Water Plant Operator I

The City of Johnson City, Tennessee is currently accepting applications for a Water Plant Operator I with Water & Sewer Services. The employee performs responsible semiskilled work in a trainee capacity, operates water treatment plant equipment and facilities on an assigned shift; does related work as required. Employees in this class are responsible for the operation of water filters and chemical feeders used in the treatment of water.

Duties include the taking of samples for laboratory analysis, and the reading and recording of meters at regular intervals. The work is supervised by the Water Plant Operator III or Chief Water Plant Operator through inspection, and by observing the effectiveness of plant operation through the analysis of shift reports and chemical laboratory test.

• periodically checks chemical feeders, pumps, filters and other equipment to ascertain it is operating properly;
• operates, oils and adjusts pumps and machinery;
• starts and stops pumps;
• regulates valves and observes flow dials;
• keeps daily log of shift operations, reads logs of previous shifts and makes reports;
• reads gauges and transmits information to supervisor;
• draws samples of water and makes routine laboratory tests and analysis;
• adds chemicals to water system in accordance with prescribed standards;
• determines the correct amounts of chemical to be added to the raw water to achieve the most efficient and economic type of treatment;
• records amounts of chemicals used, and amounts of raw water and finished water pumped in last 24 hours;
• washes filters periodically;
• makes visual inspection of working apparatus and grounds;
• keeps water plant building and grounds in clean condition;
• takes telephone calls of complaints and reports nature of complaints to supervisor;
• inspects reservoirs and records water levels;
• performs facility and grounds maintenance;
• performs related tasks as required.

Some knowledge of the functions and servicing requirements of mechanical equipment and machinery; willingness and ability to learn the processes involved in the purification of water including routine chemical tests; ability to inspect machinery and mechanical equipment in operation, and to detect flaws and defects in operation; ability to read simple meters and charts accurately, and to maintain simple records of shift operation;

ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; mechanical aptitude. Dexterity to operate machinery.

Completion of high school or trade school including or supplemented by courses in chemistry or related subjects and some experience as a skilled laborer in maintenance work; or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform in this position. Pre-employment physical, drug screening and background check required.