Wastewater Plant Operator

City of Boca Raton • Boca Raton, FL

3d

About The Position

The Wastewater Plant Operator performs skilled work operating and maintaining a wastewater treatment plant and related equipment. The position supports safe and efficient wastewater processing and the health and environmental standards of the community. Work is performed under regular supervision.

Requirements

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Florida DEP Class C wastewater operator license or higher.
• For the Class C Operator level: one year of experience operating a wastewater treatment plant.
• For the Class B Operator level: Florida DEP Class B wastewater license and three years of experience operating a wastewater treatment plant.
• For the Class A Operator level: Florida DEP Class A wastewater license and five years of experience operating a wastewater treatment plant.
• Valid State of Florida Class E driver's license, with no more than six points in a three-year period.
• Must have abstained from cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products for at least one year before hire and must abstain from tobacco use throughout employment, both on and off duty.
• Knowledge of wastewater treatment plant operating characteristics and maintenance requirements.
• Knowledge of wastewater treatment chemical, biological, and physical processes, including coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, activated sludge, and anaerobic digestion.
• Knowledge of safety protocols, hazardous chemical handling, treatment-plant equipment, and wastewater treatment instruments.
• Basic mathematical skills for flow calculations, chemical dosages, and concentration measurements.
• Skill in troubleshooting, operating control panels and treatment equipment, conducting laboratory tests, accurately recording data and flows, and communicating operational issues.
• Ability to detect mechanical equipment faults and determine appropriate corrective action; follow oral and written instructions; perform physically demanding work, including lifting and moving equipment in varied weather; prioritize work and manage time; and make informed decisions quickly during operational challenges or equipment failures.

Responsibilities

• Tour the plant and inspect equipment, including pumps, aerators, clarifiers, hypochlorite systems, filters, and thickeners.
• Collect samples and conduct tests such as pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, ammonia, and other routine laboratory tests.
• Follow safety protocols and perform routine maintenance, cleaning, housekeeping, and preventive maintenance.
• Respond to emergencies, including spills and equipment failures.
• Use the SCADA and telemetry systems to monitor and control equipment and respond to alarms.
• Operate and adjust motors, pumps, blowers, valves, chlorine dosing, and polymer dosing to meet changing operating conditions.
• Troubleshoot process and operational problems and make minor or emergency repairs.
• Skim grease from settling tanks; pump sludge, drain tanks, rotate equipment, clean weirs and clarifiers, and service pumps, motors, and other equipment.
• Pressure-clean equipment, buildings, and associated areas.
• Monitor chlorine residuals and adjust chlorine feed rates.
• Operate sludge-thickening and dewatering systems.
• Call out field crews for alarm situations and investigate customer reports of backups, odors, and related issues; dispatch response crews.
• Operate forklift and backhoe-style equipment.
• Record operational data and flows, and communicate operational issues to team members and supervisors.

Benefits

• No-cost employee medical, dental, and vision plans.
• Twelve paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, and three floating holidays.
• Annual continuous service benefit payout after five years of service.
• Flexible work schedule.
• Two pension or retirement options.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED