Wastewater Plant Operator

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People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.

We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey.

About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water's 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company's national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $30 to $34 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities.

American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Indexfor the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron's 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions.

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Primary Role

Will work under direction of Chief Plant Operator, Production Supervisor, and Maintenance Supervisor having active involvement in and making process control decisions associated with the operation and maintenance of water and wastewater purification systems to optimize operational performance and assure regulatory compliance.

Key Accountabilities

• Work with Chief Operator, take a lead role in the operation of WW plant, and associated facilities. Maintain process control through the wastewater processes including the establishment, maintenance, calibration and adjustment of process parameters/chemical feed rates necessary to optimize the process operation.

• Assist in scheduling and prioritizing plant maintenance. Perform routine repair of plant equipment including preventive maintenance duties. Insure required maintenance is completed on schedule.

• Monitor, establish, maintain and control flow through the treatment process and within the collection system to include CSOs and pump stations.

• Assist in the development of Standard Operating Procedures and provide training/oversight to other operations staff to assure SOP's are followed.

• Monitor the wastewater treatment plant and collection system and make adjustments as necessary to control their operation and maintain compliance with regulations.

• Assist in the preparation of data collection for Monthly Operating reports and maintain all necessary records.

• Monitor and conduct analytical tests. Perform water quality sampling, testing and analysis to determine compliance with federal, state and PAWC's standards.

• Coordinate and perform chemical deliveries and inventory. Loading, unloading, handling, placing into storage and batching wastewater treatment plant chemicals.

• Operate and maintain plant facilities including plant flow adjustments throughout the process, chemical adjustments, and pump adjustments including but not limited to primary sludge pumps, secondary sludge pumps, return sludge pumps and waste sludge pumps.

• Perform general maintenance duties at wastewater treatment plant and related facilities and other assigned duties.

• Assist in the budgeting and implementation of capital projects. Coordinate activities of outside contractors as directed by Production or Maintenance Supervisor or Chief Operator.

• Facilitate safety training/tailgate talks/ Prejob briefs/ Site Inspections. Promote safety involving plant operations through employee training and monitoring workplace practices. Report near misses as necessary.

Knowledge/Skills

• Knowledge of wastewater treatment processes, basic scientific concepts and water quality standards and regulations and Company procedures.

• Working knowledge of basic mechanical and automated control systems.

• Communicate in an effective manner both oral and written with the general public and Company personnel. Read and understand instructions, safety rules, etc.

• Mathematical skills sufficient to be able to calculate dosages, surface areas, volumes, weights, measures and algebraic formulas.

• Mechanical ability sufficient to operate pumps, valves, motors and other mechanical equipment related to plant operation and maintenance.

• Physical fitness- capable of lifting and/or carrying 50 lbs. or more on a frequent basis. Walking up and down stairs.

• Working in confined areas. Ability to wear a respirator.

• Environmental conditions including contact with water, chemicals, fumes, odors and dust as a result of working with and handling potentially hazardous wastewater treatment and laboratory chemicals. Minimum exposure to inclement weather mostly of short duration.

• Basic computer skills.

Experience/Education

• Valid PA Driver's license requires with the ability to pass a motor vehicle background check

• Wastewater Operator certificate (Class A,E Type 1) preferred or the ability to obtain in the time required by the company policy.

• High School graduate or state recognized education equivalency certificate required. College course work and/or degree in biology, chemistry, environmental science or engineering curriculum are preferred.

• Attend continuing education as needed for Operator certification renewal.

Work Schedule

• The work schedule for this position is a swing shift.

• The successful candidate will be required to stay in the position for 24 months before bidding to a new role.

Competencies

Champions safety

Customer obsessed

Cultivates innovation

Nimble learning

Drives Results

Collaborates

Join American Water...We Keep Life Flowing

American Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on his or her age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they are an individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.