Water Treatment Technician

Aqua America, Inc.; Kankakee (IL); On-site; USD 36,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

Aqua Illinois, part of Essential Utilities, is seeking a Water Treatment Technician at the Kankakee plant. You will operate and maintain pumping and purification equipment, monitor water quality, and perform required tests to assure safe, compliant water for our community.

This union position involves shift work and overtime; a high school diploma or equivalent, a valid US driver's license, and basic computer skills are required.

Qualifications

• Must read, understand and follow operating instructions written or verbal.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate in writing.
• Ability to interpret measurements and record data accurately.
• Proficient with spreadsheet development and basic data manipulation.
• One-year experience at a water utility preferred.

Responsibilities

• Operate and maintain water treatment plant facilities and equipment.
• Monitor and control chemical feeds, pumps, and detectors.
• Record inspections, tests, data, and measurements for reporting.
• Perform preventive maintenance and emergency repairs as needed.

Skills

Reading and following instructions

Interpersonal communication

Data handling / spreadsheet manipulat

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Technical school in mechanical/instrumentation preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we’re delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities. If you’re looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!

About Essential Utilities. Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.

Are you looking for a fantastic career at Aqua? We have a great opportunity for a Water Treatment Technician at our water treatment plant in Kankakee reporting into the Plant Manager. The duties of the Water Treatment Technician provide the operation and preventative maintenance of pumping and purification equipment, instruments, buildings and grounds, and facilities as are or may be in use throughout the Aqua Illinois Kankakee/Will County Division for the treatment and pumping of water. The position involves shift work and the incumbent should anticipate working various shifts. The Water Treatment Technician position performs all tasks related to the installation, testing, operation, maintenance, emergency repair, relocation, and retirements of all facilities related to the water system and the water pumping and treatment facilities located in Kankakee/Will Counties.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES

• Operate and maintain the facilities and equipment related to the water treatment plant, well facilities, pumping and storage facilities, and water distribution system including but not limited to chemical feed equipment, sludge pumps, high and low service pumps, water pumps and clarifiers.
• Operate valves, electrical switchgear, electrical disconnects and switches.
• Operate and maintain the vehicles and equipment used in the water facilities.
• Perform and record inspections, tests, and data on the systems’ and facilities’ operations.
• Operate, read, interpret, and record as directed all instruments at Company’s facilities.
• Backwash intakes and exercise individual judgment in changing intakes when conditions indicate the desirability of a change.
• Record measurements, verify drawings, and record data for proper record keeping and reporting on the Company’s facilities.
• Monitor bulk chemical inventories, complete inventory reports and order bulk chemicals.
• Prepare reports required by the Company, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the Illinois Commerce Commission, or other jurisdictional entities.
• Operation of laboratory equipment and perform water quality testing, raw, in-process, finished, and distribution water.
• Collects, analyze, and record water samples for regulatory compliance and process control monitoring for proper operation of the systems.
• Perform preventative maintenance, emergency repairs and trouble shoot operational problems on all equipment and facilities.
• As necessary, care for the office and grounds in and around the Company facilities.
• Perform a wide variety of operating, maintenance and custodial duties.
• Demonstrates a conscientious in respect for the responsibility to safeguard the public water supply and prevent pollution of area surface waters.
• Available for overtime work and available for emergency call-out duty to maintain water service continuously to the public.
• Other duties as assigned.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL OR REGISTRATION QUALIFICATIONS

• Must possess a high school diploma or the equivalent, with technical school advanced study in mechanical and/or instrumentation control preferred.
• Must have a valid U.S. Drivers License.
• Must be capable to lift at least 50 (fifty) pounds.
• Must be computer literate and proficient with Microsoft Office applications, being able to demonstrate particular skillfulness with spreadsheet development and the ability to manipulate data, as well as other software applications used in the normal course of business.
• Preferred candidates will have the technical, academic and physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Must be able to readily read, understand and accurately follow operating instructions both written and verbal.
• Preferred candidates will possess mathematical ability to perform calculations to determine various ratios, dosages, volumetric calculations that are required for the operation of the Water Treatment Plants and Water Systems.
• One-year experience at a water utility company preferred.
• Preferred candidates will have excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate in writing with ability to accurately prepare technical reports.
• Must obtain a Class A Public Water Supply Operator license issued by the IL Environmental Protection Agency within six (6) months of employment or eligibility to take examination.

This is a union position based out of the Kankakee Water Plant. Rate of pay is $30.04 per hour.

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Aff…

Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered‑veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.

Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities.

Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.