Water​/Wastewater Laboratory Technician

The City of Ames is recruiting for a Civil Service eligibility list for this classification. The list is valid for up to one year from certification by the Civil Service Commission and may be used to fill one or more vacancies. Current Civil Service employees who wish to demote or transfer into this vacancy must submit an application by the deadline.

Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:0 p.m., with occasional Saturday and holiday coverage.

Pay is determined by months of service. The starting salary is $27.15 per hour until June 30 2026 and $28.10 per hour thereafter.

This position performs compliance and regulatory laboratory work and field sampling within the City’s state‑certified environmental laboratory. Duties include collecting and preparing samples, performing chemical tests to determine quality of City water, wastewater, and sludge before and after treatment; entering data and performing routine quality assurance; maintaining equipment and cleaning the laboratory; and performing related work as required.

Perform routine laboratory procedures such as sampling, weighing, recording, calibrations, pH measurement, titrations, ion‑selective electrode usage, reagent preparation, water distribution sampling, stream sampling, and raw groundwater sampling in the field multiple days per week, including assigned special projects.

Assist other lab staff in setting up, performing, and cleaning up after chemical and microbiological analyses; clean glassware, countertops, samplers, sampling locations, and laboratory equipment. Calculate and record laboratory data, enter data into computer systems, and assist in preparing periodic reports for plant management and regulatory agencies. Update chemical inventory as required.

Guide or assist visitors around the laboratory. Perform extra sampling and laboratory duties connected with special water/wastewater plant or research projects. Provide courteous customer service to the public when collecting samples during service calls for individual water distribution system locations and during non‑routine water main breaks.

Two years of college coursework in chemistry and algebra, plus at least 3 months experience in a laboratory environment, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. A bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related field, with at least 3 months of water/wastewater or environmental laboratory work including aseptic sample collection techniques for microbiology, is preferred.

Valid driver’s license required.

General knowledge of basic principles of chemistry as they apply to water and wastewater laboratory analyses; understanding of modern laboratory instruments and equipment; basic math and algebra; proficiency with computers, word processing, and spreadsheets. Ability to work safely with laboratory equipment and chemicals; follow procedures, instructions, and safety rules; learn and accurately perform laboratory analyses; provide acceptable results for proficiency testing;

maintain accurate records; establish effective working relationships; demonstrate courteous customer service; handle delicate glassware and instruments; read analytical results; calculate and understand formulas, ratios, multiplication factors, percent difference, and percent recovery.

Work involves standing or walking approximately 75 % of the time and sitting 25 %. Occasionally lift up to 70 pounds, frequently up to 50 pounds, and constantly up to 10 pounds.

Standard vision for preparing and analyzing data, repetitive tasks, visual inspection of small defects or parts, distinguishing colors, and measuring liquids, weights, or distances.

Climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, talking, hearing, pushing, pulling, lifting, finger dexterity, pinching, grasping, feeling, repetitive motions.

Work performed indoors and outdoors; potential exposure to cold, heat, mechanical, electrical, chemical hazards,…