Job Description

Water Treatment Plant Operator

Under direction, operates, adjusts, regulates, and maintains plant machines and equipment to purify and clarify water for human consumption and industrial use; does other related duties.

EXAMPLES OF WORK:

• Operates and controls electric motors, pumps, and valves to regulate flow of raw water into treatment plant.


• Dumps specified amounts of chemicals such as chlorine, ammonia, and lime into water or adjusts automatic devices that admit specified amounts of chemicals into tanks to disinfect, deodorize, and clarify water.


• Starts agitators to mix chemicals and allow impurities to settle to bottom of tank.


• Turns valves to regulate water through filter beds to remove impurities.


• Pumps purified water into water mains.


• Monitors panelboard and adjusts controls to regulate flow rates, loss of head pressure and water elevation, and distribution of water.


• Cleans tanks and filter beds using backwashing (reverse flow of water).


• Repairs and lubricates machines and equipment using handtools and power tools.


• Tests water samples to determine acidity, color, and impurities using colorimeter, turbidimeter, and conductivity meter.


• Dumps chemicals such as alum into tanks to coagulate impurities and to reduce acidity.


• Records data such as residual content of chemicals, water turbidity, and water pressure.


• May perform minor repairs such as replacing packing in pumps or valves and/or replacing bearings in motors and pumps, lubricating machines, and equipment.


• May operate primary pumping equipment to transfer raw water to treatment plant or to distribute treated water to residential, commercial, or industrial establishments.


• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

REQUIREMENTS

EXPERIENCE : One (1) year of experience in operating, adjusting, regulating, repairing, and maintaining electric motors, pumps, valves, and other electrical and mechanical equipment of the type used in a water treatment plant, pumping station, or filtration plant.

NOTE: Appointees may be required to complete other job-related training courses, as required by the Appointing Authority.

LICENSE : Appointees may be required to possess a valid Public Water Treatment Operator license of the appropriate class, depending on the permit level of the facility, issued by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver’s license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform the essential duties of the position.

KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES :

• Knowledge of the purpose and operation of varied equipment found in a water treatment plant such as pumps, valves, and gauges.


• Knowledge of methods used in operating, adjusting, and regulating alum and lime feeders, chemical feed machines and chlorinators, purification machines, water pumps, filters, and flowmeters.


• Knowledge of methods used in regulating amounts of water and pumping it into a distribution system or storage tanks.


• Knowledge of the location and functions of all equipment present in the plant.


• Knowledge of techniques used in collecting water samples and in conducting and recording standard bacteriological analysis of water.


• Knowledge of methods used in replacement of packing in pumps and valves, replacement of bearings in motors and pumps, and of equipment lubrication.


• Knowledge of techniques used in conducting other tests using colorimeter, turbidimeter, and conductivity meter.


• Knowledge of arithmetic operations used in determining correct amounts of chemicals (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers).


• Knowledge of precautions to be observed when handling chemical agents.


• Knowledge of water treatment processes including but not limited to ammoniation, deflouridation, chlorination, and so forth.


• Ability to work under general direction and to follow a prescribed schedule.


• Ability to do work that is repetitive but requires strict adherence to prescribed procedures.


• Ability to check operations throughout a shift and to record various data according to established format.


• Ability to maintain proper water levels and water pressures.


• Ability to relay information regarding shift operation such as problems encountered and action taken.


• Ability to perform minor maintenance such as oiling and greasing, cleaning and replacing gaskets and piping, and replacing packing.


• Ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time.


• Ability to climb.


• Ability to turn valves and controls.


• Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.


• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.


• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

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