Utility Plant Relief Operator

This is a challenging and rewarding role that requires a strong understanding of water treatment processes and equipment. As a Relief Operator, you will be responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of our water production facilities, including the control of plant machines and equipment to treat and clarify water for human consumption and industrial use.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain, repair, and adjust water pumps, chemical feed machines, and other water plant equipment.
• Check the operation of mechanical equipment to detect flaws and defects, and to effect prompt and appropriate remedial measures.
• Take accurate readings, keep routine records, and make a variety of reports.
• Plan, schedule, and supervise the work of others in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale.
• Lift chemical bags weighing approximately 60 pounds repeatedly on a daily basis.
• Use a personal computer with standard or customized software to make reports, monitor, control, and balance plant and remote facilities within the system.
• Obtain the necessary knowledge in overtime/call-in procedures to make such overtime/call-ins as needed.
• Operate chemical feed equipment, mixers, and scraper drives, centrifugal pumps, control panels, chlorine dioxide generators, dry and liquid chemical feeders, filters, and other plant equipment and apparatus.
• Maintain assigned housekeeping areas in accordance with established cleaning assignment policies.
• Observe the condition of the water entering the plant, monitoring, and adding such chemicals as chlorine, sodium chlorite, fluoride, lime, carbon dioxide, and others as necessary.
• Collect and analyze various water samples for quality assurance and control.
• Test water samples to determine acidity, color, and impurities.
• Record data such as residual content of chemicals, water turbidity, and water pressure.
• Monitor the operation of deep wells furnishing the raw water supply.
• Use judgment in determining the number of wells needed to furnish the proper amount of raw water during periods of high and low demand.
• Regulate the operation of deep well pumps and high service pumps in the interest of maintaining the most efficient plant operation.
• Operate the raw water and finished water pumps, balancing them to maintain a safe margin in the settling basins, clear wells, reservoirs, and elevated tanks.
• Operate and control electric motors, pumps, and valves to regulate the flow of raw water into the treating plant.
• Operate filters to produce clear, aesthetically pleasing potable water.
• Periodically backwash filters using backwash pumps and related equipment and wash down filter walls.
• Monitor the level of the reclaim basin and operate pump(s) to reclaim settled wash water.
• Dump specified amounts of chemicals such as chlorine and lime into water or adjust automatic devices that admit specified amounts of chemicals into tanks to disinfect, deodorize, and clarify water.
• Ability to lift chemical bags weighing approximately 60 pounds repeatedly on a daily basis.
• Start agitators to mix chemicals and allow impurities to settle to the bottom of the tank.
• Turn valves to regulate water through filter beds to remove impurities.
• Pump finished potable water into water transmission mains.
• Monitor the panelboard and adjust controls to regulate flow rates, loss of head pressure, and water elevation, and distribution of water.
• Repair and lubricate machines and equipment as required.
• Add chemicals as needed into tanks to coagulate impurities and reduce acidity.
• Conduct daily detailed inspections of the mechanical and operating condition of a wide variety of machinery and apparatus.
• Participate in the general mechanical maintenance of the plant as operating requirements permit.
• Monitor and record as necessary the operation of the electrical transformer room and related equipment (switchgears and panel boards).
• Keep a detailed log of the various plant operations, system levels, and activities.
• Change out chlorine tanks, transfer dry and liquid chemicals to fill day bins and tanks, and fill fluoride bins as needed.
• Monitor and supervise the delivery and storage of chemicals related to treatment processes.
• Collect and prepare samples of lime.
• Work on various maintenance assignments under the supervision of the Maintenance Crew Leader when operational shift coverage is not needed.
• Perform routine inspection and maintenance of all remote site facilities.
• Must be able to take on and complete multiple projects and/or tasks; capable of handling heavy workload with multiple deadlines.
• Must be able to consistently solve complex job-related problems; use excellent judgment in determining correct decisions and actions.
• Consistently resourceful in organizing notes, papers, and tools for projects or tasks.
• Consistently write clearly on complex job-related matters; work rarely requires editing.
• Consistently present complex job-related matters clearly and logically; understand the audience being addressed; work consistently to keep communication lines open.
• Must exhibit courtesy and composure; maintain self-discipline in very difficult and unfamiliar situations.
• Must be consistently cooperative, a team player, dedicated to the Team Hamilton philosophy.
• Must adapt quickly to changes in the most difficult situations; unimpeded by extreme demands and pressure.
• Consistently apply initiative and ingenuity to assigned tasks; requires little to no supervision; ownership of all assignments.
• Must possess the ability to complete work assignments without supervision; be dependable and not schedule off or miss work when critical projects are assigned.
• Must possess good knowledge of safe work practices; watch out for self and others.
• Perform all related work as required.

Requirements:

• Considerable knowledge of the principles, practices, and methods used in water treatment and pumping operations.
• Considerable knowledge of the operation of the mechanical and electrical equipment used in a water filtration and pumping plant.
• Considerable knowledge of the occupational hazards connected with the work and of appropriate safety precautions and equipment.
• Considerable knowledge of the proper methods of lubricating and maintaining plant equipment.
• Skills in the use of hand, bench, and power tools appropriate to the work assigned.
• Knowledge of water chemistry and measuring equipment used to monitor it.
• Ability to calibrate measuring equipment and interpret the information to effect proper changes to produce a high-quality water.
• Must comply with all City of Hamilton Administrative rules and requirements, such as residency requirements as deemed by the City Manager, City Council, and/or City Charter.
• Must be able to pass a color acuity test needed for sample analysis and color recognition.
• Must possess the ability to perform necessary formulas and equations as required for work-related reports, work logs, and sample analysis.
• Considerable experience in the operation and maintenance of electrically driven pumping equipment.

Education and Qualifications:

• At least 12 consecutive months of work experience in a water production facility.
• Possession of a Class I Water Supply Operator Certificate as issued by the State of Ohio EPA.
• Possession of a High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent will be verified for finalist(s).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Possession of a Class II or III Water Supply Plant Operator Certificate as issued by the State of Ohio EPA.