Treatment Plant Operator

This position may be eligible for annual incentive pay and contracted increases as determined by the collective bargaining agreement, and you will have the opportunity for continued salary growth.

In addition to compensation, you will be offered a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs and much more!

American Water is also proud to offer employees learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally!

Under the direction of the Production Supervisor, the Treatment Plant Operator operates, maintains and inspects the water treatment plant and related facilities to supply, treat, store, and distribute potable water, and/or operates and maintains the solids handling facilities of the water treatment plant as required to thicken, dewater and dispose of the residuals from the water plant. The Operator performs technical work related to the overall plant operation and maintenance, and/or the solids handling operation and maintenance.

• The position requires experience and possession of a Kentucky Class IV-A Water Treatment Operators License. **

• Performs all work involving operations, maintenance and control of the water treatment plant, tanks, boosters, and solids/dewatering facilities. Monitors overall operations, analyzes chemical processes, and performs functions related to process control.
• Operates, monitors and adjusts, as necessary, all related plant process equipment, pumps and instrumentation.
• Responsible for the daily operation of all solids handling and dewatering processes associated with and resulting from the water treatment plant operation.
• Must meet the dewatering needs of the treatment plant. This includes operating a belt filter press dewatering system, monitoring and adjusting thickener performance, tracking solids volume and offloading dewatered sludge to the solids holding area.
• Performs duties related to the operation, maintenance (preventative/routine, adjustments, repairs) and control of all related plant process equipment including: basins, pumps, motors, chemical feeds, belt press dewatering systems, lagoons, holding tanks, thickeners, and laboratory instruments.
• Conducts various tests to determine proper chemical feed rates; calculates chemical feed rates and changes pump settings and feeders as needed; timing and calibration of chemical feed equipment. Monitors and controls the water supply, transmission and storage systems through SCADA.
• Assists in the safe unloading and storage of chemicals. Takes daily inventory of process chemicals.
• Operates water plant processes to provide compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations. Makes rounds of the treatment facilities, collects and analyzes samples required for compliance and process control.
• Performs a variety of laboratory tests to determine plant process performance.
• Maintains the plant, facilities, operation equipment, and laboratory equipment in clean and orderly condition (including routine housekeeping and grounds maintenance, site safety inspections).
• Maintain, standardize and calibrate bench top, on-line monitoring equipment, analyzers and treatment equipment.
• Take routine readings and records plant operation data as required. Maintain daily logsheet of plant operations, test results, maintenance work performed and unusual operating conditions.
• Work with computer equipment to input data for files and reports.
• The Treatment Plant Operator performs quarterly filter inspections. Performs basin washes as needed. During basin washes inspect all pipes, connections, cables, blades, and associated equipment within the basins.
• Monthly exercising of exterior diesels and inventory of diesel fuel.
• Monitors the performance and levels of gravity thickeners, holding tanks, and settling basins.
• Calculates chemical dosages and makes adjustments to flows, polymer feed and cake size based on visual inspections and physical testing. Operates and adjusts mixing and feed systems to ensure optimum polymer feed rate and evenness of sludge feed onto belt. Prepares polymer and sodium thiosulfate solutions.
• Takes daily meter readings and records press operation data as required on daily logsheet of press operations.
• Makes multiple rounds of the basins, holding tanks and thickeners daily to verify equipment operation and…