Water Quality Investigator II

City and County of Denver • Denver, CO

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Water Quality Investigator II works in the City and County of Denver’s Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, Wastewater Management Division. The role enforces Denver municipal codes and DOTI rules and regulations related to sanitary and storm sewers, manages sewer asset and commercial-account information, and supports wastewater compliance through field investigations, inspections, customer interactions, and enforcement actions.

The position is based on-site at the Denver Wastewater Management Building, Monday through Friday, 6:30 AM to 3:00 PM. It includes an on-call rotation that may require after-hours emergency response, as well as occasional evening, weekend, and overtime work. Employees use their personal vehicles for field work and emergency response, with mileage reimbursement provided. The work may involve exposure to sanitary sewage and requires the physical ability to open manhole lids.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Environmental Science, or a directly related field; qualifying experience may substitute for required years of post-high-school education at one year of experience per year of education.
• Two years of experience performing water quality investigations and inspections related to stormwater or sanitary infrastructure, or stormwater/environmental management activities that included interpreting engineering or architectural drawings, working with mapping systems, or applying environmental science principles or industry water-quality standards to storm/sanitary infrastructure.
• Valid driver’s license at the time of application; required licenses and certifications must remain current.
• Ability to use a personal vehicle for field work and emergency response.
• Physical ability to open manhole lids.
• Ability to participate in an on-call rotation and work occasional after-hours emergencies, evenings, weekends, and overtime as required.

Nice To Haves

• Three or more years of underground utility experience, preferably related to sanitary and storm sewers.
• One year of asset management software experience, preferably with Lucity, Accela, or GIS mapping tools.
• Experience in code enforcement, regulatory compliance, or applying established codes, regulations, and standards.
• Strong customer service and communication skills, including experience working with the public, resolving concerns, and de-escalating difficult situations.
• Ability to work independently, manage schedules and priorities, and follow through with minimal supervision.
• Dependability, accountability, self-motivation, teamwork, and consistent attendance and reliability.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Teams.

Responsibilities

• Conduct complex on-site investigations and inspections to ensure compliance with city codes and federal, state, and local wastewater regulations.
• Respond to emergencies, including basement sewer floods, cave-ins, spills, illicit discharges, and backups.
• Investigate illicit discharges into storm and sanitary sewer systems.
• Coordinate with city agencies, private utility companies, and Wastewater Management sections to resolve problems involving city-owned storm and sanitary utilities.
• Respond to citizen complaints and concerns about sewer odors, illegal discharges, and other sewer-related issues.
• Issue summonses, written warnings, citations, and complaints for violations of Denver wastewater regulations.
• Gather evidence, provide testimony, and assist with prosecution of municipal-code violations related to wastewater.
• Manage commercial customer accounts and calculate sewer billing adjustment percentages.
• Perform enforcement and compliance actions for DOTI pretreatment requirements and work with the public to resolve compliance issues.
• Help train new employees on inspection procedures, compliance requirements, and reporting standards.
• Assist with complex cases involving repeat violations, legal disputes, or technical system failures.
• Participate in stand-by rotations and work overtime and weekends as required for enforcement activities or emergencies.
• Manage databases related to sewer assets and conduct commercial sewer-account inspections and calculations of sewer usage and water consumption.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance; the City pays the majority of premiums.
• Pension plan with employer contributions.
• 457(b) retirement plan.
• Paid time off, including more than three weeks in the first year, and 14 paid holidays.
• Merit increases.
• Short-term disability and long-term disability insurance.
• Health savings account and flexible spending account.
• Life insurance.
• CARE Bank.
• Family leave benefits.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Employee Volunteer Program.
• Tuition reimbursement up to $2,000 per year.
• Eligibility for the Student Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Learning and development opportunities, courses, and career development resources.
• EcoPass providing unlimited free RTD bus and train rides.
• Mileage reimbursement for use of a personal vehicle on job duties.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level