Water Treatment Plant Operator I

Town of Surf City; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Town of Surf City is seeking a Water Treatment Plant Operator in Wilmington, NC. The role is a split position with responsibility for maintenance of the water and sewer system, and supervision duties alongside the Collections and Distribution Supervisor.

The job requires working weekdays, weekends, holidays, and some nights, totaling a 40-hour week as a non-exempt employee. Responsibilities include meter inspection and repair, MTU management, field work, laboratory testing, SCADA operations, and

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Valid NC Driver’s License and water/utility related licenses within stated timeframes.
• Knowledge of water treatment operations, maintenance, and safety precautions.

Responsibilities

• Inspect meters and MTUs for tampering and operation; report issues.
• Perform field repairs and routine maintenance on water/sewer lines and equipment.
• Operate SCADA to monitor water supply, wastewater pumping, and treatment processes.
• Maintain records and respond to after-hours calls and emergencies.

Skills

Meter reading

SCADA operation

Safety compliance

Record keeping

Emergency response

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

SCADA system

Meters & MTUs

Water line tools

Job description

Hiring Range: $47,424 - $54,537 The Water Treatment Plant Operator is a split position, working the majority of the time with the Collections and Distribution Supervisor, performing maintenance of the water and sewer system. A portion of the week is spent alongside the Water Treatment Plant Operator in Responsible Charge, supervising the operation and maintenance of a water treatment system under the guidelines issued by the North Carolina Division of Water Quality. This position requires work during the week, on weekends, on holidays, and some nights. This is a 40-hour-per-week non-exempt position. These duties and responsibilities are not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the Town.

• Examines meters and Meter Transmission Unit (MTU); inspects for and reports signs of tampering, inoperative meters and MTU’s, leaking, malfunctioning, or damaged meters and registers, tags property, hazards including gas odors and exposed electrical wiring, and violations of backflow prevention, advises the public of ordinances, codes and procedures, instructs the public on reading meters and calculating consumption for personal records, and relays inquiries to the supervisor when appropriate.
• Posts non-payment notices and shut-down notices, turns water services on and off as required, and makes appointments for readings to be re-checked.
• Makes field repairs to water meters and MTU’s, performs routine maintenance, pulls meters for calibration, cleans brush, dirt, or vines away from meter boxes using appropriate equipment and tools, and generates requests for larger repairs as needed.
• Locates water meters, water lines, sewer lines, and sewer cleanouts for work construction crews.
• Assists in making emergency repairs of water and sewer lines.
• Installs and repairs water and sewer lines as well as other related technical tasks including but not limited to excavating to grade, laying and aligning pipe, using special tapping equipment to install valves, lateral water and sewer lines, blow-offs, hydrants, and meters.
• Secures work area and re-routes traffic with consideration for public safety and convenience when necessary, per safety guidelines.
• Accomplishes hookups and flushes to test installations according to established town specifications.
• Performs weekly inspections, maintenance, and record keeping of the Town’s sewer pump stations in accordance with state law.
• Operates and performs routine equipment maintenance and minor field repairs such as lubrication, checking fluid levels, and replacing belts and other components, as well as trailering and transporting equipment to worksites per manufacturer's recommendations for boom truck, excavator, backhoe, and vacuum truck.
• Assists with the preparation and maintenance of required reports and files.
• Ensures compliance with federal, state, town, and department regulations and policies.
• Consults with supervisor and advises as to the status of operations and repair activities.
• Uses sound judgment in making decisions.
• Coordinates with other departments, divisions, and outside agencies as required.
• Maintains adequate disinfection at all times.
• Makes adjustments to wells and tanks to maintain proper flow of water.
• Makes well field runs to check pump drawdowns, proper operation of motors, pumps, valves, and other equipment.
• Schedules sample collection.
• Collects water samples and delivers to the laboratory.
• Performs routine laboratory tests, such as PH, Total Chlorine, Chlorine Residual, Monochloramine, Free and Total Ammonia, Iron, Hardness, and Phosphate.
• Troubleshoots problem areas in the water supply system.
• Assists in the repair of pumps, motors, valves, chlorinators, and small engines.
• Investigates customer complaints.
• Handles all after-hours calls, both emergency and non-emergency, for the Town’s water systems.
• Maintains records on water usage and well activity.
• Operates SCADA system to control and monitor water supply, monitor wastewater pumping station activity, and the land treatment system.
• Works irregular hours including weekends, holidays, and extended hours as needed.
• Performs work during emergency/disaster situations.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Education and Experienc

e

High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and the ability to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job such as those listed above.

Licenses and Professional Certifications

• Valid NC Driver’s License
• Class A Commercial Driver’s License (Within 2 Years)
• Class C-Well North Carolina Water Plant Operator (Within 1 year)
• Class B-Well North Carolina Water Plant Operator (Within 3 Years)

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of the operating characteristics and maintenance requirements of a water treatment plant and spray irrigation system; hydraulic, chemical, and mechanical principles pertinent to water treatment plant operations; installation and repair of irrigation piping; computer applications; occupational hazards of the work; necessary safety precautions; and the use and care of hand tools.

Skilled in detecting flaws in the operation of mechanical equipment and determining proper remedial measures; understanding and following moderately complex oral and written instruction; reading meters and charts accurately; maintaining records of operations; and communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

ICS/NIMS course minimums required for all employees include FEMA IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800. Additionally, employees assigned middle- and upper-level responsibilities within incident operations may also be required to complete additional follow-on courses deemed necessary by Emergency Management and Human Resources staff.

Ability to represent the Town in a professional and respectful manner while interacting with a diverse set of individuals within the workplace and the community.

Working Conditions

Employee is subject to inside environmental conditions having the lighting, temperature, and noise of an open floor-plan office environment. Employee is also exposed to outdoor conditions and may be frequently exposed to weather elements including rain, wind, varying temperatures, etc. In addition, the employee must effectively deal with personal danger, which may include exposure to hazardous chemicals and materials, fumes and smoke, intense heat, electrical hazards, confined or high work places, dangerous animals, extremely loud noises, hazards of working in and near traffic, and natural and man-made disasters. Work performed in this job may place the employee at risk of occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens.

Physical Requirements

A portion of work is performed within an office environment, primarily behind a desk, and frequently includes the operation of a computer. The employee must read and write, and interact with others in person, over the phone, and via other devices. The employee may move about within the facility to access file cabinets, documents, office machinery, and other equipment. Travel is often required to outside sites in order to perform the duties described above, as well as to attend meetings, trainings, events, and other business activities. Work may require walking, standing, bending, crouching, crawling, lifting, carrying, and/or moving equipment, pushing and pulling various objects, climbing stairs and ladders, and operating assigned equipment including motor vehicles. Must be able to perform medium to heavy work exerting up to 75 pounds of force occasionally; and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently; and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.