Water Distribution Operator - Water Treatment Plant

City of Suffolk•Suffolk, VA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

This position coordinates with the Quality Control Division to flush water mains to maintain water quality throughout the distribution system. The operator performs routine inspections of food service and commercial/industrial establishments for compliance with the City's FOG (Fats, Oil, Grease) and Cross Connection Control Programs. Responsibilities include data entry, maintaining records, and scheduling of required FOG and cross connection inspections. The role also involves maintaining and testing backflow devices at the G. Robert House, Jr. Water Treatment Facility on a semi-annual basis, monitoring the program for backflow devices used on hydrant meters, and maintaining, testing, and repairing these devices. The position reports to the Laboratory Manager. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions. Employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description but which are reasonably considered to be incidental to their performance.

Requirements

Completion of an Associate's Degree with major course work in environmental science, engineering, or a related field, and 1 to 2 years of experience in inspections, plumbing, construction, and water treatment ; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities.
Possession of a valid driver's license issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Possession of a current Backflow Tester's License or the ability to obtain within six (6) months.
Knowledge of the federal, State, and local regulations as they pertain to FOG and cross connection control inspections.
Knowledge of chemical and toxins affecting drinking water.
Knowledge of environmental science.
Knowledge of federal, State, and local regulations and guidelines pertaining to drinking water purification.
Ability to organize and interpret data and prepare reports.
Ability to exercise initiative and independent judgement in interpreting and applying standards to a variety of work situations.
Ability to exercise tact and courtesy in frequent contact with the general public.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
Ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural or compositional characteristics (whether similar or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.
Ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments or directions from superiors.
Ability to read a variety of reports, correspondence, instruction manuals, material safety data sheets, etc.; to prepare reports, forms, studies, etc., using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
Ability to speak to people with poise, voice control and confidence.
Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; and to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, to follow oral and written instructions.
Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of technical or professional languages including biological and chemical terminology.
Ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract; multiply and divide; utilize decimals and percentages; understand and apply the theories of algebra.
Ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.
Must be physically able to operate a variety of office equipment including various telephones, computers, two-way radios, etc.
Must also be physically able to operate a motor vehicle.
Must be able to exert up to 110 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.
Must be able to walk, stand, bend, stoop, reach and climb.
Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes accurately in using water treatment equipment and office machinery.
Requires the ability to handle, grasp, lift and move a variety of items such as water treatment equipment and office machinery.
Must have eye/hand/foot coordination to drive a vehicle.
Requires the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
Must be adaptable to performing under minimal levels of stress.
Must be adaptable to work in all kinds of weather conditions.
Requires the ability to talk and hear: (Talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words. Hearing: perceiving nature of sounds by ear.)
Must be able to communicate via a telephone.

Responsibilities

Assists with review of construction drawings with regard to FOG and backflow protection requirements.
Maintains recordkeeping in response to FOG and backflow inspections.
Performs flushing of water distribution lines as directed by Department staff to maintain water quality.
Performs FOG and cross connection control inspections on all commercial and municipal buildings to ensure devices meet local, State and federal cross connection laws, ordinances, and regulations.
Prepares and maintains technical reports and records associated with testing and inspection results as required by federal, State or local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
Educates and explains cross connections, backflow prevention devices, and FOG to the general public.
Assists in review of site plans for required backflow devices and FOG requirements.
Faxes and mails forms, records, and reports.
Cleans and maintains assigned vehicle; performs periodic inspections of vehicle and reports defects to supervisor.
Performs other related duties as required.