Water System Operator

Job Title: Water Infrastructure Operator

Join one of the fastest-growing cities in Arizona and the youngest in Yuma County! Under close to general supervision, this classification performs a variety of skilled work tasks in the installation, inspection, operation, maintenance, and repair of the City's Water Infrastructure (Distribution) system.

Operator I: Under immediate supervision performs basic installation, inspection, maintenance, and repair of water distribution system.

• Assist and operate specialized equipment, machines, and vehicles to install, clean, maintain, and repair water lines, fixtures, and equipment.
• Determine the location of water lines, taps water and sewer lines, locates, and manipulates valves, and installs water hydrants.
• Install, adjust, and test flow, sampling, and metering equipment.
• Monitor water wells, tests water chlorine, and collects/records daily meter readings.
• Maintain and monitor booster station, pumps, chlorinators, generators, pressure tanks, and related equipment.
• Collect, label, and document water samples for laboratory testing and performs simple tests on water.
• Install water meters and assists with installs of fire hydrants.
• Flush fire hydrants to facilitate water circulation and control mineral buildup.
• Apply and properly disposes of chemicals, pesticides, disinfectants, and oxidizing agents encountered in duties.
• Establish and maintain appropriate worksite traffic control/warning devices and measures.
• Respond to complaints on water leaks, water pressure, and meter readings.
• Perform operator-level service, adjustment, and maintenance of specialized tools, equipment, assigned vehicles, and machinery.
• Comply with all operational safety regulations by maintaining and using safety and personal protective equipment.
• Assure that backflow prevention assemblies continue to protect the drinking water.
• Assist with inspections and examines backflows annually or when needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Operator II: Under general supervision perform all the essential functions of Operator Level I, at a higher skilled level, in addition to the following essential duties:

• Conduct maintenance of fire hydrants.
• Perform water valve exercising.
• Perform duties requiring backhoe operations.
• Perform commercial installation and troubleshooting as well as repairs to meter box.
• Maintain record-keeping in excel spreadsheets, charts and log sheets.
• Respond to customer complaints and service work orders.
• Perform AZ 811 Blue Stake Locators.
• Perform new construction systems inspections.
• Perform Backflow Assembly devices testing and certification.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Operator III – Lead: Under general supervision functions in a lead capacity, guiding lower-level operators, providing instruction, training, and assessing performance in addition to the following essential functions:

• Leads operators on tasks of a more complex and progressively responsible level and monitor their performance.
• Compiles data on daily, weekly, and monthly basis; tracks logs; perform complex data interpretation and prepares reports.
• Perform complex water system mechanical and electrical troubleshooting.
• Perform water system tapping and flow/pressure tests.
• Maintain AZ 811 – Blue Stake Locator and creation of online ticket response and creation of field tickets.
• Install water main pipelines and valves.
• Perform copper soldering.
• Prepare traffic control plan draft for projects and repairs.
• Perform advanced backhoe operations.
• Assure compliance with Federal, State, and local regulations.
• Participate in budget preparation and records data on various spreadsheets.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Ideal Candidate

Will possess knowledge of:

• City policies and procedures
• Methods, materials, tools, and equipment used in the operation of water distribution systems.
• State and Federal laws and regulations governing potable water treatment plant and emergency response.
• Safe work practices and occupational hazards.
• Basic operational practices and principles of conventional water treatment processes.
• Advanced water treatment processes such as water filtration systems.
• Laboratory practices to properly evaluate treatment processes such as DO, pH, jar test, CL2 residual, turbidity, color, hardness, TSS, TDS, etc.
• Chemical/physical processes used in water treatment processes such as coagulation, flocculation, settling, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection.
• Mechanical and electrical trouble shooting.
• OSHA guidelines related to treatment facilities.
• Microsoft Office products.

Will have the ability to:

• Use and maintain tools and equipment to perform maintenance and repairs.
• Successfully pass the medical assessment as part of the City of San Luis Respirator Program.
• Complete mathematical calculations and draw logical conclusions.
• Make routine operating adjustments and repairs to equipment.
• Follow safe work practices, and verbal and written instructions.
• Inspect and monitor machinery and equipment to verify compliance with prescribed operating conditions and safety standards.
• Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with others.
• Operate a personal computer utilizing standard and specialized software.
• Communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Be subject to call back, overtime, and weekend/holiday emergency call-outs and on-call duty.

Minimum Requirements

All Operators:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent
• A valid Arizona driver's license at the time of application

Operator I:

• (1) year of experience in plumbing and/or construction experience.
• Satisfactory completion of the one-year Water/Wastewater Apprenticeship Program can suffice the required one year of experience for Level I
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Water Distribution Certification must be maintained at the appropriate level throughout employment. Grade I – attain within 6 months of employment as Level I Operator. Must possess ADEQ Water Treatment Grade I Certification at time of application.
• Other Certifications
• Excavation Trenching & Shoring Certification
• Flagger Certification
• Forklift Certification
• Electrical & Mechanical Certification

Operator II:

• Two (2) years of experience in a water distribution system operation.
• Valid Arizona Commercial Driver's License – Class B with Tanker Endorsement at the time of application and must be maintained throughout employment.
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Water Distribution Certification must be maintained at the appropriate level throughout employment. Grade II – must possess at the time of application.
• Other Certifications
• Excavation Trenching & Shoring Certification
• Flagger Certification
• Forklift Certification
• Electrical & Mechanical Certification
• Asbestos Certification
• Backhoe Certification
• Backflow Assembly Certification

Operator III:

• Three (3) years of experience in a water distribution system operation.
• Valid Arizona Commercial Driver's License – Class B with Tanker Endorsement at the time of application and must be maintained throughout employment.
• Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Water Distribution Certification at the appropriate level and must be maintained throughout employment. Grade III – must possess at time of application.
• Other Certifications
• Excavation Trenching & Shoring Certification
• Flagger Certification
• Forklift Certification
• Electrical & Mechanical Certification
• Asbestos Certification
• Backhoe Certification
• Backflow Assembly Certification
• Backflow Assembly Certification

Desired/Preferred:

• Bilingual in Spanish.
• San Luis residency.

Special Requirements:

• Residency in