Water Production Operator II/III

Fort Bend County Water Control & Improvement District No 2•Stafford, TX

About The Position

Under general supervision, the Water Production Operator performs tasks involved in operating, maintaining, and quality-controlling the District’s public water system, which uses groundwater under the influence of surface water (GUI), and its associated groundwater production facilities. The position helps ensure treatment processes comply with TCEQ Surface Water and Ground Water Treatment Rules while maintaining reliable daily water production. Diagnosing problems, troubleshooting, and taking corrective action are essential functions. The role includes operating pumps, motors, valves, chemical dosing systems, and treatment equipment; monitoring and adjusting water treatment processes; recording operational and laboratory data; and performing preventive and routine maintenance. Operator II duties emphasize routine operations, security checks, and basic process adjustments. Operator III duties include advanced process control and data interpretation, regulatory sampling and reporting, vendor and administrative coordination, and potentially leading or mentoring other operators. This is an essential position during emergencies and disasters. The employee may be called back at any time and may need to work varying hours, overtime, weekends, or holidays to sustain operations. Work occurs indoors and outdoors and involves physical activity, exposure to plant machinery and noise, varied weather and terrain, and potential exposure to hazardous chemicals and equipment.

Requirements

High school graduate or GED.
Operator II: Two years of related experience and/or training operating a surface-water treatment or groundwater plant, or an equivalent combination of water-related education and experience; preferred.
Operator III: Four years of related experience and/or training operating a surface-water treatment or groundwater plant, or an equivalent combination of water-related education and experience.
Possess, or be able to obtain within 12 months, a valid TCEQ Class C or higher Surface Water Operator License or Groundwater Operator License.
Complete appropriate Surface Water or Groundwater courses, as applicable, to support TCEQ-approved cross-certification for operating the District’s GUI treatment facilities.
Ability to operate motors, pumps, valves, and chemical dosing systems.
Knowledge of water-treatment processes, including membrane filtration and chemical mixing.
Ability to monitor and record operational data, including flows, turbidity, pressure, and chemical weights.
Familiarity with safety procedures and local, state, and federal regulatory compliance.
Ability to maintain required licenses and certifications.
Ability to read and comprehend simple and sometimes complex instructions, O&M manuals, correspondence, and memos.
Ability to communicate effectively with customers, clients, and other employees.
Ability to use common-sense reasoning to follow written or oral instructions and address problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers.
Regularly stand, walk, climb stairs and ladders, balance, stoop, kneel, crawl, bend, twist, reach, and use fingers, hands, or limbs with speed and accuracy.
Regularly lift, move, or exert force up to approximately 50 pounds.
Meet attendance requirements and be available for emergency work to sustain operations.
Do not wear contact lenses when working with certain chemicals; facial hair that interferes with proper respirator fit is not permitted.

Nice To Haves

College-level coursework in water production.
For Operator II, related experience or training operating a surface-water treatment or groundwater plant, or an equivalent combination of water-related education and experience.
For Operator III, proficiency with inventory, manufacturing, and spreadsheet software systems.
For Operator III, higher-level mathematics and data-interpretation skills.

Responsibilities

Operate and control electric motors, pumps, and valves to regulate raw-water flow into the facility.
Oversee and monitor chemical quantities and automatic chemical-feed equipment used to disinfect and clarify water.
Monitor chemical mixing and agitators, and backwash membranes as required.
Oversee the water-treatment process and introduction of treated water into the production system.
Monitor and adjust chemical dosing systems, flow rates, and controls.
Monitor and record meter and gauge readings, tank levels, chlorine samples, daily flows, turbidity, pressure, production, chemical weights, and feed rates.
Conduct preventive maintenance in accordance with O&M manuals and perform routine and required equipment maintenance.
Clean tanks, including GSTs, ESTs, and SWTP basins, as needed.
Test water samples to determine whether TCEQ requirements are met.
Record chemical residuals and usage, water pressure, equipment run time, CL2 weight and usage, LAS gallons, plant flows, and monthly laboratory-equipment calibration.
Monitor hydro tank levels, daily distribution chlorine samples, GST and EST levels, and plant security.
Follow oral and written instructions and maintain system process control in compliance with regulatory guidelines.
As an Operator II, conduct daily plant security checks and interpret operating conditions, readings, and test results to make basic process adjustments.
As an Operator III, assist with training or mentoring lower-level operators; perform advanced data interpretation and process-control adjustments; and contribute to regulatory reporting and compliance documentation.
As an Operator III, oversee chemical additions and agitator operations, conduct monthly sampling and regulatory reporting, communicate with vendors and administration about repairs and supplies, and prepare Surface Water Monthly Operating Reports.