Water Plant Operator I

City of Burlington NC•Burlington, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Burlington operates two key water treatment plants: the Ed Thomas Water Treatment Plant and the JD Mackintosh Water Treatment Plant. The Ed Thomas plant, built in the 1940s, serves the central part of the city, while the JD Mackintosh plant caters to the western section. Both plants ensure the delivery of safe, clean drinking water to residents by utilizing advanced treatment processes and maintaining high operational standards. An employee in this role is responsible for monitoring and treating the city's drinking water supply. Their primary duties include conducting routine tests, performing hourly plant rounds, maintaining records, adding necessary chemicals, troubleshooting mechanical issues, assisting customers, and performing related tasks. This position involves a lower level of certification and lacks supervisory or lead worker responsibilities, distinguishing it from the Water Plant Lead Operator role. This position follows a 12-hour rotating shift schedule, consisting of two consecutive weeks on day shift followed by two consecutive weeks on night shift.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED equivalency and some work experience with basic laboratory bench work or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Valid North Carolina Driver's License
First Aid and CPR
Surface Water "C" Certificate or ability to obtain within one year of employment.

Nice To Haves

Strong understanding of the operating characteristics and maintenance needs of water treatment plants, ensuring efficient and safe operations.
Familiar with state and federal water treatment and water quality regulations, ensuring adherence to legal standards and promoting the highest water quality.
Well-versed in the occupational hazards associated with water treatment work, with a solid grasp of necessary safety precautions to maintain a safe work environment.

Responsibilities

Conducts hourly tours of the plant to check and document gauge readings and calibrations.
Adjusts chemical feed rates and inspects meters and pumps for proper functioning.
Performs tests for turbidity in raw, settled, and filtered water, chlorine residuals, and alkalinity levels.
Records all test results accurately.
Calibrates fluoride meters and tests fluoride residuals in both raw and filtered water.
Monitors and adjusts levels of chemicals including alum, caustic fluoride, corrosion inhibitors, and carbon as needed.
Conducts backwashing and re-washing of filters using the backwash pump to ensure optimal plant performance.
Calculates chemical dosage, average readings, and evaluates plant performance, ensuring precise documentation in the log book.
Reports equipment failures to the supervisor and assists customers by answering phones and responding to inquiries.
Performs other related tasks to maintain plant operations effectively.