintain water quality and pressure.
• Collects, tests, and analyzes water samples from various locations to ensure regulatory compliance and system performance.
• Responds to service calls, coordinates with field staff, and communicates with external utilities about outages and project progress.

Education

ADEQ Water Treatment Grade 2

ADEQ Water Distribution Grade 2

ADEQ Water Treatment Certification Grade 3

ADEQ Water Distribution Certification Grade 3

Tools

SCADA

Job description

Posting Close Date

Applicants must submit their completed application by 09-30-2026 at 11:59 p.m. MST.

Save the date: Interviews will be held October 22, 2026.

About this job

The Water System Operator at the City of Tucson's Water Department is responsible for operating, monitoring, and controlling water treatment facilities, distribution systems, and related equipment. The Water System Operator is responsible for identifying problems within the water system and making appropriate adjustments to ensure appropriate water supply, quality, and pressure.

Essential duties include but are not limited to:

• Utilizes (SCADA) to monitor and operate the Potable Distribution System and Advanced Oxidation Process Plant. Analyzes the reports to determine the required pumpage to meet daily demands. Operates and monitors reservoirs to ensure our storage capacity meets system demand. Monitors and sustains pressure zones ensuring customers have satisfactory pressure. Exercises and operates potable groundwater wells to sustain Water Quality (WQ) standards and meet daily system demands. Responds to SCADA alarms by making proper adjustments in the distribution system. Assesses real-time data from online water quality monitoring instruments and adjusts the chemical injection dosage to comply with local, state, and federal regulations. Makes system adjustments to accommodate the preventative maintenance, water quality sampling, and any miscellaneous work being performed by field staff. Operates and monitors various wells, vessels, stations, and facilities to ensure proper flow and treatment. Utilizes the logs, notes, and various databases to document events and communicate with staff. Dispatches field crews to flush systems when chlorine residuals fall below or over action levels.
• Drives to various locations to collect, test, and analyze water samples. Adjusts chemical feed rates to comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Receives and resolves service calls from internal and external customers providing accurate and timely information. Generates service requests when field staff reports activities requiring immediate attention. Communicates with external utilities to monitor power outages, track external project progress, and resolve field issues. Notifies internal divisions of scheduled and unscheduled water outages. Receives and resolves after-hours emergency phone calls on nights, weekends, and holiday shifts. Enters relevant information into SCADA and site-specific databases ensuring documentation of events is available for staff. Notifies appropriate parties of outag

Required at the time of application:

• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Water Treatment Grade 2 or equivalent out-of-state water certification
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Water Distribution Grade 2 or equivalent out-of-state water certification

Required within 12-months of hire as a condition of probation and must be maintained throughout employment in this classification:

• ADEQ Water Treatment Certification Grade 3
• ADEQ Water Distribution Certification Grade 3

The following pre-employment medical tests apply to this position:

• Basic Physical
• Non-NIDA Drug Test
• Respirator Physical