Environmental Sampling Technician (Lab Services)

Spartanburg Water & Sewer•Spartanburg, SC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Under limited general supervision, Environmental Sampling Techs are required to work independently and efficiently, providing a vital role in compliance sample representation and presenting accurate data for Spartanburg Water. They are responsible for the collection of state regulatory and routine compliance sampling programs to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory and permit requirements, requiring precise documentation, acid preservation, and transporting samples. Environmental Sampling Techs complete the required complex sampling protocols and documentation as prescribed by regulatory agencies and report to the Laboratory Field Services Coordinator.

Requirements

High School diploma or equivalent
Ability to work independently and efficiently
Precise documentation skills
Ability to perform complex sampling protocols and documentation
Ability to drive to and from sampling sites
Ability to prepare sample bottles, including specialized cleaning and adding chemical preservatives
Ability to label and organize samples
Ability to ensure samples are valid and representative
Required to participate in after-hours on-call duty
Ability to communicate with industrial user operators
Ability to collect and preserve samples in accordance with proper procedures
Ability to complete and maintain proper legible calibration and field records
Ability to perform routine field analysis for related parameters
Ability to monitor required water distribution sampling sites
Meticulous attention to detail
Ability to read and record water and wastewater flow meters
Ability to perform basic total flow calculations
Ability to prepare samples for shipping purposes
Ability to track daily, weekly, and monthly samples
Ability to perform daily cleaning and sanitizing of sample containers, coolers, and field sampling equipment
Practices good housekeeping
Adheres to all company safety standards
Ensures assigned company vehicle is maintained and in proper safe working conditions

Nice To Haves

Experience with grab and composite sampling techniques
Experience with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits and Safe Drinking Water Act related parameters
Experience with Industrial Discharge Permits
Experience with SC Department of Health and Environmental Control and EPA sampling protocols
Experience with Laboratory Information Management System

Responsibilities

Collection of routine compliance wastewater and compliance drinking water samples in accordance with state permit requirements, ensuring permit required samples are collected using grab and composite sampling techniques.
Collects samples from wastewater treatment facilities, industries, drinking water treatment facilities, rivers, streams, local watersheds, reservoirs, new and rehabilitated pipelines, distribution systems, public and customer’s drinking water locations.
Setting composite samples proportional for time proportional and flow proportional composite sampling.
Cleans sample units for routine and preventative maintenance and prepares for re-use as required.
Demonstrates proper sampling techniques for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits and Safe Drinking Water Act related parameters.
Utilizes time management to perform daily tasks and free time for tasks such as cleaning sampling equipment, cleaning coolers, replacing tubing at wastewater treatment facilities, and participating in the distribution site replacement evaluation program.
Prepares sample bottles for field work, including specialized cleaning, adding required chemical acid preservatives, labeling and organizing into coolers and other subcontract shipping.
Ensures that samples are valid and representative, based upon departmental sampling program.
Participates in after-hours on-call duty requiring working after normal hours and during holidays to resolve emergency situations, such as line breaks, customer complaints, sampler issues, and special sampling.
Locates industrial sampling points and other regulatory sample sites, referring to industrial user permit requirements.
Communicates with industrial user operators when setting up for sample collection, ensuring proper sufficient setup to collect representative samples from industrial discharge sites in accordance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sampling protocols.
Collects and preserves samples for analysis in accordance with proper procedures outlined by the company, SC Department of Health and Environmental Control and EPA, including all proper legible chain of custody forms.
Performs routine daily calibrations of pH meters, Chlorine Meters, and preparation of Chlorine Standards for Calibration.
Calibration of LDO Meter for routine field measurements for pH, chlorine total and free residual, dissolved oxygen, and temperature.
Performs routine field analysis for related parameters using dissolved oxygen meter, pH meter, and performs chlorine residual tests.
Monitors required water distribution sampling sites, collects line repairs, new lines, blow offs for water quality and assists in performing water quality checks locating line failures for unaccounted for water loss.
Reads and records water and wastewater flow meters, records data as required, performing basic total flow calculations for field paperwork, and performs flow calculations to set up for flow proportional sample collection.
Prepares samples for shipping purposes, including preparation of chain of custody reports and sample cooler prep for sample shipment.
Tracks daily, weekly, and monthly samples for compliance and other requirements.
Performs daily cleaning and sanitizing of sample containers and coolers used in transport and all field sampling equipment, prepping for re-use.
Practices good housekeeping adhering to all company safety standards by maintaining neat and clean work areas.
Ensures assigned company vehicle has all loose items secure and there are no unsecure loose items on the floorboard, working areas, or passenger areas.
Ensures the assigned laboratory company vehicles are maintained and in proper safe working conditions, which includes routine weekly vehicle maintenance checks such as checking oil, inspecting tires, and checking tire pressure.