Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I

Salary : $56,032.56 - $68,107.92 Annually
Location : City of Atascadero, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: WWTPOI 3.2024
Department: Public Works - Wastewater
Opening Date: 03/13/2024
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
The City of Atascadero is a small, beautiful California central coast community located in San Luis Obispo County. We have a population of 30,000 residing in an area just under 27 square miles. Our community is a great place to live, work and raise a family! We are situated along Highway 101, halfway between the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles and San Francisco. The community is located in the Paso Robles wine region and is a short 20-minute drive to the beach and Highway 1. We are within a three-hour drive to Yosemite National Park and two hours to Monterey or Carmel. For those that enjoy the outdoors, we are close to four local lakes, a national forest and endless hiking and biking trails.
Become a member of an organization consisting of hardworking individuals who are passionate about making a positive impact through public service. The organizational environment encourages collaboration and productivity and is fostered by engaged management, all working for the betterment of the community.
The Wastewater Division provides wastewater (sewer) collection and treatment service for certain areas of the City, including approximately one-half of the residents and a majority of the businesses. The Division maintains and operates a 2.39-million-gallon monthly maximum average flow Wastewater Treatment facility, over 66 miles of pipeline and 12 wastewater pumping stations. The Division also reclaims water for irrigation of the Chalk Mountain Golf Course and percolates effluent for Atascadero State Hospital.
If you are ready to make a difference and become part of an essential field in our community, please apply today!!
GENERAL PURPOSE:
Under general supervision, performs a variety of semi-skilled and skilled technical and maintenance work in the operation, maintenance and repair of Wastewater Treatment facilities and systems; draws and performs limited tests on water samples; performs related duties as required.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator I is an entry level position in this series and requires experience in operations and routine maintenance, as well as possession of required certificates.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED:
Works under the general supervision of the Wastewater Operations Manager/Chief Plant Operator. May provide general supervision to Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator-in-Training staff, temporary staff and volunteers.
Examples of Duties
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
The duties and responsibilities listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties or responsibilities does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. Duties may include but are not limited to:

• Monitors the performance of all equipment, pipelines, gauges, charts and SCADA system in the Treatment Plant and collection system. Records statistical data concerning plant operations; charts lab test results for trend analysis and maintains accurate records of analyses and test results; evaluates data and writes reports as required.
• Operates, maintains, repairs and replaces wastewater collection and treatment equipment. Repairs gauges, pumps, filters, controls and other equipment. Inspects and cleans sewer lines; installs sewer line connections. May respond to perform repairs and clean up spills related to pipeline or pump failures.
• Operates valves and other controls to direct chemicals into wastewater systems; regulates and controls the flow of wastewater through treatment systems, including the operation and maintenance of screens, grit and sludge collectors, pumps, blowers, aerators, chlorinators, and related equipment; reads and interprets meters and charts.
• Collects samples and identifies concentrations of chemical, physical or biological characteristics of wastewater in accordance with local, State and Federal requirements. Gathers and tests wastewater samples for plant efficiency reports as required, including coliform, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen and oxygen demand, pH, chlorine residual, volatile and settleable solids, and other tests; records test results.
• Performs quality control tests on lab equipment and lab analyses; evaluates procedures and results for accuracy.
• Assures that the plant operates within required standards.
• Trains lesser skilled operators in acceptable lab methods and procedures to assure accuracy of test results.
• Contains and properly disposes of hazardous wastes generated by the lab.
• Calibrates, modifies, and repairs instrumentation and control equipment including recorders, flowmeters and other water quality monitoring equipment.
• Operates and maintains sewage pump stations; cleans wet wells and operates pumps and valves.
• Operates light, moderately heavy, and heavy power-driven equipment, and performs routine equipment and vehicle maintenance; maintains records of maintenance and repairs. Operates and maintains a variety of automotive and specialized equipment such as loader, mower, backhoe, dump truck, lift truck, generators, pumps, and sewer cleaning truck.
• Performs routine custodial duties, general grounds maintenance, routine maintenance on irrigation sprinkler heads, pipes and valves; other related duties as assigned.

PERIPHERAL DUTIES:

• Maintains drawings, maps and schematics of wastewater infrastructure and other systems.
• Monitors the performance of, and performs maintenance on, electrical systems, circuits, and

Typical Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent and six (6) educational points as defined by the State Water Resources Control Board; and
• One (1) year of qualifying experience operating a Wastewater Treatment Plant or any equivalent combination of qualifying experience and qualifying experience credit as defined by the State Water Resources Control Board.

Or

• A satisfactory combination of education, training, certifications and experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for satisfactory performance of the duties required.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Working knowledge of equipment, facilities, materials, methods and procedures used in wastewater collection and Treatment Plant maintenance and operation activities; working knowledge of laboratory procedures and practices;
• Skill in operation of some of the listed tools and equipment.
• Ability to perform process control calculations; ability to work safely; ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other departments and the public; ability to understand and carry out written and oral instructions; ability to work on-call and participate in rotating standby duty schedule including working after hours and weekends as needed.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Possession of a valid Class B California Commercial Driver License with tank vehicle endorsement and satisfactory driving record, or the ability to obtain Class B CDL within six (6) months of hire.
• Possession of a valid Grade 1 or higher Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator certificate issued by California State Water Resources Control Board.
• Possession of a valid Grade I or higher Collection System Maintenance certificate issued by California Water Environment Association, or the ability to obtain Grade I certification with 12 months of hire.
• Employees with equivalent licensures and certifications from another state are required to obtain California licensures and certifications within one year of hire.
• Pursuant to California Labor Code Section 3211.9, service is essential in times of extreme emergency or disaster. For this reason, State law designates public employees as "Disaster Service Workers". Even when off-duty, this position may be required to return to duty in case of emergency or disaster.

Supplemental Information
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:
Motor vehicles, generators, pumps, water-jet/vacuum cleaners, Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBA's), pipeline tap machines, boats, dredges, skip loaders, cranes, sprayers, welders, meters, gauges, common hand and power tools, shovels, wrenches, detection devices, mobile radios, telephones, calculators, computers, and a variety of lab equipment.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools, or controls and to reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently is required to stand. The employee is occasionally required to walk; talk or hear; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. The employee is frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately loud.
SELECTION GUIDELINES:
Formal application, rating of education and experience; oral interview and reference check; job related tests may be required.
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
VACATION: 10 days per year, gradually increasing to 24 after 20 years completed.
HOLIDAYS: 11 days per year, plus one floating holiday.
SICK LEAVE: 12 days per year.
HEALTH & LIFE: Employee is covered for medical, dental, vision and life. The City contributes a portion of the cost of dependent coverage for medical, dental vision and life insurance.
RETIREMENT: California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). No FICA deductions.
DISABILITY INS: SDI - Employee paid.