Job Descriptions

DESCRIPTION:

Under general direction, the Water Treatment Plant Operator Apprentice learns to operate, monitor, and inspect the Water Treatment Plant and ancillary facilities.

This classification is assigned to the Turlock City Employees Association bargaining unit for labor relations purposes and is subject to overtime, call back, and standby assignments.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

General supervision is provided by the Water Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor and may receive technical direction from the Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator or Water Treatment Plant Operator.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS - Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Learn to operate all necessary water treatment plant equipment to deliver potable water to the customers including plant flow rate and chemical.
• Learn to compute chemical dosages and flow rates.
• Learn to operate pumps, valves, and other equipment manually and remotely.
• Learn to inspect, adjust, and operate equipment as required.
• Learn to conduct water treatment sampling and process analysis, including jar testing.
• Learn to maintain necessary reports and records.
• Observe and enforce safety rules.
• Learn to maintain proper chemical applications and storage.
• Learn to coordinate the delivery and receipt of plant chemicals and materials.
• Learn to monitor processes using a SCADA control system.
• Participate in special projects or studies as assigned.
• Assist with the preparation of technical and administrative reports, and other written documents, including the submittal of all regulatory required reports.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with staff through clear and concise communication.
• Subject to rotating shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• To learn principles and practices of water treatment, water transmission, and water storage.
• To learn drinking water quality regulations.
• To learn equipment, tools and materials use in the operation and maintenance of the water treatment plant.
• Safety rules and regulations.
• To learn hydraulics, applied mathematics, chemical metering, pumps, SCADA and chemicals used in water treatment.
• To learn water sampling and analysis, including jar testing.
• Use of modern office equipment and applicable software.

Ability to:

• Ability to follow oral and written instruction.
• Assess changing conditions and initiate appropriate action.
• Operate modern office equipment and software programs.
• Communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education, training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and ability is as follows:

Education:

Equivalent to a high school education.

Experience:

Experience in a Water Treatment Plant is desirable but not required. Therefore, no experience is necessary.

License:

Possession of an appropriate, valid Class C California Driver's License at the time of appointment, to be maintained as a condition of continued employment.

Certificate(s):

• Possession of a valid California Water Treatment Operator T-1 or higher Certificate at the time of appointment with the ability to acquire a Water Treatment Operator T-2 Certificate in 18 months of appointment to the position.
• Ability to acquire a California Water Distribution Operator D-2 Certificate in 18 months of appointment to the position.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Maintain the following physical abilities: see well enough to read, write and make observations, operate hand and power tools, vehicles and heavy equipment; hear well enough to converse on the radio, telephone and in person; bodily mobility to walk, bend, stand, crouch or climb for extended periods of time, operate assigned equipment and vehicles and perform heavy manual labor for extended periods; ability to tolerate extreme fluctuations in temperature while performing essential functions and be able to lift equipment on a frequent basis 25lbs, and on an occasional basis 50lbs.