Water Treatment - Treatment Plant Operator Trainee - Water Treatment

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Under the direct supervision of the Supervisor – Water Treatment, to perform activities pertaining to the operation of a Surface Water Treatment plant. This position is an entry level trainee position that focuses on learning and understanding how to operate multiple treatment plants, perform a variety of chemical dosing calculations, chemical analysis, distribution system management, electronic and manual record keeping as well as treatment plant process control activities to produce potable water compliant with State of Texas and Federal Regulations.

Under general supervision, to perform a variety of chemical analysis, distribution system management, and treatment plant process control activities to produce potable water compliant with State of Texas and Federal Regulations.

Under direction, perform a variety of technical work involved in the operation and maintenance of a Water Treatment plant.

This position exercises no supervisory responsibilities.

• Operate a City vehicle daily to travel to various water treatment plants, pump stations, storage tanks, lakes, and vendors.
• Learn to calculate chemical dosages, understand their purposes, and adjust chemical feeders and equipment for optimal water treatment.
• Learn to control and monitor treatment plant chemical feed pumps and various types of equipment to clarify, filter, and disinfect water for human consumption and industrial use.
• Learn to perform, interpret, and record laboratory tests to assess water quality and determine appropriate treatment strategies, including tests for pH, alkalinity, turbidity, chlorine residual, hardness, temperature, and conductivity to maintain water quality.
• Learn the procedures to backwash filters manually and automatically, and become proficient in standard plant and laboratory operations, including quality control, equipment maintenance, and testing.
• Learn to maintain plant records, including operations logs, daily diaries, and chemical inventories; compile both paper and electronic copies of reports as required by department policy.
• Learn to monitor SCADA Systems, pumps, chemical feed systems, laboratory equipment, meters and gauges to determine status of various functions of the plant; performs equipment and laboratory preventive maintenance duties.
• Read, calculate, and record water usage on an hourly and daily basis, and assist with maintaining flows and levels across five pressure planes and storage tanks within the distribution system.
• Assist in performing minor repairs, operations adjustments, and preventive maintenance on plant equipment as needed.
• Record telephone information regarding water leaks and report to the appropriate repair crews, learn procedure for contacting DIGTESS as well as other utility and service provider locators.
• Learn to check motors and pumps for excessive vibrations, noise and temperatures; report problems to appropriate personnel.
• Perform grounds maintenance and general housekeeping duties to maintain a clean and safe work environment as needed.

All duties of the Trainee, but with a higher expected level of accountability and responsibility.

• Controls and monitors treatment plant chemicals, machines, and equipment to purify and clarify water for human consumption and industrial use.
• Performs and records the results of various laboratory tests to assess water quality and to determine optimal chemical treatment, such as pH, alkalinity, turbidity, chlorine residual, hardness, temperature, conductivity and other related tests.
• Removes solids from treatment units and backwashes filters as needed.
• Maintains the efficiency of plant and laboratory operations, including maintenance of equipment, pumps, filters, and machinery, testing, quality control, and record-keeping procedures.
• Calibrates laboratory equipment and adjusts chemical feeders for optimal water treatment.
• Maintains plant records, including operations logs, daily diaries, and chemical inventories; compiles reports as required by departmental policies.
• Monitors SCADA Systems, pumps, chemical feed systems, laboratory equipment, meters and gauges to determine the status of various functions of the plant; performs equipment and laboratory preventive maintenance duties.
• Maintains flows and levels in distribution systems and storage tanks.
• Participates in training the Treatment Plant Operator Trainee.
• Performs minor repairs, operations adjustments, and preventive maintenance on plant equipment as needed.
• Reads and records chemical usage; fills chemical feeders; mixes chemicals; changes reagents; changes out chlorine cylinders.
• Checks motors and pumps for excessive noise and temperature variations; reports problems to appropriate personnel.

All of the above requirements with an even more increased understanding of Federal and State Rules and…