Maintenance Relief Operator

American Water•Scranton, PA

56d•Onsite

About The Position

People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals. We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey. About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and Instagram.

Requirements

High School graduate or state recognized education equivalency certificate.
Valid PA Drivers License
PA DEP Wastewater Operator certificate (Class A E, subclass 1) preferable
Basic computer skills.
College course work and/or degree in biology, chemistry, environmental science or engineering curriculum are preferred.
Attend continuing education as needed for Operator certification renewal.
Communicate in an effective manner both oral and written with the general public and Company personnel.
Read and understand instructions, safety rules, etc.
Mathematical skills sufficient to be able to calculate dosages, surface areas, volumes, weights, measures and algebraic formulas.
Mechanical ability sufficient to operate and maintain pumps, valves, motors and other mechanical equipment related to plant processes.
Physical fitness- capable of lifting and/or carrying 50 lbs. or more on a frequent basis.
Walking up and down stairs.
Working in confined areas.
Environmental conditions including contact with water, chemicals, fumes, odors and dust as a result of working with and handling potentially hazardous water treatment and laboratory chemicals.
Minimum exposure to inclement weather mostly of short duration.

Nice To Haves

PA DEP Wastewater Operator certificate (Class A E, subclass 1) preferable
College course work and/or degree in biology, chemistry, environmental science or engineering curriculum are preferred.

Responsibilities

Monitors, reads, and calculates the flow of sewage through the plant by meters, gauges, and usual inspection; operates pumps and valves to regulate flow and adjust chemical feeding according to established standards.
Performs any combination of the following tasks in sewage disposal under the direction of the plant operator.
Tends pumps, conveyors, blowers, chlorinators, chemical feed equipment and other equipment used to decontaminate waste by settling, aeration, sludge thickening.
Removes coarse material and other obstructions from bar screens to accelerate Influent through initial screening process
Adjusts valves controlling flow velocity through settling tanks to separate sludge by sedimentation.
Determines need for lubrication and fills lubricant containers and greases equipment as needed.
Reads and interprets charts, flowmeters and other gauges to determine operating efficiency of equipment.
Extracts samples, makes process reports, and performs other duties as directed by plant operator.
Performs routine lab analysis.
Performs routine maintenance repairs, such as, but not limited to, shear pins, belts, chains, minor electrical, minor plumbing, flush lines, repair hoses, change filters, and similar jobs
Collects samples and makes routine and more complex chemical and physical tests monitoring for changing conditions and chemical feed requirements.
Logs test results, meter and feed readings, flow rates, maintenance and other data; prepares daily and periodic reports on plant operations.
Inspects pumps, motors, chemical feeders, level controls and other equipment to ensure proper operations; makes adjustments and emergency repairs on plant equipment.
Performs routine and more complex plant cleaning and maintenance such as cleaning clarifiers; cleaning lines; hosing clarifiers and basins; disposing of sludge; cleaning sludge beds; painting structures, equipment and piping; performing routine carpentry.
Maintains plant grounds and facilities.
Maintains and Operates the sludge thickening equipment, to include but not limited to polymer system and storage tank.
Performs preventative maintenance and minor repairs to the sludge dewatering/thickening facility treatment equipment.
Determines need for lubrication and fills lubricant containers and greases equipment, as well as maintaining the correct hydraulic fluid levels in all sludge handling equipment.
Responsible to inspect and report any unusual conditions of sludge equipment, including but not limited to, condition of the sludge presses, rollers, belts, wash boxes, polymer feed pumps, pugmill, Serpentex belt and sludge cake loading area.
Follows written Standard Operating Procedures created for the operation of the sludge handling equipment.
Completes Sludge Handler Daily task sheet as well as assigned work orders.
Change out chemical totes and maintains chemical feed system to ensure proper operation,
Collects samples, runs process control testing such as but not limited to sludge cake pH, % solids testing.
Records test results on daily benchsheet.
Perform these tests several times per shift to monitor for changing conditions and chemical feed requirements.
Logs test results, meter and feed readings, flow rates, maintenance and other data; prepares daily and periodic reports on plant operations.
Makes adjustments on chemical feed systems and presses to maintain optimal sludge handling operation
Performs the cleaning and upkeep of the sludge handling equipment and facility.