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Water Treatment Plant- Trainee Operator

City of Lebanon TN, Lebanon, TN, United States


Water Treatment Operator

Performs routine tasks and learns to operate and maintain water treatment facilities. Assists in samplings, testing, and recording data. Performs manual labor and maintenance tasks and learns to monitor and control water treatment processes. Works under close supervision following established procedures and guidelines. Participates in training and development programs to become a certified water treatment operator.
Essential duties and responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
Train to operate and maintain all water treatment plant equipment.
Makes regular inspections of plant and equipment to ascertain that it is in proper operation at all times.
Operates treatment facilities to control flow and processing of raw water, and effluent.
Monitors gauges, meters, and control panels and keeps logs of readings.
Train to recognize plant status.
Troubleshoot and perform corrective actions in plant operations as directed by supervisor to ensure finished water quality meets or exceeds the standards of EPA and TDEC.
Observes variations in operating conditions and interpret meter and gauge readings and test results to determine processing requirements.
Cleans and performs routine maintenance tasks on building and grounds. Perform maintenance of equipment related to operations to include calibration of feeders and instruments, feeders, pumps, etc.
Keeps records and makes reports.
Washes and greases plant equipment.
Operates Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.
Enter and update files on computer for preparing reports, spreadsheets, historical information, maintenance records and letters.
Performs plant calculations for chemical dosages, chemical usage, flow rates, detention time, and all other calculations necessary for proper operation of the water treatment plant.
Operates valves and gates either manually or by remote control.
Starts and stop pumps, engines and generators to control and adjust flow and treatment process.
Extracts samples and performs routine laboratory tests analyses.
Promote teamwork environment.
Assist coworkers when necessary.
Required knowledge, skills and abilities:
Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions.
Knowledge of modern water treatment plant operating practices.
Ability to inspect plant machinery in operation and detect flaws.
Ability to keeps accurate records and make reports.
Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with the general public and other employees.
Language skills:
Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one situations to customers, and other employees of the city. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
Mathematical skills:
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Basic algebraic formulas and equations. Flow rates, dosing rates, and chemical concentrations.
Education:
A high school Diploma or G.E.D is required. Some college experience preferred.
Driver's License:
Must have a valid Tennessee Driver's License and clear driving record.
Computer Skills:
Strong knowledge of MS Office Suite, specifically Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Certifications:
None required for hiring. Must obtain a Grade 1 certification within 18 months of hire. Must attend all training courses necessary for Grade 1 certification.
Availability Requirements:
Given the critical infrastructure role of the facility and the need to maintain essential staffing during events such as severe weather, power outages, or other emergency conditions, employees in this position must be available to work rotating shifts, including 24/7 assignments. This position is subject to on-call and call-back requirements, which may include work outside of normal business hours, including days, nights, evenings, weekends, and holidays. The employee must be available to participate in a rotating on-call schedule and may be required to report to duty or remain onsite during emergency operations.
Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Reasonable Accommodations:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to walk; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee may frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and vibration. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud. It shall be the responsibility of the City of Lebanon Utilities Director to assess the type(s) of reasonable accommodations which may be necessary to allow the individual to perform the essential functions of this position and to provide such necessary reasonable accommodations to a qualified individual with a disability, provided that nothing herein shall be construed to require the provision of reasonable accommodations if doing so will impose an undue hardship on the employing agency or a direct threat to the safety of himself/herself or others. Safety and security sensitive job.
Additional Information:
Employment is probationary for first six months of employment with the City. The City of Lebanon provides its full-time employees with an excellent benefits package! Full Time City Employees receive 14 paid holidays and 18 PTO days the first year (23 PTO days after the first year and this increases every 5 years after) and health, dental, vision, life and disability PLUS a generous pension/401k hybrid retirement package through Tennessee Consolidated Retirement Systems (TCRS).
Promotions Information:
Career Ladder promotion for Grades 1-4 WTP operator certifications in conjunction with on-the-job demonstration of capability.