Wastewater Operator / Operator in Training

American Water•Pacific Grove, CA

3d•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 diploma or equivalent required
Valid driver's license required
Any person hired transferred or promoted to the position of Wastewater Operator must take and pass the Wastewater Operator Grade I certification as provided by the applicable regulatory agency, within one year of employment or transfer or promotion into the position and must obtain a Wastewater Grade II certification within thirty (30) months of the employment or transfer date, subject to the requirements of the applicable regulatory agency.
Must have and maintain an appropriate valid California Driver’s license.
Must have and maintain Class B with tanker endorsement within two years of hire or reclassification date but is desired upon time of awarding the position.

Nice To Haves

One year of mechanical, utility, or manufacturing experience preferred
CDL license preferred
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Word and Excel highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Start-up, shut-down, routine operations, and periodic operating checks of plant equipment, to include but not be limited to pumping systems, chemical feeders, auxiliary equipment, and measuring and control systems.
Perform routine preventive maintenance, such as lubrication, operating adjustments, cleaning, and painting equipment.
Load and unload chemicals either by hand or using chemical-handling equipment, i.e. hand trucks, hoists and/or chemical transfer pumps.
Perform corrective maintenance on plant mechanical equipment and telemetry, i.e. chemical feed pumps, motors, and valves.
Maintain plant records, including operating logs, daily diaries, chemical inventories, data logs and SCADA data/trends.
Monitor the status of plant operating guidelines, such as flows, pressures, chemical feeds, levels and water quality indicators.
Performs regular Water Quality sampling, 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.
Order chemicals, parts, and tools.
Conduct safety inspections, follow safety rules for plant operations, and also participate in safety tailgate meetings.
Communicate effectively with other operators and supervisors on the technical level expected for the position.
Make arithmetic calculations to determine chemical feed rates, flow quantities, detention and contact times, and hydraulic loadings as required for plant operations.
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.
Drives a company vehicle and operates equipment according to established safety procedures and policies.