Water Plant Operator

City of Akron•Kent, OH

19h•Onsite

About The Position

This is skilled work in drinking water treatment operations. An employee in this class monitors, operates, inspects, and/or maintains a variety of control systems, equipment, instrumentation, and computer software necessary for the treatment of drinking water. Works under general supervision with considerable opportunity for use of independent judgment within established rules and procedures.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited high school or GED and a minimum of one year of paid experience in industrial process operations, plant maintenance work, information technology, or related work; or graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate degree in environmental science, information technology, engineering technology, or a related field.
Possession of a Class I Water Supply Professional Operators Certificate as issued by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency or must obtain within two years of employment.
Possession of a valid State of Ohio driver’s license.
Knowledge of the equipment, operations, practices, and safety precautions relevant to the treatment and pumping of potable water.
Knowledge of the servicing and maintenance of water treatment plant equipment.
Ability to effectively monitor and coordinate water plant operation activities.
Ability to work extended hours and rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays.
Ability to log, compile, retrieve, review, and interpret operational data with the use of computers.
Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions.
Ability to keep appropriate records of daily activities.
Ability to perform mathematical calculations with fractions, decimals, and percentages.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with others.
Ability to lift and carry bags of chemicals and walk and stand for long periods of time.
Ability to work outside in inclement weather.
Ability to safely operate a motor vehicle.

Responsibilities

Monitors and operates the water treatment processes using the plant SCADA system, process control switches, digital readouts, gauges, charts, and other instrumentation.
Interprets operational data and adjusts valve positions, chemical dosages and feed points, filtration rates, and pumping rates.
Monitors and inspects chemical storage tanks.
Monitors the unloading of chemicals from tanker trucks.
Backwashes rapid sand filters and visually observes the characteristics of the wash water.
Makes rounds to visually and audibly inspect the operating condition and settings of pumps, electric motors, valves, mixers, flocculators, sludge collectors, compressors, electrical generators, boilers, chemical feed systems, and flow meters.
Drives to various locations to assist in the delivery of chemicals and to inspect process equipment.
Logs readings from various gauges, meters, and instruments as needed.
Operates stand-by generators during power outages or as a supplemental electrical power supply.
Keeps a computerized log of various activities during shift.
Performs snow and ice removal from plant walkways using shovel, salt spreader, and/or snow blower.
Performs related work as required.