Watershed Maintainer

Job Description

The NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) enriches the environment and protects public health for all New Yorkers by providing 1.1 billion gallons of high quality drinking water, managing wastewater and stormwater, and reducing air, noise, and hazardous materials pollution. DEP is the largest combined municipal water and wastewater utility in the country, with nearly 6,000 employees. DEP's water supply system is comprised of 19 reservoirs and 3 controlled lakes throughout the system’s 2,000 square mile watershed that extends 125 miles north and west of the City.

The Bureau of Water Supply seeks to hire four (4) Watershed Maintainers within the Drinking Water Operations Directorate, for a position at Hillview Reservoir located in Yonkers, New York.

The Watershed Maintainers will perform duties related to the operation, maintenance, and inspection of equipment, water treatment facilities, watershed areas, reservoirs and aqueducts systems of the City of New York. Specific tasks include:

• Monitoring and controling the various process control equipment and treatment systems using various computer-based controls including the Process Monitoring and Control System (PMCS) or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA).
• Performing simple calculations, takes water samples, maintains control room, performs inspections, and maintains overall drinking water quality per regulatory and DEP requirements.
• Loading, unloading and ensuring the feed of chemicals, such as chlorine and alum, to water;
  Identifying and containing leaks through the use of emergency equipment.
• Inspecting reservoirs, streams, water supply lands, groundwater systems and watersheds for compliance and conformity to Agency rules and regulations.
• Serving as a member of the Emergency Response Team.
• Complying with all environmental, health and safety laws, agency policies, rules and regulations.
• Maintaining and repairing facilities, lands, roads, bridges, dams, and other structures using hand or power tools, machine tools and industrial power equipment including snowplows, graders, backhoes, and loaders.
• Keeping paper and electronic logs of operations, equipment performance, maintenance activities and water quality and maintains communication using computers and other electronic equipment.
• Operating motor vehicles, snow removal equipment and other motor-powered equipment.
• Making necessary road repairs, mows lawns, road edges and dams, and operates necessary equipment in connection therewith.
• Painting structures and equipment and performs carpentry work.
• Maintaining and keeping marginal areas around reservoirs, facilities and locations throughout the Watershed clean.
• Assisting skilled craftsmen in the performance of their work.
• Performing work in permit-confined spaces.

Candidates will be required to wear a respirator while performing the essential functions of this job. Employees must be physically able to wear a respirator. OSHA regulations have established medical guidelines for wearing a respirator. Therefore, applicants and employees will be required to have pre-appointment and periodic post-appointment medical examinations to demonstrate that they met applicable OSGHA Standards and to monitor their medical status.

Once hired, employees must continue to satisfy OSHA regulations for the duration of their employment.

All candidates must have a Motor Vehicle Driver’s License valid in the State of New York. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment. All candidates may be required to obtain a NYSDOH Water Treatment Plant Operator Grade 2B or 2A certification, as appropriate. This license must be maintained for the duration of employment.

• Water treatment principles and practices
• Shows good working knowledge of facilities operation, maintenance and repair
• Displays ability to correctly use various hand and power tools and industrial powered equipment
• Is able to effectively communicate in writing and verbally
• Is able to manage time wisely to complete multiple tasks within allotted time frames

• Punctuality
• Work is orderly and safe
• Work is performed efficiently
• Completes assignments with a minimum of direct supervision
• Cooperates and follows orders

(This is a brief description of what a Watershed Maintainer might do in this position and does not include all the duties of this position)

Some of the physical activities performed by Watershed Maintainers and environmental conditions…