Lead Utility Plant Operator

Water Treatment Plant Operator III – City of Midland

Are you a skilled and certified water treatment professional ready to take the lead in delivering clean, safe drinking water to your community? As a Water Treatment Plant Operator III with the City of Midland, you'll serve as a lead operator, overseeing complex plant operations, mentoring junior staff, and ensuring our water systems meet or exceed all safety and quality standards.

From operating advanced treatment equipment to responding to emergencies and analyzing system performance, your expertise will help keep our community healthy and our water flowing. If you’re a licensed professional with a Class “B” Surface Water Treatment Certificate and a passion for public service, we invite you to help shape the future of Midland’s water infrastructure.

• Operates the water treatment plant including related subsystems and instrumentation.
• Monitors the treatment process from the control board/computer screen; monitors various treatment processes including coagulant feed, rapid mix, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection; monitors the addition of chemicals added for taste & odor control.
• Monitors water quality by performing laboratory tests at various stages in the treatment process including tests for chlorine residual, pH, turbidity, hardness, alkalinity, odors, and other tests as necessary to maintain water quality; calibrates laboratory equipment; maintains laboratory records.
• Determines chemical dosage and makes adjustments to plant processes as necessary including for ferric sulfate/aluminum sulfate, chlorine, ammonia, potassium permanganate, caustic soda, powdered activated carbon, and other chemicals.
• Reads gauges and meters; interprets data to maintain the proper treatment process, proper distribution operation, security, and alarm status; makes flow adjustments.
• Operates pumps and valves utilizing a SCADA system; monitors systems for alarms, makes adjustments, and provides appropriate response; notifies Plant Management or appropriate staff as necessary to respond to problems.
• Operates mechanical equipment including pumps and motors, chemical feed pumps and systems, air compressors, and manual, electrical, and pneumatically operated valves; operates hand and power tools; operates a light truck.
• Operates chlorination equipment related to chlorine; performs maintenance on chlorine system including chemical piping system; participates in calibration of chemical feed equipment.
• Orders chemicals, inventories & takes delivery of bulk chlorine.
• Maintains operational logs and records.
• Makes visual inspections; monitors facilities and roads to ensure adequate security.
• Performs preventative and predictive maintenance on treatment plant equipment; assists Maintenance personnel in making major and/or specialized repairs to equipment; coordinates work of contractors and of other departments.
• Operates the City’s water production system including elevated & ground storage and pump stations; ensures adequate availability and pressure to all service connections.
• Provides appropriate response to emergencies and spills including those involving hazardous materials; wears respirators including self‑contained breathing apparatus as required.
• Responds to inquiries from vendors, suppliers, and the public; answers questions from customers pertaining to water quality, low pressure, and leak reports.
• Supervises & trains lower‑level operators.
• Performs related duties as assigned or required.

• Operations, services, and activities of a water treatment system.
• Principles, practices, materials, chemicals, and operating procedures related to the operation and maintenance of a water treatment plant.
• Operating principles of plant equipment including valves, pumps, and motors.
• Methods and techniques of reading and interpreting gauges, recording devices, and related monitoring systems.
• Tools and equipment used in the operation and maintenance of water treatment plant facilities.
• Maintenance and repair principles and practices including preventative maintenance procedures.
• Emergency maintenance and repair procedures…