Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I - IV

Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations

Where does the clean water flowing out of your kitchen faucet come from? In Clarksville, Tennessee, it is pumped from the Cumberland River to the water-treatment plant. And after you use the water, it goes to the wastewater-treatment plant. At both facilities, plant operators control processes and equipment that remove pollutants from the water. They take water samples and read meters and gauges. After examining this data, they adjust equipment or the dosing of chemicals to ensure that the water is safe. And that's just a typical day. As an operator, you may sometimes have to handle emergencies, remaining calm while working in dangerous conditions. Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant careers are fulfilling and an excellent way to serve your community and provide a stable work environment. A new Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP/WWTP) Operations employee is placed on a career path of in-house and formal classroom training progressing the employee through four positions of WTP/WWTP Operations (from Operator I to Specialist). Training shall consist of both extensive in-house instruction and external education from TDEC and other sources. The new operator shall be evaluated regularly throughout his/her career path until the employee has received a Tennessee Grade 4 Water or Wastewater Treatment Operators Certification, respective to the plant assigned. The position of WTP/WWTP Operations Specialist shall be obtained within 30 months of employment with the WTP or WWTP. In-house training evaluations shall be performed by management on a monthly basis until the employee obtains his/her first certification. Pay increases will accompany promotion from the Operator I (106) position to the Operator IV (111) position (four total positions). Employee shall access and properly operate all process equipment, above and below ground level; perform all necessary laboratory, operational and maintenance duties of the plant; operate a computer using a Windows environment; use spreadsheets; and utilize a computerized Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.

Example of Duties

Essential Functions:

1. Trains to perform duties and responsibilities by monitoring processes of the water/wastewater treatment plant including but not limited to filtration, solids management, adding/adjusting chemicals, and monitoring tank levels, pumping stations and performing lab tests to analyze water/wastewater samples.
2. Trains to independently monitor, operate, service, and maintain plant equipment, systems, and processes to ensure proper operations, which includes inspecting pump valves, motors, filters, meters, and computerized controls; checking chemical feed pump settings; and repairing and/or replacing equipment.
3. Trains to operate water/wastewater SCADA systems by monitoring gauges, equipment, meters, and controls.
4. Trains to collect samples and performs applicable laboratory analyses and testing; review and interpret laboratory results; document records and logs of systems operation and maintenance activities.
5. Trains to respond to customer calls regarding water quality concerns including taste, odor, color, and pressure, and potential leaks from underground utility lines, overflowing tanks; and relays messages to proper department for inspection and repair.
6. Trains to oversee the handling of hazardous and toxic chemicals and materials.
7. Performs other work as required.

Typical Qualifications

Minimum Education and Training (Operator I):

• High school graduate or GED equivalent.

License and Certifications:

• Possession of a valid Class D driver's license.

Minimum Education and Training (Operator II):

• High school graduate or GED equivalent.
• Completion of six months training in Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I position.
• Continues formal training as specified within the four (4) step career path

License and Certifications:

• Possession of a valid Class D driver's license.

Minimum Education and Training (Operator III):

• High school graduate or GED equivalent.
• Continues formal training as specified within the four (4) step career path.

License and Certifications:

• Possession of a valid Class D driver's license.
• Grade III Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification (respective to assigned area).

Minimum Education and Training (Operator IV):

• High school graduate or GED equivalent.

License and Certifications:

• Possession of a valid Class D driver's license.
• Grade IV Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification (respective to assigned area).

Supplemental Information

Minimum Qualifications and Standards Required:

Knowledge of:

• Applicable tools, equipment, and materials.
• Safety procedures.
• Recordkeeping principles.
• Computer and related software applications.

Skill in:

• Performing mathematical calculations.
• Ability to adhere to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) principles.
• Using basic equipment and tools.
• Maintaining operational records.
• Using a computer and related software applications.
• Communication, interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with subordinates, coworkers, supervisors, the public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Physical Requirements - Operator I - IV: The work is heavy work which requires exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

• Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
• Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles, and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
• Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
• Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature, or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
• Hearing: Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination sound.
• Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
• Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. It occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
• Mental Acuity: Making rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
• Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
• Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something steady to thrust forward, downward, or outward.
• Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
• Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
• Speaking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
• Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Stooping: Bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. It occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles.
• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Visual ability 1: sufficient to perform an activity like preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and/or extensive reading.
• Visual ability 2: sufficient to include color, depth