Water Sampling Technician

Job Description

Job Description

I-2-I Solutions is seeking an experienced Water Sampling Technician to perform environmental and healthcare water sampling at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities in the Tampa, Florida area.

This is a field-based position focused on the collection of potable and non-potable water samples, Legionella samples, cooling tower samples, and dental water line samples. The technician will also perform and document required field measurements at the time samples are collected.

The work will primarily take place at:

• James A. Haley Veterans Administration Medical Center, Tampa, FL
• Primary Care Annex, Tampa, FL
• New Port Richey VA Dental Clinic, New Port Richey, FL

Sampling is performed on a recurring quarterly basis, with additional sampling or retesting assignments as needed. The solicitation requires quarterly sampling throughout these facilities.

The Water Sampling Technician will be responsible for:

• Collecting water samples from healthcare facility water systems in accordance with established laboratory protocols and approved sampling procedures.
• Collecting Legionella samples from hot- and cold-water systems, including faucets, showers, drinking fountains, ice machines, and other designated outlets.
• Collecting samples from incoming potable-water supply points.
• Collecting water samples from cooling tower basins or sumps.
• Collecting samples from treadmill and therapy pool systems where required.
• Performing dental water line sampling for Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC).
• Safely working with dental equipment and water lines while following facility instructions to prevent damage to dental instruments and equipment.
• Performing and documenting required field measurements at the time of sample collection, including:
  • Water temperature
  • pH
  • Residual oxidant / disinfectant
  • Residual biocide, when applicable
• Using appropriate field-testing instruments and ensuring instruments are properly calibrated.
• Recording sample locations, sample identification numbers, system type, collection time, field measurements, and other required information.
• Completing chain-of-custody documentation accurately and completely.
• Properly labeling, storing, packing, and preparing samples for shipment to the laboratory in accordance with laboratory protocols and required holding conditions.
• Following established sampling plans and collecting samples from the designated or randomly selected locations.
• Immediately reporting unusual conditions or results requiring notification.
• Notifying the project manager promptly if a hot-water temperature greater than 110&degree;F is observed; the VA requires notification within one hour.
• Maintaining clean, organized, and defensible field documentation.
• Following all applicable VA, OSHA, facility safety, and infection-control requirements while working in a healthcare environment.
• Coordinating professionally with VA personnel who may accompany the technician during sampling.

For cooling-tower sampling specifically, the solicitation requires temperature, residual biocide, and pH to be measured and documented in the field using properly calibrated instruments traceable to a NIST standard. Potable-water supply samples also require temperature to be measured at the time of collection.

Candidates should be comfortable with relatively high-volume sampling events.

A typical quarterly sampling event may include approximately:

• 75 hot-water distribution samples
• 75 cold-water distribution samples
• 3 potable-water points-of-entry
• 2 treadmill/therapy pool samples
• 10 cooling-tower samples
• Approximately 200 dental water line samples

The solicitation's sampling table establishes these recurring quarterly quantities.

Additional or repeat sampling may also be required when requested by the facility. The contract requires the contractor to respond to follow-up sampling requests within 48 hours.

• Previous experience collecting environmental, potable-water, industrial-water, healthcare-water, or microbiological water samples.
• Training, certification, or documented experience in proper water-sampling techniques.
• Knowledge of proper sampling procedures for potable and non-potable water.
• Experience performing field water-quality measurements such as temperature, pH, chlorine/residual oxidant, or biocide residual.
• Ability to properly use, calibrate, and maintain portable water-testing instruments.
• Understanding of sample preservation, labeling, chain-of-custody procedures, holding times, and sample shipment.
• Ability to follow detailed written sampling procedures and laboratory protocols.
• Ability to accurately document field results and sampling information.
• Ability to work independently while following an established sampling plan.
• Strong attention to detail; sample identification and documentation must be accurate.
• Professional appearance and communication skills suitable for working inside an active VA medical facility.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation for travel between Tampa and New Port Richey locations.
• Ability to safely transport sampling equipment, coolers, bottles, meters, and related field supplies.

The VA's performance standard specifically requires the technician to have thorough knowledge and experience with laboratory-established water-sampling protocols and the applicable field-analysis parameters.

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

• Legionella environmental sampling
• Healthcare or hospital water sampling
• Cooling tower sampling
• Dental unit water line sampling
• Potable drinking-water sampling
• Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) sampling
• Chlorine/free chlorine/total chlorine or other disinfectant residual testing
• pH and temperature measurements
• Working with calibrated/NIST-traceable field instruments
• Chain-of-custody preparation and laboratory sample shipping
• VA, federal facility, hospital, or other regulated healthcare environments

This is not a traditional 40-hour-per-week position. The primary work consists of scheduled quarterly sampling events, with supplemental sampling or retesting performed as required.

Regular sampling activities will be coordinated in advance with the facility. Candidates should generally be available during weekday daytime hours and must have some flexibility to support additional sampling requests when needed.

We are looking for someone who can do more than simply fill sample bottles.

The right person understands that every sample must be collected correctly, every field measurement must be accurate, every bottle must be properly identified, and every chain-of-custody form must match the samples being submitted.

This position is a good fit for an environmental technician, water-quality technician, industrial hygiene technician, environmental scientist, laboratory field technician, or experienced water sampler who is comfortable working independently in healthcare facilities.

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