Watershed Programs Technician

Columbus Water Works•Columbus, GA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

ASSIST IN THE DAILY FUNCTIONS OF THE COLUMBUS WATER WORKS (CWW) WATERSHED PROTECTION PROGRAMS. THIS ENCOMPASSES ALL REGULATORY COMPLIANCE PROGRAMS IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT AND THE CLEAN WATER ACT, AS AMENDED. THESE INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, CWW’S WATERSHED PROGRAM, SOURCE WATER PROTECTION PROGRAM AND TMDL PROGRAMS FOR THE COLUMBUS WATER WORKS. THESE INCLUDE SITE INSPECTIONS, MEETINGS, MONITORING, CORRESPONDENCES, AND REGULATORY PLANNING FOR THESE PROGRAMS.

Requirements

Experience must include, but not limited to, municipal and/or industrial environmental field.
Capabilities to read and interpret blueprints and architectural drawings.
Knowledge of hydraulics and piping systems preferred.
Must be able to communicate verbally in a clear, concise manner.
Ability to prepare written reports.
Must be able to effectively use a personal computer and various programs.
No physical limitations.
Ability to read, analyze and interpret common and complex scientific and technical documents such as procedure manuals, operating and maintenance instructions, financial reports, and legal documents.
Ability to write detailed reports and correspondence.
Must have outstanding communication skills and the ability to describe complex technical concepts.
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbal and written, with managers, employees, and the general public.
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical interference, and fundamentals on plane and solid geometry, trigonometry and calculus.
Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations as well as theoretical.
Ability to define problem, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
Ability to make recommendations for the solution of practical problems based on facts.
Must possess a valid driver's license and good driving record.
Ability to operate general office equipment, to include copy machine, fax machine, typewriter, calculator, and computer.
Working experience and knowledge of PowerPoint, Excel, Microsoft Word, and database systems.
Ability to establish and manage multiple projects and set priorities.
Good knowledge of general office operations.
Must be able to walk in creeks and along unstable and uneven environments.
Must have the ability to open manholes.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to reach with hands and arms.
The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or equipment, stoop, kneel, crouch; talk and hear.
The employee must occasionally lift and be able to move object of up to 50-80 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree in the field of Environmental Sciences/Environmental Engineering or chemistry preferred.
Certification in Collection Systems preferred.

Responsibilities

Assist the Watershed Programs Specialist in the oversight and maintenance of CWW’s current Watershed Protection Program, and any amendments, and all required reporting for compliance with that program.
Help meet all scheduled activities of the programs so that the specific goals and targets of the programs are achieved, including data acquisition, reporting, presentations, and modeling.
Assist in the oversight and maintenance of CWW’s Source Water Protection Program and all required reporting for compliance with that program.
Assist in meeting all scheduled activities of the programs so that the specific goals and targets of the programs are achieved, including data acquisition, reporting, presentations, and modeling.
Assist in maintaining CWW’s real-time monitoring program and deployed data collection devices.
Attend meetings with the Assistant Manager of Environmental Services Watershed and Quality Assurance, Watershed Program Specialist and Manager of Environmental Services to review program progress.
Support the CWW Creek Walkers Program, which includes sampling and inspection of the sewer conveyance system and all creeks within Muscogee County.
Work closely with the Department Managers in preparation for renewal or re-issuance of all CWW’s permits, including the NCWRF water withdrawal permit, the SCWRF NPDES permit and CWW’s CSO NPDES Permits.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Department Manager and Assistant Manager of Environmental Services Watershed and Quality Assurance for and during the normal course of business.
Perform emergency on-call duties as needed.
Assist with the current Watershed Protection Program, and any amendments which will include sampling, data analysis, reporting, presentations, and modeling.
Assist with the Source Water Protection Program which includes resource acquisition, planning, program development data analysis, reporting, presentations, and modeling.
Routinely collect and/or oversee stream sample collection for chemical analysis.
Assist with the River Runs for both Georgia EPD sites and Eufaula sites.
Support in the Georgia Dept. of Natural Resources Freshwater Macroinvertebrate Biological Assessments and fish assessments.
Assist with habitat assessment and record field observations during stream sampling.
Help enter laboratory data into database (e.g., habitat, macroinvertebrate and chemical analysis of stream samples).
Aid in conducting the Fecal/E. Coli Monitoring Program.
Assist in investigating customer inquiries regarding water quality issues within the watershed.
Assist Environmental Regulatory Compliance staff with water quality issues and SSO investigations.
Help prepare reports based on the data analyses for submission to Mgr. of Env. Services and other management staff.
Maintain current knowledge of trends for environmental and regulatory development for the lab and Watershed Protection.
Develop and maintain working relationships with surrounding utilities and environmental groups such as the Chattahoochee River Conservancy.
Assist as liaison with schools, Oxbow Meadows ELC, and other environmental groups.
Provide talks and presentations on water quality, and other environmental issues for CWW.
Assist with the upkeep of the boat, vehicles and equipment for all Watershed programs.