Production-Treatment Operator I

American Water • Pacific Grove, CA

1d • 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!
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.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Related production and water treatment experience is required.
• Ability to carry out oral and written instructions.
• Ability to read and interpret data, information and documents.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret situations; and use math and mathematical reasoning.
• Ability to demonstrate effective communication skills, and meet with the public as needed.
• Ability to perform basic computer skills.
• One to two years of basic mechanical experience required.
• Requires physical and mechanical abilities.
• Knowledge to operate standard small hand tools.
• Knowledge to operate equipment, including but not limited to: lifting winch, air compressor, grinder, power saw, chain saw, calibration, electronic recording equipment, chlorine testing equipment, and any other special tools necessary to complete duties assigned.
• Any person hired, transferred or promoted, to the position of Production/Treatment Plant Operator must take and pass the Water Treatment Grade I Certification and a Water Distribution Grade 1 certification, as provided by the applicable regulatory agency, within one year of employment or transfer or promotion into the position, and must obtain a Water Treatment Grade II Certification within thirty (30) months of the employment or transfer date, subject to the requirements of the applicable regulatory agency.

Responsibilities

• Ensures facility start-up and shut-down and continuous monitoring of water quality and treatment systems, including but not limited to: wells, pumps, motors, analyzers/ instrumentation, filters, chemical feed systems, auxiliary equipment such as generators, measuring and control systems.
• Checks reservoir levels and release rates and makes adjustment as needed.
• Checks and maintains the fish trap at Los Padres reservoir.
• Inspects and maintains all grounds around pumping plants, tanks, reservoirs, and water treatment plants.
• Performs corrective maintenance and basic troubleshooting of pumping and treatment systems.
• Maintains and repairs regulating stations valves and pilot controls.
• Performs routine preventive maintenance, such as lubrication, operating adjustments, cleaning, and painting equipment at various water facility locations, including but not limited to: wells, pumping plants, tank sites, regulating stations, and water treatment facilities.
• Monitor the status of plant operating guidelines, such as flows, pressures, chemical feeds, levels and water quality indicators.
• Load and unload chemicals either by hand or using chemical-handling equipment, i.e. hand trucks, hoists and/or chemical transfer pumps.
• Maintains recordkeeping, including operating logs, daily diaries, chemical inventories, data logs, reports, and SCADA data/trends.
• Make arithmetic calculations to determine chemical feed rates, flow quantities, detention and contact times, and hydraulic loadings as required for plant operations.
• Performs routine water sampling for water quality, including but not limited to bacteriological, organic and inorganic, point of entry, and process sampling (turbidity, chlorine residuals, pH, etc.) as needed and field lab testing as required.
• Conducts safety inspections and participate in safety tailgate meetings.
• Follows safety rules as they pertain to equipment, facility operations, employees, and calibration of equipment.
• Trains new employees on key accountabilities and communicates effectively with other operators and supervisors on the technical level expected for the position.
• Performs other similar work which he/she may be called upon, and any other work as necessary to satisfactorily complete the job which he/she has been assigned.
• Orders chemicals, parts, and tools.
• Drives a company vehicle and operates equipment according to established safety procedures and policies.

Benefits

• This position may be eligible for annual incentive pay and contracted increases as determined by the collective bargaining agreement, and you will have the opportunity for continued salary growth.
• comprehensive benefits package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs and much more!
• American Water is also proud to offer employees learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees