Wastewater Operator

3M•Cottage Grove, MN

17d•Onsite

About The Position

The Wastewater Operator is responsible for the overall operation of the Cottage Grove Wastewater and Water Quality Plants and for meeting applicable State and Federal agency requirements. The role operates and monitors treatment processes and equipment, coordinates operating conditions across shifts, responds to process upsets, and supports the plant through equipment upkeep, safety practices, records management, and laboratory testing. The position requires mandatory rotating shift work, and overtime may be required, including work beyond eight hours per day or 40 hours per week. The work location is Cottage Grove, Minnesota. Operators use plant equipment and computer controls to maintain process conditions, monitor wastewater and process water, adjust chemical treatments, and perform routine equipment troubleshooting and maintenance. Duties also include hazardous-waste handling, safety equipment checks, use of required protective equipment, maintenance of operational and compliance records, and communication with supervisors, process engineers, management, and coworkers. The role involves work in conditions that may include confined spaces, noise, heights, unpleasant odors, heat, cold, rain, and potentially hazardous areas.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Ability to obtain a Class D Wastewater license within 12–15 months of hire.
Ability to work mandatory rotating shifts.
Overtime may be required, including more than eight hours per day and more than 40 hours per week.
Ability to work in confined spaces, loud environments, at heights, around unpleasant odors, in heat, cold, and rain, and in potentially hazardous areas.
Ability to follow safety procedures and use required PPE and respirators as needed.
Regular job attendance is required.

Nice To Haves

Ability to read and understand training manuals, safety regulations, federal and state regulations, and other regulations.
Ability to comprehend and apply written and verbal directions and standard operating procedures.
Knowledge of basic mathematics, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
Computer skills sufficient to use standard and customized software.
Minnesota Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Class D certification or higher.
Experience working and collaborating in diverse, multicultural, and inclusive environments.

Responsibilities

Coordinate operating conditions between all shifts.
Operate and adjust process controls and equipment, including pumps, screens, compressors, blowers, generators, tanks, sludge-thickening belts, thermal oxidizers, rotating equipment, sewer systems, ponds, carbon and ion-exchange systems, filtration and distillation systems, regeneration systems, and instrumentation.
Monitor and control plant functions using computer information, automatic controllers, or manual controls, maintaining appropriate process parameters such as pressure, temperature, and tank levels.
Operate, control, and monitor wastewater treatment phases, Water Quality buildings, and regeneration systems.
Monitor wastewater and process water conditions and add or adjust chemicals as needed.
Respond to spills, stoppages, and process upsets by taking appropriate corrective action.
Perform preventive maintenance, inspect equipment, troubleshoot operational and equipment problems, and make routine adjustments to motors, pumps, and other equipment.
Clean tanks, weirs, pumps, and other process-control equipment using hand and power tools; clean and maintain facility equipment, piping, valves, offices, and laboratory areas.
Perform hazardous-waste management duties in accordance with 3M guidelines, including handling, mixing, disposing, storing, shipping, and preparing labels, containers, and documentation as applicable.
Change filters and resin in water-filtration systems as needed.
Check and service safety equipment and stations, including fire extinguishers and eyewash stations.
Use appropriate safety equipment, including respirators and toxic or explosive atmosphere monitoring equipment, and follow plant safety requirements, PPE procedures, lockout/tagout, confined-space entry, line-opening, and spark and open-flame permit procedures.
Attend and participate in department and safety meetings, training, workshops, and other meetings; review relevant documents and stay current on work-area practices and developments.
Use computers and control systems to manage work orders, maintenance activities, tank readings, logbooks, process summaries, and plant operations.
Maintain operational logs, calibration records, analytical-operation records, preventive-maintenance records, and other operational data in an accessible form for inspection by MPCA, EPA, and OSHA.
Apply knowledge of plant permit requirements and perform mathematical calculations related to permits, parameters, chemical feed rates, dosages, and chemical analysis.
Communicate with supervisors, process engineers, and management about operational parameters and problem areas; collaborate with coworkers and teams.
Initiate SWOs when necessary to maintain plant operations and meet State and Federal guidelines.
Conduct process-control tests, collect and test samples, and analyze samples.
Perform other assigned or apparent duties and maintain regular job attendance.
Comply with corporate policies, procedures, and security standards, and contribute to 3M’s Environmental Health and Safety culture by following safety policies, identifying hazards, and engaging in continuous improvement.