Water Utility Operator III - Water Quality

Water Quality Technician

First Review of Applications on July 10, 2026. Expected Starting Salary Hiring Range: $53,404 - $60,079. Starting Salary Depending on Experience and Qualifications.

The Town of Oro Valley Water Utility seeks a highly motivated, hard-working dependable results driven individual with a strong water quality testing and backflow prevention background to work in the Water Quality Department. The successful candidate will report to the Water Operations Supervisor and be expected to work collaboratively with other water operations staff.

If being part of a seasoned and experienced water professional team, working for the most technologically advanced Water Utility in Southern Arizona, sounds interesting to you, then we hope you apply! Under close supervision maintains water quality testing and assists with the cross-connection and backflow prevention program.

• Assists water quality programs including water quality sampling and backflow prevention compliance, updating and modifying department policies and Town Ordinances related to water quality monitoring and backflow compliance.
• Produces sampling schedules and performs water quality sampling in accordance with State and Federal Regulations.
• Creates and submits sampling plans, SOP's and documents required by the Department of Environmental Quality {ADEQ}.
• Maintains working relationship with laboratories, reviews and interprets laboratory analysis and requests the required and appropriate bottle sets for different and various sampling analyses.
• Creates and maintains databases for water quality data to be kept on record or submitted to ADEQ.
• Assists with reports for compliance purposes that includes consumer confidence reports and utility annual reports.
• Works with the Utility's management to assist in solving water quality issues.
• Assists with departmental budget planning and monitoring.
• Assists with purchasing of materials and equipment related to water quality programs.
• Assists with and ensures that the water quality monitoring and backflow prevention programs are in compliance with Federal and State drinking water regulations.
• Stays informed on current water quality regulations, pending changes and reporting on the potential impact of those changes to the utility.
• Acts as a key member of the Utility's Emergency Response Team.
• Investigates and responds to complex customer inquiries regarding water quality concerns.
• Maintains knowledge of Arizona Drinking Water Rule and stays current with additions and changes related to the rule.
• Assists with the Backflow Prevention program, notifying customers that testing is due, installing construction backflow prevention devices, and updating the program database.
• Perform backflow duties if the program administrator is not present. Certification in backflow prevention is required.

Required

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in written communication.
• Ability to control the water system's water production facilities using SCADA and/or ability to oversee water utility construction projects (Production assignment).
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to interpret and apply relevant Town, State and Federal statutes, ordinances, codes, rules and regulations governing water utility and system operations.
• Knowledge of applicable Town, State and Federal statutes, ordinances, codes, rules and regulations governing water utility and system operations.
• Knowledge of both distribution and production facility components, maintenance, repair and installation methods, material and equipment.
• Knowledge of customer service techniques and methods.
• Knowledge of Emergency Response Planning.
• Knowledge of Town and Department policies and procedures.
• Skill in computerized database management.
• Skill in creating and maintaining accurate and applicable reports and records.
• Skill in database entry, spreadsheets, Microsoft Excel, Access, Word, One Note and Cubic.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines and follow up on work assignments with minimal supervision.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.

• A high school diploma or GED.
• Three (3) years of work experience in a public water utility as an ADEQ certified Grade II Distribution Operator.
• Must possess a valid Class D Arizona driver license upon the first day of employment.
• Must possess at the time of application a Grade II Water Distribution certificate issued by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and must obtain a Grade III within one year of hire date.
• Some Water Utility Operator III positions may also require the following:
  Arizona Department of Transportation DOT/Hazmat certification and NFPA 70E Arc Flash certification or the ability to obtain within one (1) year of employment. (Production assignment).
• Must possess Backflow Prevention General Tester certification or the ability to obtain within one (1) year of employment. (Water…