Water Treatment Plant Operator

NCSL International; McDonough, Northern (GA, KY); Hybrid; USD 46,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Henry County Water Authority is seeking an operator to run a surface water treatment plant and ensure potable water meets state and federal standards. The role is part of the Water Production team and requires monitoring chemical feeds, filter performance, and SCADA-based operations.

Responsibilities include adjusting flows, conducting analyses, maintaining equipment, and supporting preventive maintenance. Evening/night shifts with potential weekends are possible; starting salary is $51,000

Qualifications

• Must have a high school diploma or GED.
• At least one year relevant experience preferred.
• Must be licensed by the State of Georgia as a Class I, II, or III Surface Water Treatment Plant Operator.

Responsibilities

• Regulates flows of raw water into the treatment plant per system demand without exceeding withdrawal permit requirements.
• Performs all required process control analyses and makes logical conclusions from them.
• Monitors and maintains proper chemical levels in chemical feed equipment.
• Regulates quantities of chlorine and other chemicals per process control analyses to meet water quality regulations.
• Monitors filter head loss, turbidity, and particle counts to determine backwash frequency and perform backwash procedures.
• Maintains proper levels in clear-wells and storage tanks via SCADA and related equipment.
• Calculates and enters data onto network servers: pump times, chemicals used, psi, rainfall, flows, etc.
• Cleans sedimentation basins and filter beds; conducts regular maintenance as directed by supervisors.

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Summary: Under supervision of the Water Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor, operates surface water treatment plant equipment to adequately supply a clean potable water that meets all State and Federal requirements.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Regulates flows of raw water into treatment plant as determined by system demand without exceeding withdrawal permit requirements.
• Performs all required process control analyses. Makes logical conclusions based on these analyses.
• Monitors and maintains proper chemical levels in chemical feed equipment.
• Regulates specified amounts of chemicals such as chlorine, alum, polymer, lime, phosphate, carbon, fluoride, potassium permanganate, etc. as determined by process control analysis to ensure compliance with all State and Federal water quality regulations.
• Regulates flows through filters, equal to raw water flows to maintain proper filter levels for optimum filter performance.
• Monitors filter head loss, turbidity and particle counts to determine proper filter backwash frequency and performs filter backwash procedures determined by Operations Supervisors, Water Production.
• Maintains proper levels in clear-wells and storage tanks by monitoring and operation of SCADA system and equipment.
• Calculates and enters data onto network server such as pump times, filter runs, chemicals used, psi, process control, rainfall, flow totals, etc.
• Operates sludge siphon equipment at regular intervals as determined by Operations Supervisors, Water Production.
• Cleans sedimentation basins and filter beds with fire hoses at regular intervals as determined by Operations Supervisors, Water Production.
• Monitors equipment performance and reports any malfunctions to manager. Assist in repair of localized equipment and performs some minor repair.
• Maintains calibration of chemical feeders. Prints calibration charts and places in the folder for ready access by all operators.
• Responsible for maintenance of floors and building, taking out trash, unloading trucks, general cleaning of all equipment.
• Makes continuous effort to improve operations and achieve plant optimization.
• Regularly monitors and responds to treatment process changes by interpreting charts, graphs, gauges, meters and test results to determine treatment process requirements and meet water quality standards; informs supervisor, co-workers and other departments of potential problems and hazards.
• Assists maintenance personnel in the inspection, consults on maintenance and repair of the treatment plants' equipment and facilities; performs basic preventive maintenance and servicing of equipment and facilities.
• Calibrates, inspects and cleans chlorine residual meters, turbidity meters, particle counters and compliance instruments; maintains records of compliance instrument maintenance and calibration as required by state and federal regulations.
• Assists in the review and development of standard operating procedures.
• Maintains an inventory of consumable supplies, glassware, lab ware and equipment; requests supplies to meet operational requirements; monitors prepared media and stock chemicals in inventory and disposes of expired supplies promptly and in accordance with established procedures.

Education and/or Experience: Must have a high school diploma or GED. At least one-year relevant experience preferred. Must be licensed by the State of Georgia as a Class I, II, or III Surface Water Treatment Plant Operator.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations: Valid Georgia Driver's License.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear and taste or smell. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk and climb or balance. The employee is occasionally required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Schedule is an overnight shift and may include weekends and holidays.

Starting salary is $51,000 depending on class level and experience.

Henry County Water Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer.