Operator 3 - Water Reclamation

Water Reclamation Operator III

Under the general supervision of the Water Reclamation Superintendent, the Water Reclamation Operator III performs skilled journey-level work in the operation, monitoring, adjustment, inspection, and routine maintenance of the City's Water Reclamation Facility. The position independently operates treatment processes and related equipment; evaluates process conditions; collects samples; completes operating and compliance records; troubleshoots equipment and treatment issues; and responds to alarms, emergencies, and changing plant conditions. Operator III is expected to exercise sound technical judgment within established permits, standard operating procedures, safety requirements, and supervisory direction. The position may assist with training less-experienced employees, coordinate assigned work, or serve as shift lead or operator in responsible charge when formally designated and authorized.

Examples of Duties

Facility Operations and Process Control

• Operate, inspect, monitor, and adjust wastewater treatment, pumping, screening, biological treatment, clarification, disinfection, solids handling, dewatering, odor-control, and related facility processes and equipment.
• Review SCADA displays and trends, alarms, flow and loading data, laboratory results, operating logs, chemical feed rates, dissolved oxygen, solids inventories, and other process indicators; make or recommend adjustments within established authority.
• Perform facility rounds; inspect tanks, basins, pumps, blowers, aeration systems, chemical systems, generators, instrumentation, and related equipment for proper operation, safety, leaks, unusual noise, vibration, heat, odors, or other abnormal conditions.
• Troubleshoot biological, chemical, hydraulic, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, and control-system problems; take appropriate initial action and promptly notify supervisory or specialized maintenance personnel when needed.
• Start, stop, isolate, place into service, and remove equipment from service in accordance with operating procedures, lockout/tagout requirements, and supervisory direction.
• Assist with planned shutdowns, construction interfaces, equipment startup, performance testing, and commissioning of new or rehabilitated facility systems.

Sampling, Laboratory Support, and Regulatory Compliance

• Collect wastewater, process, and biosolids samples using approved methods; perform assigned field and process-control tests; preserve, label, document, and transfer samples in accordance with chain-of-custody and quality-control requirements.
• Interpret routine laboratory and process-control data and use results to support stable, efficient, and compliant facility operation.
• Maintain accurate and complete rounds sheets, bench sheets, logs, work orders, chemical-use records, maintenance records, electronic entries, and other operational or compliance documentation.
• Operate the facility in accordance with the City's NPDES permit, applicable TDEC and U.S. EPA requirements, biosolids requirements, consent orders or enforcement obligations, and City procedures.
• Immediately report permit excursions, spills, releases, overflows, equipment failures, abnormal operating conditions, or other potentially reportable events; assist with response, documentation, cleanup, sampling, and corrective actions.
• Assist with regulatory inspections, audits, sampling events, records reviews, and preparation of routine operational or compliance reports as assigned.

Maintenance and Asset Reliability

• Perform routine preventive and corrective maintenance consistent with training and authorization, including cleaning, lubrication, adjustment, minor repair, equipment changeover, and replacement of common components.
• Create and complete work orders; document equipment condition, maintenance performed, parts used, follow-up needs, and return-to-service status in the City's maintenance-management system.
• Identify and report equipment deficiencies, unsafe conditions, critical spare-part needs, and developing reliability concerns before they affect treatment performance.
• Assist maintenance staff, contractors, vendors, and technical representatives with troubleshooting equipment, repair, testing, and service activities.
• Maintain assigned tools, vehicles, work areas, chemical-storage areas, and operating spaces in a clean, safe, and serviceable condition.
• Operate mowers, string trimmers, blowers, and other landscape or grounds-maintenance equipment to maintain facility property when assigned

Team Support and Work Coordination

• Communicate plant status, alarms, operating changes, equipment limitations, incomplete work, and priority follow-up items during shift turnover and to supervisory personnel.
• Assist with the orientation, hands-on training, and development of operators, trainees, and other assigned employees; demonstrate proper operating, sampling, maintenance, documentation, and safety practices.
• Provide task-level work direction or serve as shift lead when assigned, while referring personnel, discipline, policy, and major operating decisions to supervisory staff.
• Participate in the development and improvement of standard operating procedures, rounds sheets, checklists, emergency procedures, and training materials.
• Work cooperatively with operations, maintenance, laboratory, collections, pretreatment, engineering, safety, contractors, and other City personnel.

Safety and Emergency Response

• Follow occupational safety requirements, City policies, and facility procedures, including lockout/tagout, confined-space entry, chemical handling, respiratory protection, fall protection, electrical safety, and personal protective equipment.
• Participate in safety meetings, job-hazard analyses, emergency drills, incident reviews, training, and corrective actions.
• Respond to facility alarms, process upsets, power failures, severe weather, chemical incidents, equipment failures, and other emergencies; take immediate action within training and authority to protect employees, the public, facility assets, and receiving waters.
• Work rotating shifts, nights, weekends, holidays, overtime, and on-call assignments as scheduled or required by operational and emergency needs.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications : A combination of education, training, certification, and progressively responsible experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential duties of the position will be considered. A typical qualifying background includes:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in wastewater treatment operations, including experience independently operating treatment processes, evaluating process-control data, completing regulatory records, and troubleshooting facility equipment or process conditions.
• Relevant college coursework, technical education, military training, approved operator training, advanced wastewater certification, or closely related utility experience may be considered in determining whether the applicant possesses the required journey-level knowledge and ability.
• Demonstrated ability to safely perform the full range of assigned operator duties with limited supervision.

Licenses and Certifications

• Current Tennessee Grade III Wastewater Treatment Operator certification, or a higher Tennessee wastewater treatment certification, is required at the time of appointment and must be maintained as a condition of employment.
• Valid TN issued driver's license is required and must be maintained.
• Must obtain and maintain City-required safety, emergency-response, equipment-operation, and other job-related certifications within established timeframes.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities for Successful Job Performance:

• Working knowledge of municipal wastewater treatment principles and practices, including biological treatment, nutrient removal, clarification, disinfection, solids processing, biosolids management, and process control as applicable to the facility.
• Working knowledge of Tennessee wastewater regulations, NPDES permit requirements, operator certification requirements, sampling, recordkeeping, reporting, and regulatory inspection practices.
• Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, chemical, instrumentation, SCADA, and control-system concepts used in water reclamation facilities.
• Knowledge of wastewater sampling, basic laboratory procedures, quality assurance/quality control, and interpretation of physical, chemical, and biological process data.
• Knowledge of routine preventive maintenance, work-order systems, tools, equipment, chemical handling, and safe work practices applicable to wastewater facilities.
• Ability to independently operate and adjust assigned treatment processes, recognize abnormal conditions, troubleshoot problems, and take timely corrective action within established authority.
• Ability to read and interpret operating procedures, safety data sheets, technical manuals, equipment drawings, permits, regulations, gauges, charts, and electronic process information.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations used in wastewater treatment, including flow, loading, dosage, detention time, solids, and process-control calculations.
• Ability to maintain accurate records, enter information into electronic systems, prepare clear shift and incident reports, and communicate operating conditions effectively.
• Ability to train or guide other employees, organize assigned work, and