Assistant Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

American Water • York, PA

22h • Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator maintains operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant under a Supervisor’s guidance to meet the NPDES Permit. The role helps ensure equipment operates safely and efficiently, learns equipment operation and maintenance, makes process-control changes under the supervision of a licensed Supervisor and/or according to Standard Operating Procedures, and uses the GE Computer System and ProcessBook. The operator may oversee plant operations when a Supervisor is absent and operates equipment used to thicken and dewater sludge associated with the anaerobic digesters. Other duties include cleaning, completing work orders, answering phones during off hours, and entering requests in Kronos Telestaff.

The position includes making physical rounds to identify equipment problems and unsafe conditions; completing work orders; operating sludge thickening, dewatering, cake-disposal, and bulking-agent equipment; taking and recording sludge blanket readings and samples; preparing and handling chemicals; completing operator reports; and cleaning tanks, clarifiers, basements, and work areas. The operator monitors plant processes using GE and PI or equivalent software, identifies trends and malfunctions, and submits maintenance requests through EAM or an equivalent system. Minor maintenance may be performed to address clogs or fouling, but equipment disassembly is excluded.

The operator participates in training on equipment, treatment processes, Standard Operating Procedures, and control software, and builds knowledge of wastewater treatment plant operations and routine maintenance. Under direction of authorized supervisors and managers, the operator makes process changes through the GE Computer System or field HOA switches and helps reassign equipment when needed. When overseeing operations without a Supervisor, the operator assigns areas of responsibility, completes shift paperwork, records leave requests, helps maintain staffing through necessary overtime, and contacts Sewer Maintenance for sewer blockages.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalency.
• Over one year as a York WWTP Operator I and/or Management discretion.
• Valid Class C Pennsylvania Driver’s License.
• Must obtain a DEP license as per contract.
• Ability to read and accurately record meter and gauge readings.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to apply practical arithmetic, including fractions, percentages, ratios, proportions, addition, subtraction, and measurement.
• Ability to write reports, business letters, expositions, and summaries using proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
• Ability to follow good documentation practices.
• Ability to read papers, periodicals, journals, manuals, dictionaries, thesauruses, and encyclopedias.

Responsibilities

• Maintain safe and efficient operation of the Wastewater Treatment Plant under a Supervisor’s guidance and in accordance with the NPDES Permit.
• Make physical rounds of the plant to identify potential equipment problems and unsafe conditions.
• Complete assigned work orders and help maintain a clean and safe working environment.
• Operate equipment used to thicken and dewater sludge going to and drawn from the anaerobic digesters, as well as equipment for cake disposal and bulking-agent addition.
• Take and record sludge blanket readings in primary and secondary clarifiers, take periodic samples, and report high levels to a Supervisor.
• Prepare, receive, and dispense chemicals; complete Operator reports; and clean tanks, clarifiers, basements, and work areas.
• Perform minor maintenance to address clogs or equipment fouling, excluding equipment disassembly.
• Monitor plant processes using GE and PI ProcessBook or equivalent software, identify operating trends and equipment malfunctions, and initiate maintenance requests through EAM or an equivalent program.
• Participate in training on equipment, wastewater treatment processes, Standard Operating Procedures, and GE and PI ProcessBook or equivalent software.
• Make process-control changes under the direction and supervision of authorized supervisors and managers, including using field HOA switches to start and stop equipment.
• Direct and assist with equipment reassignment in response to malfunctions or other needs.
• Oversee plant operations in the Supervisor’s absence, assign operator responsibilities, complete daily shift paperwork, record leave requests, and help maintain adequate staffing, including necessary overtime.
• Call Sewer Maintenance when needed to address sewer blockages.
• Perform cleaning, work-order, off-hours phone-answering, and Kronos Telestaff request-entry duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Health benefits package.
• Opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve a career.
• Benefits focused on health and wellness, emotional well-being, and savings for current and future goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED