Plant Operator

City of Carbondale, Illinois

Job Description/Job Opening Announcement

Title: Plant Maintenance Operator (Sewer Division)

Dept./Div.: Public Works Northwest Waste Water Treatment Plant (NWWWTP)

Nature of Work: This is a regular, full-time position at the Northwest Wastewater Treatment Plant (NWWWTP) in the Sewer Division of the Public Works Department. The Maintenance Operator is responsible for assigned duties related to the maintenance and operation of the City's Wastewater Treatment Plant and Systems. The Maintenance Operator reports to and is evaluated by the Plant Superintendent.

Essential Duties:

1. Perform regular maintenance of all treatment plant facilities, equipment, pumps, motors, hoists, control panels and systems, valves, actuators, water and sewer lines, electrical systems, remote pumping stations, and other plant and sewer treatment appurtenances. This requires existing knowledge and maintenance skills applicable to sewage treatment plant facilities and equipment as stated herein.
2. Use miscellaneous hand tools to diagnose and make repairs and perform maintenance as needed including minor electrical repairs.
3. Use various power tools such as drills, saws, weed eaters, lawn mowers, buffers, and the like to perform maintenance, repairs, and all phases of janitorial work.
4. Work in and around raw sewage and sludge on a daily basis; enter tanks, manholes, and the like to perform duties as assigned, sometimes requiring hip waders/boots to walk in or through sewage and sludge. Enter and work in confined spaces using proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety precautions.
5. Safely and effectively operate vehicles, equipment, and tools including:

1. Lifting, carrying, and operating machinery, tools, pumps, generators, and other items weighting 75 to 150 pounds or more.
2. Manually drive vehicles, pickup trucks, dump truck, end loader, backhoe, skid loader, tractors, mowers, and other heavy equipment.
3. Conduct pre-operation visual and manual checks of vehicles, tools and equipment before use; remedy and promptly report problems and/or issues to supervisor.
4. Visually read and record information in writing on maintenance records.

6. Perform preventative maintenance on valves, drives, motors, pumps, handrails, equipment, and the like. Manually operate gate, plug, butterfly, sluice gates, and other standard valves using hand wheels, bars, chains, or wrenches.
7. Perform Plant Operator duties, including: observing the appearance of the raw sewage entering the plant for color, odor, and temperature; preventive maintenance checks/rounds of the complete plant complex every two (2) hours regardless of weather conditions. These checks/rounds include walking to floors of different levels, opening and closing heavy doors and gates, going up and down stairways, entering confined spaces, climbing up and down entrance ladders, reading and recording numbers from various meters and gauges and using standard mathematical calculations in this process, checking operating machinery and equipment for unusual noises, checking bearings for overheating and adding oil to equipment as needed. Manually enter findings and notes in a Log Book. Use a personal computer to operate, monitor, and record plant systems, flow rates, operational information, and the like.
8. Proficiently use plant computerized and SCADA (Supervised Control and Data Acquisition) systems; comprehend, understand and make adjustments to treatment processes based on information and feedback from the SCADA system and personal observations of treatment plant conditions. Operate variable frequency drives (VFDs) both automatically and manually.
9. Monitor and respond to the Inter-Plant Safety Call System, Sewage Pumping Stations Alarm Systems, and In-Plant Equipment Safety Alarms.

1. The Inter-Plant Safety Call System includes the making of and receiving telephone calls at designated times between the two Wastewater Treatment Plants and the Water Treatment Plant to help ensure the safety of the on duty operator.
2. The Sewage Pumping Stations Alarm System includes receiving telephone calls which are made by the automatic dialing and voice alarm system in each sewage pumping station when a problem arises. Taking information from voice on monitor and acknowledge issues. Call the plant supervisor and/or maintenance staff to make additional checks or repairs as needed.

c. Visually observe indicator lights (red, green, yellow, etc.) and listening for a sound/buzzer

alarms to be notified when problems arise with the monitored equipment and the treatment

process. Properly acknowledge indicator lights, alarms, and the like and perform an

immediate inspection of troubled area.

10. Pick up liquid samples from various areas of the plant for the purpose of testing in either the plant laboratory or the Central Laboratory, which requires walking around open tanks on grating walkways and entering confined spaces. Perform laboratory tests as required, which involve using various laboratory instruments and chemicals and recording the results in writing and/or into a computer, using a self-contained air breathing unit when handling chlorine and/or entering a confined space.
11. Manually handle bulk and other chemicals, etc. in containers and bags weighing fifty (50) pounds or more.
12. Be knowledgeable of and practice good safety procedures at all times, use proper PPE and good judgement.
13. Comprehend and follow oral and/or written instructions. Verbally operate two-way base, mobile and portable radios. Legibly document and fill out log books and maintenance records as required and directed by your supervisor.
14. Use tact and good judgment and utilize strong and effective interpersonal skills in interacting with co-workers and the public. Work effectively both independently and as a team member.
15. Possess relevant computer skills and be experienced in the use and operation of Microsoft Office Software Suite.

Other Duties: Perform all other tasks as and duties as assigned to carry out the mission of the Public Works Department.

Work Environment: Work is performed primarily outdoors in and around a treatment plant setting exposes the employee to fumes, odors, dust, smoke, gases, excessive noise, extreme heat/cold weather, and working in and around moving vehicles, equipment and machinery. PPE such as ear plugs, hard hats, safety glasses, gloves and steel toe shoes are required to be worn.

Physical Demands: Work requires the regular and frequent performance of physical tasks such as walking over rough or uneven surface, standing for extended periods of time, bending, stooping, crouching, crawling, kneeling, working in restricted and/or confined spaces, climbing ladders and stairs, frequent lifting and carrying of moderately heavy objects between 15 and 49 pounds, occasional lifting and carrying of heavy objects 50 to 75 pounds or more. Work also requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time, to operate vehicles and machinery, and the operating hand and power tools and equipment. Work also requires the ability to perceive and/or discriminate colors, sounds, depth, and texture.

Minimum Acceptable Qualifications: Must have a high school diploma or equivalent; must possess or obtain and maintain a valid CDL Class B Illinois drivers license with air-brake and tank endorsements within sixty (90) days of employment. Must pass pre-employment and ongoing random drug screening tests; a pre-employment background checks; and a pre-employment job duty physical evaluation.

Maintenance experience applicable to the job duties enumerated herein is required along with a strong mechanical aptitude; experience in a wastewater treatment plant or similar work environment is preferred.

Employee must obtain and maintain a Class 4 wastewater license from with Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) within four (4) years of employment; obtaining and maintaining this license is a condition of employment.

Normal Work Hours (Day Shift): Normal work hours are Monday thru Friday 7:00AM to 3:00PM, however work hours can vary should it become necessary to cover other shifts due to employee absence. Overtime work is mandatory for this position and will include tasks such as special projects, training, after hours emergencies, holidays, and other work as necessary for NWWWTP and Public Works operations.

Residency Boundary Requirement (Residency within the Citys 9-mile boundary is required within six months of employment.)

Benefits Include :

Medical/Dental/Vision; Life Insurance; Retirement pension; 457 deferred compensation plan; Employee Assistance Program;10 days of vacation /12 days of sick leave per year; 12 city holidays, plus one floating holiday; Section 125 pretax deductions; Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan; Healthcare Flexible Spending Account

Regular, Full-time Position, Overtime Eligible

Salary : $20.80/hour (after 6 months of satisfactory probationary employment, the employee may be moved to the Plumbers Union first six-month apprentice wage; this position has a 4-year apprenticeship period with a graduated salary scale).