Water Services Operator Water Production Operations Government Job Dept-088-23 Full Time

Actively supports and upholds the City’s stated mission and values. Employee supports the Water Production Section in cost effectively and efficiently producing potable water that meets or exceeds all requirements of the Safe Drinking Water Act; and manages the quantity of water to provide adequate flows for customers and fire suppression.   This position specializes in operations duties and offers assistance, skills, and abilities to other production disciplines with emphasis on awareness of impact of decisions as they relate to regulatory compliance.  This position involves physical exertion and frequent exposure to dangerous toxic chemicals and materials such as chlorine, caustic soda, aluminum-based coagulants, and lime.  Work may occasionally require heavy physical exertion performed under adverse weather conditions at high altitude.
 
ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

• Supervisory:  This job does not have formal supervisory responsibilities.  The position may require occasional training, coordinating and monitoring the work of others in the section at the discretion of Supervisors. 
• Budgetary:  This job does not have budgetary responsibilities but carries out day-to-day activities within approved budget and may include purchasing or procurement activities using city funds. 
• Strategic Planning:  This job does not have strategic planning responsibilities; but carries out day-to-day activities in order to reach the stated goals and objectives.
• Policies/Procedures:  This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Compliance: This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with Federal, State, and Local laws, rules, and regulations as well as City policies and procedures.
• Council Communications:  This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with Council’s adopted priorities and direction.
• Reporting:  This job has partial responsibility for reporting to Federal/State/Local agencies at the certified operator level (provides information and assists in addressing discrepancies in reporting) for the following reports/agencies:   City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, ADEQ & EPA; and generates reports for Water Services Management and Administrative staff.

• Provides excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.
• Is responsible for process control of surface water through the plant including plant start-up, shut-down, filter backwashing and chemical adjustment.
• Works with highly hazardous chemicals such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide, sodium hydroxide, aluminum chlorohydrate, various acids and bases and other chemical reagents.
• Assists in a wide variety of plant maintenance duties such as lubrication, adjustment, cleaning and inspection of equipment. 
• Monitors a wide variety of parameters during various stages of treatment including turbidity, chlorine residual, pH and dissolved oxygen.
• Performs routine facility, grounds and instrumentation maintenance including janitorial, landscaping, snow removal and equipment calibrations and repair.
• Fills out various logs, forms and reports and produces daily, weekly and annual reports and verifies accuracy of computer-generated data regarding system parameters.
• Recommends measures to improve production methods, equipment use, changes in working conditions, and quality of work.
• Operates hand-held tools and other equipment as required for production operations.
• Controls the amount of water produced by placing production sources in service and removing them from service at the proper time to maintain system reliability and dependability.
• Performs duties associated with the timely removal and disposal of treatment residuals from the treatment basins, including operation of heavy equipment such as front-end loaders and back-hoes.
• Performs jar tests as needed to determine optimal chemical doses for the treatment of raw water due to the changing conditions of surface water.
• Performs laboratory analyses such as amperometric and other titrations, spectrophotometric analyses, bacteriological analyses etc.
• Exposure to high elevation, dirt, dust, pollen odors, wetness, humidity, rain, temperature and noise extremes, fumes, hazardous materials, machinery, vibrations, electric currents, traffic hazards, water hazards, bright/dim light, toxic agents, disease or pathogenic substances.
• Ability to work unsupervised and independently on rotating shifts including evenings, weekends, nights and holidays. 
• Responsible for maintaining potable water system storage and making necessary adjustments, such as with variable frequency drives in groundwater wells; for fire suppression and potable water consumption demands.
• Performs dispatch of other water services personnel including those from other sections as needed for both internal and external emergencies.
• Performs training of less experienced operators and maintenance workers in water production duties.
• Uses SCADA system to control equipment used for water production: such as pumps, motors, chemical feed pumps, valves, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
 

• High school diploma or General Educational Development (GED).
• Must possess a valid Arizona driver’s license.
• Or any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the above Minimum Requirements. 

 
 
DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING
 

• ADEQ Water Treatment Grade I, II, III, or IV Certification.
• ADEQ Distribution I, II, III, or IV Certification.
• Experience (3-5 years) at a treatment plant. 
• College level coursework in chemistry, biology, math, or geology.
• Experience in mechanical and electrical trouble shooting.
• OSHA guidelines related to large treatment facilities.
• Microsoft Office products and other relevant technologies.

 
 
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
 

• Must possess, or obtain upon employment, a valid Arizona driver’s license.
• Knowledge of computerized systems such as those used in water treatment facilities.
• Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity.
• Must obtain ADEQ Water Treatment Grade 1 certification within probationary period, not to exceed one year.  
• Must be willing and able to work shifts that entail evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Must be willing to cover shifts for operators that are absent.
• All Emergency Service Employees shall maintain their principal residence within the state boundaries of Arizona.  All Emergency Service Employees, except those holding a position in Fire, will arrive at the assigned or emergency work location within one (1) hour from notification to report to duty.
• Incumbents of this position may be subject to pre-employment drug screening, and post-employment random, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion drug/alcohol screening (dependent on CDL possession).

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
 

• Working knowledge of the principles, practices, materials, and equipment used in water treatment and production.
• Basic understanding of physics, equipment operation, fluid movement, mechanical function, and electrical theory. 
• Mechanical aptitude and skill in the use of tools.
• Ability to work in adverse weather conditions at high altitude.
• Demonstrated ability to work safely in and around heavy equipment, electricity, machinery, and various instruments. 
• Demonstrated ability to keep neat and accurate records and to read meters, charts and trends.
• Aptitude and ability in manipulating math formulas.
• Elementary knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic principles.
• Demonstrated ability to perform work requiring sustained climbing, standing, lifting, and walking.
• Demonstrated ability to handle and work around dangerous chemicals.
• Demonstrated ability to inspect the operation of equipment and detect flaws.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the general public.
• Working knowledge of applicable Federal (E.P.A), State (ADEQ, ADWR, ADHS), and local laws/regulations related to water treatment and production.
• Working knowledge of the hazards and applicable safety rules and precautions of water treatment and production.
• Some knowledge of laboratory safety and laboratory procedures as related to sampling and testing of potable water.
• Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions without supervision.
• Ability to use personal computer, MS Office, and associated software.

 
 
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS
 

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to perform examples of the work above. 
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Vision requirements for this position include close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• Working conditions include wet or humid conditions, work near moving mechanical parts, work in high, precarious places, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, outdoor weather at high elevation, risk of electrical shock, near explosive substances, vibration and risk of radiation. 
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.