Austin Water Treatment Operations & Maintenance Technician Associate - Water Treatment Plants

Austin Water Treatment Operations & Maintenance Technician AssociateAbout Austin Water: For more than 100 years, Austin Water has provided safe, reliable, high-quality and affordable water services to our customers. Today, we serve more than 1 million people across 544 square miles in the Austin metropolitan area. Austin Water has three water treatment plants: Handcox, Davis, and Ullrich. These facilities draw water from the Colorado River, filter and treat it according to federal and state standards to provide safe drinking water for the community. Walnut Creek and South Austin Regional are Austin Water's two wastewater treatment plants. These sites can receive up to 150 million gallons per day of sewage to treat before it is returned to the Colorado River. Austin Water's biosolids facility, Hornsby Bend, receives sludge generated by the treatment processes at the wastewater plants and uses it to create compost for land application and public sales. More than a billion gallons of this high-quality effluent are reclaimed each year for outdoor irrigation, industrial cooling, manufacturing, and other uses. Austin Water consistently ranks among the best in the country when it comes to water quality. We also treat, return, and recycle wastewater in ways that protect environmental resources. Austin Water exceeds federal and state requirements for clean water and environmental compliance at our water and wastewater treatment plants.Job Description:Purpose:Under close supervision, this position performs routine tasks to provide operational and general maintenance support at a water or wastewater treatment plant, wastewater collection, water distribution systems facility, stormwater pump station, or remote stormwater facility, and work in teams to assist with more complex tasks. Performs in both operations and maintenance disciplines to develop competency in both disciplines.Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.Assists with process control tasks such as basic flow control, sampling, basic laboratory testing, normal operations of pumps and blowers, and adjusting chemical feeds.Assists with preventative maintenance tasks such as lubrication; changing equipment oil/fluids; and installing packing, bearings, and seals.Assists with predictive and corrective maintenance on specialized equipment such as pumps, blowers, clarifiers, and valves.Assists with routine rounds of the facilities to monitor treatment process and identify process anomalies or mechanical problems with plant equipment.Monitors data from SCADA systems and computerized control systems, instrument panels, and gauges in order to make basic process changes as directed.Maintains plant operations and maintenance records using log books, databases, and spreadsheets.Acts as member of Confined Space Entry Team and may serve as entrant or assistant.Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised: None.Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.Knowledge of general maintenance processes and procedures.Knowledge of basic math including addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of whole numbers, decimalized numbers, fractions, and percents.Skill in using computers and related software.Skill in using hand tools and power tools.Skill in operating a motor vehicle and motorized equipment.Ability to follow written and verbal instructions.Ability to read and follow technical guidelines and standard operating procedures.Ability to take simple readings from meters, gauges, control panels, and testing and monitoring equipment.Ability to meet and maintain driver eligibility standards detailed in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program.Minimum Qualifications:Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus one (1) year of experience in a similar work environment such as stormwater pump stations, process control, plant operations, construction, or in the operation, repair and maintenance of mechanical or industrial equipment.Thirty (30) semester hours of relevant formal education from an accredited institute may substitute for one (1) year of work experience.Licenses and Certifications Required:Must obtain appropriate TCEQ License as specified by position within one (1) year of employment:Water Treatment Plant: TCEQ Class D Water Operator License.Must obtain the appropriate TCEQ Class C Water License before Class D License expires.May require a Valid Texas Commercial Driver's License with endorsements.Valid current Texas Class C Driver License.Must be able to become certified for Respiratory Protection and Confined-Space Entry Program within six (6) months of employment and maintain certification.Physical Requirements:Ability to work in environments that may have hazardous atmospheres.Ability to work in permit and non-permit confined spaces where there is limited or restricted means for entry and exit, or where the work activities may be hindered. Ability to safely wear anti-fall (SRL) body harness for confined space entry that supports up to 283 pounds.Ability to climb ladders and work at heights of up to 200 feet, and to work in confined spaces up to 100 feet deep.Ability to walk, stand, sit, bend, stoop, twist, push, pull, climb, kneel, crawl, and lift/carry up to fifty (50) pounds unassisted.Preferred Qualifications:Experience maintaining and repairing mechanical industrial equipment including hydraulic systems.Previous pumping distribution or water treatment experience in a municipal water system.Experience using Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) for work order and asset management, basic computer navigation skills, and the ability to learn new software applications.Training and/or experience in welding and the use of oxygen and acetylene torch (cutting, brazing, soldering, etc.).Knowledge of safety practices in the workplace including confined space entry, ladder climbing, water and boat safety, and hazardous chemicals.Notes to Candidate:Benefits:Working with Austin Water provides a number of health and welfare benefits, such as medical, paid leave time, a great retirement plan, training opportunities and more – click HERE for more information. Additionally, this position offers a career progression plan, which provides a unique opportunity to promote without having to go through the competitive process. As employees go through on-the-job training to develop new skills and abilities and obtain the appropriate license, they are eligible to submit for Career Progression, which allows them to demonstrate knowledge and skills without having to interview for the promotion.For general information about a career as a Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant System Operator, click HERE.Austin Water has three water treatment plants: Davis, Ullrich, and Handcox Water Treatment Plants (WTP) that draw water from the Colorado River and treat it to drinking water quality. The water treatment process includes screening, disinfection, coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, and filtration to ensure that citizens are provided with clean and safe water. Davis WTP processes 60 to 120 million gallons per day, Ullrich WTP capacity is 167 million gallons per day, and Handcox WTP can process 50 million gallons per day.Position Overview:The Austin Water Treatment Operations & Maintenance Technician Associate is responsible for performing water treatment plant operations and maintenance tasks, which include but are not limited to:Operations: operating process control systems that monitor and control treatment plant processes, managing chemical dosage in water basins, testing water samples, and recording and reporting water samples results.Maintenance: performing mechanical work on plant equipment and machines, such as preventative and scheduled maintenance, diagnostic and corrective maintenance, new equipment installation and equipment rebuilds.Pay Range: $23.76 – $27.32 per hourRetention Incentive Bonus:This position may be eligible for an Incentive Bonus of up to $3,000!$500 after 90 days.$500 after 180 days.$1,000 after 1 year.$1,000 after 2 years.