Water Treatment Operator

Primary Role

The Water Treatment Operator is responsible for plant operations, analyzing water samples and making needed adjustments.

Key Accountabilities

• Chemical treatment duties: Walks to the carbon feed room; walks up/down flights of stairs with railing; wears appropriate safety apparel; reaches up to 76" to open door and lower it (requires 25 lb. force); lifts 50 lb. bags of powdered activated carbon from pallet (stacked from 6" to 53" high) using truck flexion/squatting, forward reaching, and lifting from floor to waist height (may use pallet jack to raise pallet so lifting is at waist height); pushes down on pallet jack handle; uses utility knife to open bag; hits end of poker with palm to pierce bag (wrist extension, elbow flexion/ext); lifts door back into position (75 lbs. force from below waist to overhead); fills potassium permanganate; uses dolly to move full barrel (30 lb. force to pull back dolly); uses scoop (7 times) to put powder into container (each scoop ~3 lbs.) with trunk flexion, reaching down into barrel, gripping and wrist deviations; tools used include gloves, apron, respirator, utility knife, poker, pallet jack.
• Cleaning (daily as needed): Cleans lab and computer area; stands, walks, and goes up/down stairs; sweeps and mops floors (trunk/neck flexion, trunk rotation, gripping handle, elbow flexion/extension); washes glassware in lab (slight trunk flexion, grip, material handling under 5#) with possible squatting or overhead reaching to put away; shovels walkway and steps as needed, may walk on slippery surfaces; tools used include cleaning supplies, mop, broom, shovel.
• Computer use (occasionally daily): Seated data entry; uses mouse and keyboard to turn pumps on/off; fine motor coordination with slight neck flexion and rotation to view computer screens.
• Sample collection (occasionally daily): Walks outside in all weather conditions to basins; walks up/down stairs; carries two plastic pipes (2# each) and 3 plastic bottles to basin; screws bottle onto pipe end (wrist deviation, forearm rotation); lowers pipe to basin bottom (trunk/neck flexion, forward reaching); pulls sample, unscrews bottle; repeats at other basins; tools used include plastic collection pipes (2#) and sample bottles.
• Sample analysis (occasionally daily): Works standing at 36" high lab table; constant standing; obtains glassware from shelving (under 2#) with occasional walking; may reach overhead, bend with trunk flexion, or squat for lower shelving items; pours samples into beakers (wrist deviation, shoulder flexion, gripping); pours packets into samples and swirls beakers to mix (gripping with wrist deviation); places samples into analyzers and pushes buttons to start (may require neck flexion, trunk flexion, forward reaching); may lift full 10 lb. water pitcher to fill equipment once daily; tools used include measuring devices (beakers, test tubes), analyzers, microscope, pipettes, ladder on outside of tank; lifts 10 lb. tank cover; puts measuring tape into tank (neck flexion, forward reaching); tools used include measuring tape and ladder.
• Acid tank measurement: Measures the level of acid tanks.

Knowledge & Skills

• Mechanical aptitude
• Water Operator experience is a plus
• Ability to work independently

Experience & Education

• High school diploma or equivalent education degree (GED)

Schedule

• Full-time, on-site
• Rotating schedule: 7pm–7am