Water Quality Field Technician: Legionella & HPC Sampling

Position Summary

I-2-I Solutions, Inc. is seeking a dependable and detail-oriented Water Quality Sampling Technician to support water quality monitoring activities at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System in Seattle and Tacoma, Washington.

The technician will perform field sampling associated with Legionella validation testing, dental waterline Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) testing, and Sterile Processing Services critical and utility water testing . The position requires accurate sample collection, field documentation, chain-of-custody control, coordination of sample shipment, and professional conduct within an active healthcare environment.

Sampling will be performed at:

• Seattle Division: 1660 South Columbian Way, Seattle, WA 98108
• American Lake Division: 9600 Veterans Drive SW, Tacoma, WA 98493

The work includes recurring monthly and quarterly sampling events , as well as follow-up or additional sampling when required by the project.

Primary Responsibilities

The Water Quality Sampling Technician will:

• Perform quarterly Legionella environmental validation sampling from potable hot- and cold-water systems at locations designated by the VA.
• Collect samples from assigned faucets, showers, ice machines, pure-cold-water sources, pure-hot-water sources, and other VA-designated locations.
• Measure and accurately document applicable field parameters during Legionella sampling, including:
  • Water temperature
  • Residual disinfectant
  • pH
• Perform quarterly dental unit waterline sampling for Heterotrophic Plate Count testing.
• Perform water sample collection supporting Sterile Processing Services (SPS) testing, including:
  • Monthly critical-water sampling
  • Quarterly utility-water sampling
• Collect samples supporting SPS analytical panels that include, as applicable, HPC, conductivity, hardness, alkalinity, pH, and endotoxin testing.
• Accurately label all sample containers and record the exact sample collection location, date, time, and other required information.
• Complete and maintain required chain-of-custody documentation .
• Maintain sample integrity from collection through transfer or shipment to the laboratory.
• Prepare and package samples for shipment in accordance with project and laboratory instructions and required processing timeframes.
• Maintain accurate location information needed to support floor-plan or sampling-location documentation.
• Coordinate with project management and VA personnel regarding access to sampling locations.
• Perform sampling activities in a manner that minimizes disruption to hospital, clinical, dental, and Sterile Processing operations.
• Support scheduled follow-up sampling, retesting, or supplementary validation sampling when assigned.
• Promptly report sampling problems, access issues, sample integrity concerns, or other conditions that could affect successful testing.
• Follow applicable VA infection-control and facility-access requirements.
• Protect project and facility information and use only authorized access while working within VA facilities.

These responsibilities are derived from Tasks 3, 4, and 5 of the SOW, which establish quarterly Legionella sampling, monthly and quarterly SPS testing, and quarterly dental waterline HPC testing.

Required Qualifications

Candidates should have the ability to:

• Accurately collect water samples using established sampling instructions and procedures.
• Accurately complete sample labels, field records, and chain-of-custody documentation.
• Use field measurement equipment for parameters such as temperature, pH, and disinfectant residual.
• Maintain careful attention to sample identification and sampling locations.
• Follow laboratory packaging, preservation, and shipping instructions.
• Work independently while following an established sampling schedule and project instructions.
• Communicate promptly with project management regarding sampling issues or deviations.
• Travel reliably between work locations in Seattle and Tacoma when scheduled.
• Work professionally within active healthcare and patient-care environments.
• Successfully meet VA facility-access requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

The following experience is preferred but is not identified by the RFQ as a mandatory sampler qualification :

• Previous environmental or water-quality sampling experience.
• Experience collecting Legionella samples.
• Experience with HPC or microbiological water samples .
• Experience collecting water samples in hospitals, healthcare facilities, dental clinics, or Sterile Processing environments.
• Familiarity with chain-of-custody procedures.
• Familiarity with ISO 11731, Standard Methods 9215C, or ANSI/AAMI ST108 sampling programs.
• Previous experience working at VA or other federal healthcare facilities.

Federal Facility Access Requirements

This position involves work inside Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. The successful candidate must be able to comply with applicable VA security and access requirements, including:

• Fingerprinting
• Background investigation
• Favorable adjudication
• VA-issued identification/badge requirements
• Authorized-access requirements
• Applicable infection-control risk-mitigation measures

These requirements are expressly included in Section 7 of the SOW.

Expected Sampling Schedule

This position supports recurring sampling activities under the project, including:

Exact sampling dates and work hours will be coordinated based on the approved project schedule and VA facility access.