7E45
WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

This is skilled treatment plant operations work, monitoring, operating, adjusting and regulating a computer controlled water treatment process and related electrical, mechanical and electronic processing and security equipment through central and remote terminal locations in a sludge processing, water purification or wastewater treatment plant. Work is performed under the supervisor of a Water Treatment Plant Operations Crew Chief. Employees in this class work in an environment that may contain some disagreeable aspects, and may work on a rotating shift basis.

• The position must be responsible for skilled treatment plant operations work in a sludge processing, water purification or wastewater treatment plant.

• Monitors, adjusts, starts and stops automated water treatment processes and emergency response systems to maintain a safe and efficient water treatment operation; monitors treatment plant processing equipment and systems to identify malfunctions and their probable cause following prescribed procedures; places equipment in or out of service or redirects processes around failed equipment; following prescribed procedures monitors and starts process related equipment, such as boilers, to maintain process and permit objectives; refers difficult equipment maintenance problems and malfunctions to supervisor; monitors the system through a process integrated control terminal or remote station terminal to assure control devices are making proper treatment adjustments; operates the central control terminal keyboard to perform backup adjustments to such treatment processes as influent and effluent pumping, chemical feed, sedimentation and disinfection; monitors specific treatment processes and security systems; at assigned remote plant stations; observes and reviews terminal screen display of graphs, grids, charts and digital readouts to determine process efficiency; responds to visual and audible alarms and indicators that indicate deviations from normal treatment processes and chemical hazards; identifies false alarms and other indicators that do not require immediate response; alerts remote control locations to respond to alarms indicating trouble in that area; performs alarm investigations.
• Switches over to semi-automatic or manual control when the computer control system is not properly controlling the treatment process; off-scans a malfunctioning field sensor point and inserts data obtained from field in order to maintain computer control; controls automated mechanical and electrical treatment processes through the computer keyboard when computer programs have failed; performs field tours to take readings when problems cannot be corrected through the computer keyboard; makes regular field tours of the plant to observe physical conditions; manually controls processes when necessary.
• Determines and changes the amount of chemicals to be added for the amount of water, wastewater or sludge; to be treated; takes periodic samples of treated residuals, biosolids processing products and byproducts, clean water or wastewater for laboratory analysis; receives, stores, handles and applies chemicals and other supplies needed for operation of assigned station; maintains inventory records of supplies on hand and quantities used; prepares and submits daily shift operational reports; records daily activities in a log book, computer database or from a computer terminal; changes chemical feed tanks, chlorine cylinders and feed systems; flushes clogged feed and sampling lines.
• Notes any malfunctioning equipment; makes minor adjustments when required; reports major malfunctions to higher level operator and enters maintenance and related task information into a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) and processes work requests for skilled maintenance personnel.
• Performs routine mechanical maintenance such as packing valves, adjusting belts and replacing shear pins and air filters; lubricates equipment by applying grease and adding oil, changes and cleans strainers; drains condensate from pressure vessels, gearboxes and drip traps; performs minor electrical maintenance such as replacing bulbs and resetting low voltage circuit switches; prepares equipment for maintenance crews by unblocking piplines, pumps and isolating and draining tanks; checks equipment as part of a preventive and predictive maintenance program; reports more complex mechanical-electrical problems to supervisors.
• Responds, in a safe manner, to chlorine leaks and chemical spills in compliance with plant specific emergency response procedures; participates in chlorine and other chemical emergency response drills.
• Prepares operational and maintenance reports as required, including flow and treatment information; changes charts and maintains recording equipment; utilizes system and other software packages to generate reports and charts and graphs of flow and treatment status and trends; maintains clean work area.
• Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE OF:
• the methods, materials, tools, practices, and procedures used in the operation and minor maintenance of sludge processing, water purification or wastewater treatment plant equipment and processes
• the occupational hazards and safety precautions as they apply to sludge processing, water or wastewater treatment processes equipment
• the operation and navigation of a computer maintenance management system (CMMS)
SKILL IN:
• the care and use of tools used in maintaining and repairing plant machinery and equipment
• the care and use of personal protective equipment
ABILITY TO:
• accurately read and record data from computer terminal screen displays and readouts from meter, security and gauging equipment
• make arithmetic computations and prepare reports
• understand and follow oral and written instructions

EDUCATION
Education equivalent to the completion of the twelfth school grade.
AND
EXPERIENCE
• One year of experience in the operation of a computer controlled wastewater treatment, water purification or sludge process and processing equipment.

NOTES:

Successful completion of a formal in-service training course in the operation of such computer controlled water or wastewater treatment or biosolids processes and processing equipment equates for the above experience requirement.

Possession of a valid C-level or above Sewage Treatment Plant or Waterworks operator license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection or possession of a comparable license from another state equates for the above experience requirement.

Successful completion of a water treatment or wastewater treatment plant operation training course from the California State University, Sacramento School of Engineering equates for the above experience requirement.

OR

Any equivalent combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Personnel Department.

• Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.
• Ability to pass annual medical evaluation and receive certification to utilize respiratory protection equipment, where required by job assignment.

• Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure of employment as a Water Treatment Plant Operator.
• Possession of a HAZ/MAT Emergency Response Technician 24 hour certification within six months of appointment and during tenure of employment as a Water Treatment Plant Operator, if required by work assignment.
• Possession of an appropriate certified pesticide applicator training completion certificate within six months of appointment and during tenure of employment as a Water Treatment Plant Operator, if required by work assignment.