Industrial Pretreatment Inspector

Actively supports and upholds the City's stated mission and values. Performs skilled, technical inspection and testing duties associated with the City's pollution control programs, including permitted industrial industries, cross connection control and fats, oils and grease (FOG) programs.. This position performs a range of technical, field, office, and investigative work associated with the enforcement of the City's water and wastewater codes.

Under direct supervision of the Industrial Pretreatment Supervisor, employees of this class are expected to exercise considerable independent judgment, initiative, and technical skills and knowledge in the inspection and testing of industrial and commercial waste discharges, backflow prevention, cross connection, and various ground water quality programs such as underground storage tanks, septage, and storm water runoff. On occasion, heavy physical exertion is required and may also involve exposure to dangerous gases and chemicals such as natural gas, sewer gases, chlorine, and other toxic chemicals or infectious materials.

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES

• Supervisory: This job does not have formal supervisory responsibilities.
• Budgetary: This job does not have budgetary responsibilities but carries out day-to-day activities within approved budget.
• Strategic Planning: This job does not have strategic planning responsibilities but carries out day-to-day activities in order to reach the stated goals and objectives.
• Policies/Procedures: This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Compliance: This job has responsibility for identifying and correcting City code violations, including Pretreatment, Cross Connection and Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) programs and may enforce Federal, State, and Local laws, rules, and regulations as well as City policies and procedures.
• Council Communications: This job carries out day-to-day activities in accordance with Council's adopted priorities and direction.
• Reporting: This job does not have duties related to reporting to Federal/State/Local agencies.

• Provides excellent customer service to both internal and external customers.
• Inspects industrial and commercial operations such as restaurants, laundries, gas stations, and manufacturers to ensure compliance with ordinances and permit requirements governing the discharge of non-residential waste.
• Inspects commercial operations for proper cross connection controls and backflow prevention to ensure the integrity of the City's drinking water.
• Inspects and monitors various construction projects for compliance with backflow prevention devices, grease interceptors, proper waste disposals, and water usage. Also, field verifies correct installations for backflows and interceptors for certificate of occupancy process.
• Inspects the dimensions, operations, and maintenance of floor drains, sand, grease, and lint traps, settling tanks, clarifiers, neutralizing tanks, grease removal equipment, and other equipment used in the treatment, disposal, and control of industrial and commercial liquid waste.
• Inspects restaurants and interceptors for food service industry, including assuring compliance of interceptors for the City approved Fats, Oil and Grease manual.
• Provides information related to the cross-connection program, Industrial Pretreatment program and Fats, Oils and Grease programs to customers.
• Attends staff meetings regularly to maintain consistent enforcement procedures and policy updates.
• Conducts field tests and sampling events at permitted industries, treatment plants, and other commercial entities to ensure non-contamination of the City's wastewater collection and treatment systems. This includes pH, flow volumes, alkalinity, maintenance of sampling equipment, proper chain of custody handling, etc.
• Responsible for the proper and accurate record keeping of activities, files, and software databases relating to local & federal code compliance and enforcement.
• Use of gas detection equipment to determine oxygen content and whether potentially explosive gases may be present in confined spaces or sewers.
• Engages in public outreach for explaining the purpose and objective of pollution control and pollution prevention to the owners, managers, and operators of commercial and industrial facilities.
• Works with industrial and commercial representatives in reviewing technical and regulatory issues regarding noncompliance.
• Issues warning letters, under the authority of the Council approved Enforcement Response Plan to address noncompliance issues that have an immediate impact to the City's water distribution system, city wastewater collection system and FOG program.
• Oversees plans and actions taken by industries and businesses to achieve and/or maintain compliance with local, state, or federal limits.
• In conjunction with the Industrial Pretreatment Supervisor, reviews field inspection reports and monitors data to determine if further compliance action against industry is warranted and whether referral to the City Attorney, state, or federal agency is necessary.
• Evaluates the need for industrial and commercial discharge wastewater pretreatment permits, and enforces the provisions of such permits.
• Performs backflow testing and minor repairs to City-owned backflow devices. Act as a backup backflow tester for Water Distribution temporary meter and backflow setups.
• Work with Wastewater Collection crews to investigate sewer blockages, grease build-up and similar issues.
• Reviews and approves plans for new developments or tenant improvements with respect to pre-treatment and cross-connection control compliance, as assigned by the Industrial Pretreatment Supervisor.
• Maintains databases on pre-treatment, FOG, and backflow inspection activities and prepares and files necessary reports.
• Attends workshops, certification courses, and technical group meetings for continuing education and networking with other inspectors.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Two years college level coursework or two years of water or sewer utility experience.
• Two years of experience in any of the following area: general inspections, building Plan Review, plumbing plan review, industrial waste, hazardous waste, wastewater treatment, wastewater collections, industrial compliance inspections, cross connection inspections, technical experience in backflow and/or water treatment systems, stormwater inspections and testing flow monitoring and sampling.
• Or any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the above Minimum Requirements.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING

• One year experience in an enforcement capacity.
• One year plumbing experience
• One-year laboratory/sampling experience
• One-year construction experience
• Experience directly relating to a significant industrial user inspection, backflow prevention, cross connection control, Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) and ground water quality control programs.
• Grade 2 Wastewater Collection Operator Certifications by Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
• Grade 2 Water Distribution Operator Certifications by Arizona Department of Environmental Quality

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess, or obtain employment, a valid Arizona driver's license.
• Regular attendance is an essential function of this job to ensure continuity.
• Must obtain AWWA, ABPA, or ASSE certification as a Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester within one year of employment.
• Must obtain a Grade 1 Wastewater Treatment, Water Distribution or Wastewater Collections by Arizona Department of Environmental Quality within six months of employment
• Ability and willingness to be available for on-call weekend, holiday, and evening work as dictated by work projects and manning requirements

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)

• Considerable knowledge of the ordinances, rules, and regulations governing the treatment control and discharge of industrial wastes into sanitary sewers, and of proper backflow prevention and cross connection control.
• Considerable knowledge of the techniques involved in taking sewage and industrial waste samples and making the necessary related tests.
• Considerable knowledge of the installation, maintenance, and operation methods and facilities used for the control of industrial wastes preparatory to their discharge into sanitary sewers, and of backflow prevention and cross connection control to ensure the integrity of the potable water system.
• Skill in the use and care of testing and sampling equipment used in work activities.
• Ability to determine volume, content, temperature and conductivity of industrial waste discharges.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to detect and solve plan and field condition conflicts as they arise without changing the plan content.
• Ability to read construction plans and blueprints as they pertain to cross connection and interceptors.
• Ability to inspect floor drains, sand traps, lint traps, settling tanks, clarifiers, neutralizing tanks, grease removal equipment, recording devices and related equipment for conformance with specifications and provisions of permits.
• Ability to work in conjunction with other personnel.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, businesses, and the general public.
• Ability to enter data and maintain data bases for the Industrial Pretreatment Program
• Ability to detect potential violations and potential hazards
• Ability to accurately assess industry status and, in conjunction with the Industrial Pretreatment Supervisor, determine compliance action necessary for efficient enforcement of applicable regulations.
• Ability to work with businesses in a tactful, positive, and constructive manner when working with and gaining compliance for pollution control programs.
• Ability to conduct plan reviews and perform project management duties as related to pollution control programs, as assigned by the Industrial Pretreatment supervisor.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger/handle/feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop/kneel/crouch/crawl, taste or smell.
• The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Vision requirements for this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Working conditions include regular exposure to outdoor weather conditions, and occasional exposure to wet or humid conditions (non-weather), work near moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold (non-weather, extreme heat (non-weather), and vibration.
• The noise level in the work environment varies between moderate and loud.

Employment Type: Full-Time; Non-Exempt; Tenure & Benefit Eligible