Apprentice - Facility Operator

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company, employs people in a variety of roles within our eight-state footprint, ranging from field workers and customer service representatives who are on the front lines working with customers, to scientists and engineers who help ensure we're delivering reliable water and wastewater services to our communities. If you're looking for a rewarding career helping improve our environment and protect our natural resources, we encourage you to join our team!
About Essential Utilities
Essential Utilities, Inc. delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities.
Operating as the Aqua (water and wastewater services) and the Peoples and Delta (natural gas) brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. We are committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status - including a competitive and comprehensive benefits package as well as a commitment to career growth opportunities.
We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint.
Our company is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

• Performs scheduled plant inspections and serves as Operator in charge of assigned systems.
• Completes customer service work orders, updates, and maintain appropriate system documentation of activities and close work orders in accordance with department policies and procedures.
• Monitor gauges, meters and control panels, and controls variations and operating conditions of the treatment process. Records meter and gauge readings.
• Maintains all records pertaining to production, maintenance and treatment as required including reading charts, flow meters, and gauges to detect equipment malfunctions.
• Collects samples and performs necessary chemical analysis in accordance with system sampling requirements.
• Performs other duties or special projects as requested related to the area of responsibility.
• Company vehicle is provided for business purposes
• Must be available to work overtime and "on call" as scheduled.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Possess a high school diploma or the equivalent.
• Must have a valid U.S. Driver's License.
• Candidate will be required to successfully obtain a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Class "C" groundwater license within 24 months of employment per the Career Progression schedule.

Please note the licenses required at each position level.

• Apprentice Facility Operator: Will be required obtain a Class "C" Groundwater license from TCEQ within 24 months of employment.
• Facility Operator I: Must possess a valid TCEQ Class "C" Ground water license OR a valid TCEQ Class "C" Wastewater license required for the operation of water / wastewater treatment facilities.
• Facility Operator II: Must possess at a minimum a valid TCEQ Class "C" Ground water license and a valid TCEQ Class "C" Wastewater license required for the operation of water / wastewater treatment facilities.
• Facility Operator III: Must possess at a minimum a valid TCEQ Class "B" Ground water license AND a valid TCEQ Class "B" Wastewater license required for the operation of water / wastewater treatment facilities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to understand and accurately follow operating instructions both written and verbal.
• Must be conscientious and follow company safety policies.
• Understand computers and tablets to process daily work orders and update tickets.
• Will need to perform Mathematical calculations to determine various ratios, dosages, volumetric calculations that are required for the operation of the Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants.
• A team player able to work effectively in a team fostered multi-tasking environment.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Must be able to lift and move equipment more than 25 lbs. and the ability to work in confined spaces.
• May be subject to extreme temperatures, noise, wet and/or humid conditions, mechanical, electrical, gas exposure hazards, fumes, dusts, mists, gases and /or poor ventilation atmospheric conditions.
• Working conditions include travel to work sites of Aqua, Texas and/or other constituents. Company Vehicle is provided for business purposes
• This position participates in a weekly on-call rotating schedule every 3-4 weeks. The on-call schedule requires the candidate to be available nights and weekends to adequately staff a 24 hour/7-day operation.

Aqua, an Essential Utilities company is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. Equal employment opportunity is provided to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to the following legally protected characteristics: race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, pregnancy (including childbirth and related medical conditions, including medical conditions related to lactation), physical or mental disability, covered-veteran status, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state or federal law.
Aqua is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you have a condition that may prevent you from applying for a job online or need to request an accommodation during the interview process, please call (1-877-271-9012).
To maintain the integrity of the recruitment process and to avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest due to employment and/or assignment of family members and personal referrals, specific guidelines apply to the hiring and assignment of these individuals including, but not limited to:

• Family members cannot result in a supervisor/subordinate reporting relationship
• Family members cannot work in the same department.