Water Treatment Plant Operator

NCWOA; Carrboro (NC); On-site; USD 57,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid holidays

Educational reimbursement

Cell phone stipend

Job summary

OWASA is seeking a Treatment Plant Operator for the Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant. The role requires teamwork, a strong work ethic, adaptability, and excellent communication to support organizational goals.

Responsibilities include operating and maintaining the plant, ensuring regulatory compliance, performing inspections, collecting samples, troubleshooting equipment, and aiding with chemical deliveries.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED with one year of experience in a water treatment facility or transferable skills.
• North Carolina Class C Surface Water Operator’s Certification – prefer active; acquire within 6 months of employment.
• Valid North Carolina Driver’s License.
• Good working knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, and bacteriology.
• Ability to meet safety sensitive position requirements (full-face respirator, HAZWOPER, etc.) and meet physical requirements (up to 50 pounds).

Responsibilities

• Maintain knowledge of operation and maintenance of the water treatment plant.
• Ensure regulatory compliance by monitoring processes and adjusting chemical feeds.
• Complete plant inspections, collect samples, and troubleshoot processes and equipment.
• Assist with offloading bulk chemical deliveries.
• Utilize machinery and equipment including SCADA, forklift, lab, and office equipment.
• Work weekends, holidays, nights, and rotating shifts.

Skills

Team player

Communication skills

Adaptability

Mathematics knowledge

Chemistry knowledge

Bacteriology knowledge

Safety awareness

Education

High School diploma or GED

Tools

SCADA

Forklift

Laboratory equipment

Office equipment

Job description

Seeking a Treatment Plant Operator to join our Jones Ferry Road Water Treatment Plant team. Looking for a team player with an excellent work ethic and adaptability. Ideal candidate should have a positive attitude, excellent communication skills and the willingness to work with the team to fulfill the goals of the organization.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Maintain knowledge of the principles and practices applied to the operation and maintenance of the water treatment plant.
• Ensure regulatory compliance by monitoring water treatment plant processes and maintaining proper plant balance to include adjusting chemical feeds.
• Complete plant inspections, collect samples, and troubleshoot processes and equipment.
• Assist with offloading bulk chemical deliveries.
• Utilize various types of machinery and equipment including SCADA, forklift, lab, and general office equipment.
• Job requires working weekends, holidays, nights, and rotating shifts.

Successful candidates should have:

• High School diploma or GED with one year of experience working in a water treatment facility or prior knowledge, skills and abilities that may be transferrable.
• Position requires a North Carolina Class C Surface Water Operator’s Certification – prefer certification to already be active. If not, candidate must acquire it within 6 months of employment.
• Valid North Carolina (NC) Driver’s License.
• Good working knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, and bacteriology.
• Ability to maintain requirements of a safety sensitive position (cleared to wear a full-face respirator, complete HAZWOPER training, etc.); and meet the physical requirements that include frequently exerting up to 50 pounds and walking/standing often.

Team members are our most important resource. Pay and Benefits include:

• Salary Range is $56,596 – $84,894
• Membership in the NC Local Government Employee Retirement System; 5% Employer 457 Deferred Compensation contribution; Retirement Health Savings account
• Employer paid Health, Dental, Vision, Life insurance, Dependent Life, Long-term Disability
• Vacation, Sick, Personal, Bereavement and Parental Leave; 12 Paid Holidays
• Educational Reimbursement: Bonus Pay for Additional Certifications and/or Education
• Cell Phone Stipend
• Ability to transfer unused sick leave from preceding NC Local Government or State agency employer
• Much, much more!

OWASA is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to continuous improvement, sustainability, creativity, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. This recruitment will close on October 28, 2026.