LTS Plant Operator Trainee

The City of Jacksonville's Land Treatment Site is staffed by the Chief Operator, seven Wastewater Plant Operators, three Plants Maintenance Mechanics, one Plants Maintenance Worker, a Crew Leader, and three Equipment Operators. The Laboratory Section is also housed at the LTS and is staffed by the Supervising Chemist. The City of Jacksonville is looking for a highly motivated individual to join our Wastewater Plant Operator team to perform intermediate semiskilled work assisting in the operation and maintenance of a water or wastewater treatment plant;

does related work as required. Work is performed under the regular supervision of the Chief Plant Operator.

To learn more about the Wastewater Treatment plant click HERE
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The City of Jacksonville Land Treatment Site treats up to 9 million gallons of wastewater daily, which is re-purposed back into the environment. Wastewater that has been naturally purified is distributed to cultivated forest land on the site. Trees are grown and harvested for sale to help sustain a healthy local economy.

• Disposal of wastewater in an environmentally safe manner
• Eliminating the discharge of up to 5.2 million gallons daily (MGD) of treated wastewater into the New River
• Providing a 7,500 acre site, which provides an environment where wildlife flourishes
• Allows treated wastewater after natural purification to be recycled back into the groundwater reservoir

The land treatment site covers a 7,500 acre site with over 1/3 of this land dedicated to spray irrigation fields where pine trees are cultivated. The spray fields contain over 22,000 sprinkler nozzles. Treatment at the site can be broken down into four steps:

• Biological treatment lagoons and storage
• Screening and grit removal
• Disinfection
• Spray irrigation of treated wastewater in forested areas

The treatment lagoons cover 15 acres of land and have a capacity of 13.5 million gallons. They provide biological treatment of the wastewater with the assistance of floating aerators.

The storage lagoons cover 180 acres of land and have a capacity of 720 million gallons when full. They provide storage of treated wastewater during periods of inclement weather when spray irrigation is not feasible.

The treated wastewater will be applied in the spray irrigation field at the rate of 1.4 inches per acre per week during the summer months and 0.7 inches per acre per week during the winter months. The final purification of the treated wastewater is provided by the soil and trees, which function as a living filter. They remove nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which in turn support rapid tree growth.

Operating a utility plant and performing general plant and grounds maintenance tasks.

These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Makes unsupervised tours of Nano-filtration plant and well field sites for spot checks on all engines, generators, pumps, tanks, filters, membrane train’s and other equipment for proper functioning.
• Learns to operate the computer control water system (SCADA) and monitors the wastewater alarm system.
• When instructed, can start up and shut down pumps as necessary to regulate system flow and pressure.
• Collects and records data on wells, pumps, tanks and chemicals.
• Checks and reports to senior duty operator chemical tank levels.
• Takes readings from all plant/well field meters and instruments and records on computer operational logs.
• Assists in the collection samples of water distribution samples.
• Performs supervised maintenance and lubrication on equipment.
• Aids in and performs scheduled and emergency operations as needed.
• Performs general custodial and grounds maintenance work.
• Answers after hour telephone calls for other utility operators.
• Answers after-hours emergency utility telephone calls.
• Performs related tasks as required.

Employee may be called upon in case of a disaster, either natural or man-made, to serve the Citizens of Jacksonville; failure to serve when required may result in personnel action. Service during a disaster may result in the assignment of other duties, which will take precedence over duties described in this job description.

• Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school.
• Possession of an appropriate driver's license valid in the State of North Carolina.
• Preferred 6 months experience in the operation of a water treatment plant.
• Possess the ability to learn the operating characteristics and maintenance requirements of a water treatment plant, basic knowledge of hydraulic, chemical and mechanical principles pertinent to water treatment plant operations, general knowledge of the occupational hazards of the work and of the necessary safety…