Senior Plant Operator (Water Division)

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Depending upon assignment, duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

- Lead and participate in the operation, monitoring, and control of the City's combined wastewater control system, conventional surface water treatment plants, and outlying pumping stations on an assigned shift.
- Participate in and direct the operation of plant equipment including chemical feed, computer, and telemetry systems, microprocessors, pumps, flow control gates, and plant communications systems.
- Plan the operation of the City's entire potable water treatment and distribution system for an assigned shift including anticipating water demand, hour by hour, and adjusting plant influents, effluents and reservoir filling and drawing to maintain pressure in the distribution system within given parameters.
- Plan and schedule water treatment plant activities such as filter backwashes, sludge pumping, filter washwater recycling and other related activities.
- Monitor water quality during treatment process through visual inspection and the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system and adjust influent flows, chemical dosages and filtration rates based on observations; take corrective action on problems identified including hazardous or toxic material spills that affect water supplies.
- Coordinate and maintain wastewater pumping operations in conjunction with the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- Monitor and inspect plant equipment and respond to treatment process and equipment alarms.
- Monitor the condition and functional capabilities of automated and manual plant equipment and machinery; direct and perform minor preventive maintenance and recommend maintenance, repair, and replacement of plant equipment as necessary.
- Assess and gauge flow rates during inclement weather and determine when to direct storm water and personnel to various storage and disposal locations; determine timing and degree to which operations should be activated and deactivated.
- Perform and interpret standardized water quality tests such as chlorine residual, pH, turbidity, alkalinity, total suspended solids, settleable solids, chlorine residual, pH, dissolved oxygen and jar tests, and calculate and make dosage and related chemical feed equipment adjustments based upon the results from such tests.
- Perform efficiency tests on pumps, compressors, and related equipment.
- Monitor the status of plant pumping and equipment, using technical information such as main pressure, system pressure, wet well elevation, water elevations, electrical system voltages, pump motor voltages, and computer system outputs.
- Direct and coordinate trash screen cleaning, filters, and related work involving the upkeep of plant facilities.
- Maintain and update plant operation logs and records.
- Use Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and computerized maintenance management systems.
- Maintain and replenish materials and supplies necessary for plant operation.
- Operate equipment such as engine driven pumps, generators, compressors, hoists, forklifts, cranes and other heavy equipment.
- Schedule and coordinate the work of assigned plant operation personnel.
- Train and assist less experienced personnel in plant operations; ensure that proper safety practices are followed.
- Work in confined spaces, on temporary scaffolding, and on high structures; using breathing apparatus and/or Level I Hazmat suits.
- Other related duties may also be performed; not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual holding this classification.

Knowledge of:

- Operating principles, methods, equipment, supplies, and materials used in the combined wastewater control system, drinking water treatment plants, wells, and pumping stations.
- Principles of water and wastewater treatment processes, including coagulation, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, fluoridation, corrosion control, and sludge handling.
- Standards and practices of the operation, maintenance, and upkeep of sanitary and storm pumping stations, drinking water and wastewater treatment plants, and related facilities.
- Control measuring devices, gauges, meters, and instruments necessary to properly evaluate and determine the status of the control systems.
- Principles of mathematics, algebra, chemistry, and hydraulics as they apply to plant operations.
- Safe and efficient work practices.
- General mechanical principles and practices relating to plant equipment and machinery.
- Hazardous materials related to plant operations.
- Principles and practices of effective supervision and training.

Ability to:

- Perform a variety of skilled and lead responsibilities in the operation and monitoring of large and complex conventional water treatment plants, sewer and storm water pumping stations, wastewater treatment, and control facilities that are computer interfaced.
- Identify system problems or potential problems and take effective corrective action in an efficient manner.
- Read and interpret plant diagrams, charts, prints, and specifications.
- Understand and apply the principles, theories, and operations of process control computers.
- Understand SCADA and computerized maintenance management system operations.
- Plan, assign, schedule, coordinate, and direct the work of other plant personnel.
- Develop and maintain accurate and up-to-date records and operation logs.
- Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
- Work any shift (e.g., day, swing, relief, night), weekends, holidays, and standby that is mandatory in some assignments.
- Train and assist less experienced or subordinate personnel.
- Understand basic personal computer programs including inter/intranet access, word processing, spreadsheets and databases.

Experience and Education:

Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:

Three years of progressively responsible experience in the operation of a drinking water treatment plant or wastewater facility.

Tracey Huerta