Chief Surface Water Treatment Plant Operator bei City of Victoria, TX

About the Department

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS -- Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills.  This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class. Employees are required to be in attendance and prepared to begin work at their assigned work location on the specified days and hours. Factors such as regular attendance at the job are not routinely listed in job descriptions but are an essential function. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Under general supervision, the Chief Surface Water Treatment Plant Operator performs a variety of skilled duties to provide the public with potable drinking water that is free of containments and properly disinfected.

Position Duties

•Maintains treatment chemical inventories; places orders as needed; maintains and orders laboratory equipment and reagents used in water quality testing. 
•Assists maintenance staff with placing orders for tools, materials, and equipment. 
•Compiles and maintains operational status reports in accordance with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) regulations and requirements. 
•Performs and records water quality checks which includes total and free chlorine residuals, fluoride residuals, alkalinity and hardness, mono chloramine residual and free ammonia; checks temperatures; completes turbidity verifications. 
•Monitors SCADA system to ensure adequate levels throughout the distribution system; maintains clear wells, ground storage tanks, and towers; turns on and off pumps as needed.
•Calculates and implements dosage of chemicals needed for proper treatment of raw water using mathematical formulas and computer programs; checks pumps (drawdowns) to ensure required amount of chemical is being used.
•Collects bacteriological, total organic compounds, and alkalinity samples; analyzes, prepares, and preserves samples for transport to lab or mailing to testing laboratory.
•Inspects and tests specific gravity, color, and odor of chemicals received for water treatment.
•Performs inspection of plant grounds to check basins, filters, pumps, and motors; completes daily backwash of filters.
•Prepares and maintains reports and logs; inputs process control data; reports the performance of entire system to immediate supervisor.
•Supervise plant operators and training new operators or operator trainees as assigned.  Manage treatment processes. 
•Responds to questions and concerns from customers City departments, and outside agencies; coordinates tasks with other city departments to ensure customer complaints are addressed; generates and inputs work orders after receiving customer complaints; inputs emergency line locates when needed. 
•Performs general custodial duties around the plant to include cleaning control room, lab, restrooms, plant floors, and equipment.
•Performs related duties as required or assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Work is performed throughout treatment facilities and requires exposure to potentially dangerous tools, equipment, and machinery, hazardous chemicals, and infectious diseases.

Other Qualifications

•High school diploma or GED equivalent AND four (4) years of experience in surface water treatment operations; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
•Must possess a Class B Surface Water Operator certification. 

Knowledge of: 
•Applicable local, State, and Federal laws, codes, regulations, and ordinances.  
•General and advanced water treatment processes. 
•Records maintenance and retention practices and procedures.
•Work safety policies, procedures, and practices. 
•Sample collection and handling procedures. 
•TCEQ standards and regulations. 
•Project management methods. 

Skill in:
•Reading and accurately interpreting work orders, gauges, meters chemical reports, and technical manuals. 
•Interacting tactfully and professionally with City staff and outside agencies. 
•Following safe work practices including the proper use of personal protective equipment. 
•Analyzing lab data to determine necessary process changes.
•Organizing work and setting priorities to meet deadlines. 
•Following safe work practices including the proper use of personal protective equipment. 
•Typing and entering data with speed and accuracy.
•Maintaining accurate records and filing systems. 
•Preparing clear and concise reports. 
•Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing.  
•Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.