Wastewater Operator

Wastewater Operator

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Responsible for overall operation of the Cottage Grove Wastewater and Water Quality Plants and for meeting all State and Federal agency requirements.

Operations & Equipment

• Ensure coordination between all shifts on operating conditions.
• Operate process controls (e.g., start/stop and control speed and flow rates) on equipment including pumps, bar screens, compressors, blowers, generators, tanks, sludge thickening belts, thermal oxidizer, rotating equipment, activated sludge, sewer systems, ponds, activated carbon systems, ion exchange resin systems, ultra‑filtration, reverse osmosis, distillation systems, regeneration systems, and instrumentation.
• Monitor and control plant functions through computer information, automatic controllers, or manual controls to ensure proper process operations are maintained (pressure, temperature, tank levels, current, and other parameters).
• Operate, control, and monitor treatment process equipment (wastewater phases 1, 2, and 3; Water Quality buildings; and regeneration systems).
• Monitor wastewater and process water conditions and adjust chemicals accordingly.
• Respond to spills, stoppage, and cleanup of upsets by taking appropriate corrective actions.

Support

• Perform preventive maintenance on equipment to ensure efficient operation and accurate instrument readings; clean tanks, weirs, pumps, and other process control equipment using hand tools and power tools.
• Inspect and monitor equipment and troubleshoot operational and equipment issues.
• Maintain the facility by cleaning, sweeping, and hosing down equipment, piping, and valves; this includes office and laboratory janitorial duties.
• Perform hazardous waste management duties according to 3M guidelines—handling, mixing, disposing, storing, shipping, and documenting hazardous waste.
• Change filters and resin as needed in water filtration systems (reverse osmosis, ultra‑filtration, cartridge filters, and other process filters).

Safety

• Perform maintenance checks and service on safety equipment and stations, including fire extinguishers and eye wash stations.
• Use appropriate safety equipment (respirators, toxic/explosive monitoring meters) to work in hazardous atmospheres.
• Apply safety precautions, rules, and regulations; use personal protective equipment and respirators as required.
• Identify safe work practices for using safety equipment.
• Adhere to all safety procedures, including lock‑out/tag‑out, confined space entry, line opening, spark, and open flame permits.
• Attend and participate in all department and safety meetings.
• Work under conditions such as confined spaces, loud environments, heights, strong odors, heat, cold, rain, and other hazardous areas; use hand and power tools to operate and maintain plant equipment.

Technical

• Perform troubleshooting functions and routine adjustments to motors, pumps, and other equipment.
• Use computers to track work orders, maintenance activities, tank readings, logbooks, and process summaries.
• Maintain all operational logs, calibration records, analytical operations, and preventive maintenance records for inspection by MPCA, EPA, and OSHA.
• Understand permit requirements under which the 3M Wastewater plan operates.
• Communicate with supervisors, process engineers, and management to identify problem areas with operational parameters and activities.
• Collaborate with others and work in teams; maintain knowledge of plant and building contacts.
• Perform mathematical calculations for permits, parameters, chemical feed rates, chemical dosages, and chemical analysis.
• Maintain operational records and data logs.
• Initiate SWOs when necessary to keep the treatment plant operating in compliance with State and Federal guidelines.
• Operate computer control…