Water Treatment Plant Operator

About the role

This position provides the opportunity to work with ozone treatment, conventional and direct filtration, chemical feed systems, laboratory analysis, SCADA, and large-scale transmission facilities. Operators coordinate, monitor, and control water quality and system integrity to assure public health protection and regulatory compliance.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate, monitor and control water quality, and system integrity to assure public health protection and regulatory compliance.
• Start up, shut down, make periodic checks of plant equipment and make required adjustments.
• Collect water samples and perform water quality tests for regulatory compliance and system operation.
• Inspect various water facilities, stations, and systems to monitor status and assure proper operation.
• Follow safety rules for plant operations; log and monitor confined space entries, lockout/tag-out and unsafe site conditions.
• Follow established guidelines and regulatory requirements to perform independent system changes to assure proper water treatment, quality and supply.
• Maintain plant records, logs, diaries and inventories for regulatory compliance and operational needs.
• Prepare and maintain required reports and records in a clear, concise, complete, and accurate manner.
• Monitor and control access to water division facilities and watershed.
• Operate a wide variety of powered and non-powered equipment.
• Perform routine and corrective maintenance on plant equipment, grounds and buildings.
• Communicate and work cooperatively and effectively with others to ensure safe and uninterrupted treatment plant operation.
• Safely load and unload potentially hazardous chemicals by hand or using chemical-handling equipment.
• Monitor and operate water SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system.

Qualifications

• Three years of experience working in the field of water treatment or water quality with a private or public water utility.
• Possession of a valid Water Treatment Plant Operator Level III certificate (or higher) with the Washington State Department of Health or other state agencies granted reciprocity by WADOH.
• Possession of a valid Washington State driver's license with maintenance thereafter.
• Completion of Tacoma Water's Hazardous Chemical Training Class within six months of appointment.

Skills

Operators are proficient in monitoring and controlling treatment processes, maintaining regulatory compliance, responding to changing source water conditions, and ensuring the continuous delivery of safe, reliable drinking water. They actively participate in process optimization, operational improvements, and development of standard operating procedures.

Benefits

The position provides an hourly wage depending on certification level: Level 3 certification: $59.38 hourly, Level 4 certification: $62.35 hourly. An additional 5% nightshift premium when applicable.

Pay

The hourly wage depends on Water Treatment Plant Operator certification level: Level 3 certification: $59.38 hourly, Level 4 certification: $62.35 hourly.

Schedule

Positions are located at the Green River Filtration Facility near Ravensdale, WA.

Selection Process & Supplemental Information

The selection process includes scoring responses to supplemental questions based on the information provided. Applicants must pass the evaluation of supplemental questions to be placed on the eligible list for interview and hiring consideration. Appointment is subject to passing a background check and a pre-employment medical exam.

Communication with the City of Tacoma

The City of Tacoma primarily communicates via email during the application process. Applicants are encouraged to place emails from Tacoma.gov and/or governmentjobs.com on their safe domain list to ensure timely notifications. Applicants may also check their junk email folders for communications.

Other Employment Information

The City of Tacoma provides excellent medical, dental, and vision plans for the whole family; paid holidays and paid leave; participation in the Tacoma Employees' Retirement System (alternate plan for Police/Fire); continuing education and advancement opportunities; and a growing variety of City-sponsored health and wellness opportunities and incentives.