WATER TREATMENT OPERATOR 5885 B (Revised 05-05-26)

City of Los Angeles; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 82,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Los Angeles is seeking a Water Treatment Operator to operate, regulate, maintain and repair equipment used in potable water treatment. The position may start in trainee pay grades with extensive on-the-job training and progression possible to higher pay grades.

Applicants must hold a valid T2 or higher Water Treatment Operator license and a D1 or higher Water Distribution Operator license, plus a valid California driver’s license.

Qualifications

• Entry-level positions are trainee positions with extensive on-the-job training.
• Must obtain a T3 or higher Water Treatment Operator license within three years.
• A valid California Class C driver’s license is required at the time of appointment.
• Operators must be medically evaluated to wear SCBA and must be free of facial hair that would interfere with a proper mask seal.
• At the time of filing, a valid T2 (or higher) Water Treatment Operator license and a D1 (or higher) Water Distribution Operator license are required.

Responsibilities

• Operate, regulate, maintain and repair equipment used in potable water treatment.
• Assignments may include night shifts or long on/off cycles; work locations include LA Aqueduct Filtration Plant or field operations.
• Work with hazardous chemicals and wear SCBA as required by Cal/OSHA.

Job description

ANNUAL SALARY

$81,703 to $101,497; $122,252 to $129,059; $124,883 to $131,836; $133,026 to $140,438; $134,529 to $142,025

NOTES

1. Candidates from the eligible list are normally appointed to vacancies in the lower pay grade positions.
2. Annual salary is at the start of the pay range. The current salary range is subject to change. Please confirm the starting salary with the hiring department before accepting a job offer.
3. For information regarding reciprocity between the City of Los Angeles departments and LADWP, go to http://per.lacity.org/Reciprocity_CityDepts_and_DWP.pdf.

A Water Treatment Operator does skilled work in the operation, regulation, maintenance and repair of equipment used in the treatment of potable water.

NOTE

Entry-level positions are trainee positions. A Water Treatment Operator in a training position must obtain a T3 (or higher) Water Treatment Operator license and be assigned to a permanent position within three years. A Water Treatment Operator in a trainee position receives extensive on-the-job training, which must be completed prior to assignment to a permanent position. Assignment to the highest pay grade may require higher-grade certification.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

A Water Treatment Operator may be assigned to a night shift or continuous shift requiring 10 consecutive days on shift and 4 days off. Routine assignments will be made to either the Los Angeles Aqueduct Filtration Plant or the field operations section of the Water Operations Division. Work locations include the greater Los Angeles and Owens Valley areas.

Water Treatment Operators will be required to work with hazardous chemicals. Cal/OSHA Regulations require that all employees engaged in such work must wear a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA). Therefore, all Water Treatment Operators will be medically evaluated to certify that they are physically able to wear the SCBA and must be free of any facial hair that would impair a good SCBA mask-to-face seal.

A valid T2 (or higher) Water Treatment Operator license and a D1 (or higher) Water Distribution Operator License issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board are required at the time of filing.

PROCESS NOTES

1. A copy of the current Water Treatment Operator and Water Distribution Operator licenses must be submitted with the application and maintained during the course of employment.
2. Applicants must attach a copy of their Water Treatment Operator and Water Distribution Operator License to the on-line application before the application is submitted. If the Licenses are attached after the on-line application has been submitted, they will not be available to the City and the applicants will not be credited with having submitted the Licenses. Applicants who fail to submit the Licenses at the time of filing by attaching it to the on-line application will not be considered further in this examination.
3. As a condition of employment, a valid Class C driver’s license issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is required at the time of appointment. Applicants will be disqualified or deemed ineligible for hire if their DMV record reflects three or more moving violations and/or at-fault accidents, or a conviction of a major moving violation within the last 36 months in any state or jurisdiction. The City of Los Angeles reserves the right to issue a notice of disqualification or ineligibility at any time before a final job offer is extended.

On-line job bulletins are also available at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacity.

NOTES

1. Applicants are urged to apply early to ensure you have time to resolve any technical issues you may encounter.
2. All application materials must be complete at the time of filing for you to be considered a candidate in this examination.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications will only be accepted on-line on the dates listed below:

From FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026 to THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2026

In accordance with Civil Service Rule 4.2, all applicants who apply may not be tested in this examination. To meet anticipated hiring needs, only a limited number of qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the selection process in the following order: 1) Applicants currently employed by the City of Los Angeles who meet the minimum requirements, or are on a reserve list. 2) Remaining applicants who meet the minimum requirements in sufficient numbers to meet hiring needs based on a random sampling of those qualified candidates. Applicants not selected to be tested may re-apply in a subsequent filing period in order to be considered for that period's selection process.

Examination Weight

Multiple-Choice Test - 100%

The examination will consist entirely of a multiple-choice test administered and proctored on-line. In the on-line multiple-choice test, candidates may be tested for knowledge of: the function and operation of water treatment materials and equipment sufficient to note abnormalities and or malfunctions, make repairs, replace equipment, and/or to report need for repair; variations in process flow; basic chemistry and biology associated with water treatment; basic water treatment terms, methods, and practices; procedures used for chemical testing, “jar tests” and water samples for residual chlorine, ozone, and pH; appropriate residual and treatment levels of chlorine and other chemicals used in water treatment; arithmetic and algebra sufficient to calculate unit conversions and perform calculations such as flow rates, weights, and volumes; scales, instruments, and units for measurements related to water treatment such as pressure, temperature, weight, volume, oxygen, ozone and nitrogen purity, and concentration of solutions; OSHA and other general safety regulations, procedures, and practices related to water treatment, including Federal, State, and local laws and regulations; and the ability to: read and interpret material sufficient to apply the information to specific situations; read line graphs, bar charts, and other types of graphs and in adjusting rapidly to changes in scale; use gauges and other standardized equipment to adjust equipment used in water treatment; use and care for hand tools and powered hand tools; use computer terminals sufficient to retrieve and enter data or control processes of water treatment; relate to the public pleasantly and courteously; mechanical aptitude sufficient to perform safely and correctly such tasks as using tools based on levers and working with or near equipment with moving parts; and other necessary skills, knowledge, and abilities.

The multiple-choice test will be proctored and administered on-line during a single session. Candidates invited to participate in the on-line multiple-choice test will be able to take the test from a remote location (i.e., their home) using a computer with a webcam and a reliable internet connection. Candidates will receive an e-mail from the City of Los Angeles outlining the dates and specific steps on how to take the multiple-choice test on-line. Candidates who do not complete and submit the remote proctored multiple-choice test on-line using a computer by the specified date and time will not be considered further in this examination.

For candidates who apply between FRIDAY, MAY 8, 2026 and THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2026, it is anticipated that the on-line multiple-choice test will be administered between TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2026 and MONDAY, JULY 27, 2026.

FAQs for on-line testing are available at http://per.lacity.org/index.cfm?content=employmenttestingprocess. Candidates who do not have the required equipment may have the option to take the multiple-choice test onsite at a City facility.

1. This examination is based on a validation study, and as provided by Civil Service Commission Rule 4.20, the multiple-choice test will not be subject to candidate inspection.
2. You may take the Water Treatment Operator multiple-choice test only once every 24 months under this bulletin. If you have taken the Water Treatment Operator multiple-choice test during an open filing period in the Personnel Department within the last 24 months, you may not file for this examination at this time.
3. As a covered entity under the Fair Employment and Housing Act and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to its programs, services, and activities. To request a disability accommodation, please complete the Disability Accommodation Form within 14 calendar days of the submittal of the City application. The Disability Accommodation Form can be obtained at http://per.lacity.org/exams/verify_disability.pdf.
4. Applications are accepted subject to review to ensure that minimum qualifications are met. Candidates may be disqualified at any time if it is determined that they do not possess the minimum qualifications stated on this bulletin.
5. A final average score of 70% or higher is required to be placed on the eligible list.
6. Your rank on the employment list may change as scores of candidates from other administrations of the examination are merged onto one list.
7. Based on City policy, you may be required to undergo mandatory drug and alcohol testing prior to and during employment in this class.
8. In accordance with Civil Service Rule, Sec. 4.24, review periods may be combined. Candidates in the examination process may file protests as provided in Sec. 4.20, 4.22 and 4.23 as applicable and within the required time frame; however, the Personnel Department may respond to and resolve protests prior to the establishment of the eligible list.

Notice: If you receive and accept an offer of employment to a regular position with the City of Los Angeles, your employee benefit coverage (including health and dental coverage as well as life insurance) will commence approximately six weeks after your original regular appointment. Not all positions in the City receive benefit coverage; you should inquire regarding the availability of employee benefits prior to accepting a position. All City employees are required to be Disaster Service Workers.

THIS EXAMINATION IS TO BE GIVEN

ONLY ON AN OPEN COMPETITIVE BASIS

The City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, creed, color, ancestry, medical condition (cancer), or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.

AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

For additional information and FAQs regarding the City's hiring process, please go to https://per.lacity.org/faqs/employment-testing-process.html