Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator III

job summary

under general supervision, performs the full range of journey-level tasks pertaining to the operation and maintenance of the city’s wastewater treatment and water recycling facilities, and related wastewater division facilities; and may serve as the designated operator-in-charge (doic) on an as-needed basis.

this is the full journey-level class in the wastewater treatment plant operator series. An incumbent in this class works under the direction of a higher-level supervisor or manager. At this level, an incumbent independently performs the full range of journey-level duties associated with operating and maintaining the city’s wastewater treatment and recycling facilities and is fully certified and competent to serve as the designated operator-in-charge (doic) on an occasional basis.

To qualify for this class, applicants must possess a wastewater treatment plant operator grade iii certificate issued by the california state water resources control board (swrcb).

this class can be distinguished from the lower-level class of wastewater treatment plant operator ii because incumbents in the latter class must possess a grade ii certificate and generally perform less complex plant operations and maintenance activities with a greater amount of direct supervision. This class can also be distinguished from the higher-level class of lead operator because an incumbent in the latter class serves as a regular shift supervisor on an ongoing basis and serves as a lead worker over subordinate employees, and must possess an swrcb grade iv certificate.

• perform the full range of journey-level duties pertaining to monitoring, operating, and adjusting controls at the city’s wastewater treatment and recycling facilities, and related wastewater division facilities.
• act as and perform the duties of the designated operator-in-charge (doic) on an occasional basis as needed in accordance with state regulations.
• must be available to work overtime and off-shift hours, including weekends, and/or holidays. Must be available to work standby and be on call. Must be able to respond to the facility within one hour of being called.
• operates and monitors a wide variety of wastewater and water recycling treatment processes that use equipment such as valves, controllers, pumps, compressors, meters, cogeneration, solids dewatering, chemical feed systems, anaerobic digesters, clarifiers, coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation, disk filtration, and uv disinfection.
• empowers lower-level operations staff to be creative problem solvers.
• seeks out and requests resources and techniques to effectively supervise wastewater operators i/ii to encourage the use of appropriate initiative, and sound decision-making towards becoming more skilled in the safe and effective operations of wastewater, and water recycling treatment processes.
• offering creativity and extending flexibility in solving problems and accomplishing the wastewater division’s goals and objectives.
• recommends improvement to procedures and equipment, and assists the wastewater operations supervisor with identifying, operations related capital improvement projects or equipment.
• conducts general information public tours of the wastewater and water recycling facilities.
• proficient at using scada to monitor, control, troubleshoot, and generate operational reports for both wastewater and water recycling systems.
• regulates pressures and flow rates.
• reads and accurately records information taken from gauges, dials, and other instruments.
• performs operational and minor preventative maintenance on plant equipment; cleans, lubricates, and adjusts plant equipment and machinery.
• collects and analyzes water samples in a safe and proper manner as assigned.
• responds to alarms and changes in processes.
• maintains detailed and accurate operations and maintenance records.
• makes complex operational adjustments based on laboratory analyses, trending, recorded data, and interpretation of gauges and recording devices.
• leads by example and promotes and maintains safety in the workplace.
• performs related duties similar to the above in scope and function…