Wastewater Pretreatment Operator in Training

at City of Blackfoot in Blackfoot, Idaho, United States

Job Description

Position Summary
The function of this employee is to administer the City’s pretreatment and spill prevention program, performing inspection, sampling, and testing activities and working with industrial and commercial facility managers to maintain compliance standards. This employee may be assigned to other duties in the City’s Public Works Department. The work is performed under the direct supervision of the Collection Supervisor with indirect supervision by the Wastewater Superintendent and the City Administrator.  The principal duties of this position are performed in a public office environment and industrial field environment that may include working in adverse weather conditions and exposure to hazardous and allergenic materials.

• Performs monitoring, sampling, and testing of designated commercial and industrial facilities waste discharge for compliance with federal, state, county, City, and other applicable discharge permit regulations.
• Schedules, sets priorities, performs, and monitors sampling and testing inspections.
• Issues notices of noncompliance with discharge regulations and reporting requirements, including notices of violation and related correspondence.
• Responds to collection and treatment staff and other complaints of noncompliance, initiating investigation and compliance activities.
• Develops and maintains information files of inspections, reports, findings, enforcement actions, quality assurance records, computer databases, and related documentation.
• Maintains inventory of sampling and monitoring equipment, supplies, chemicals, tools, and materials.
• Prepares and revises discharge permits and administers compliance procedures by determining the causes of violations and requiring changes in user production techniques or wastewater treatment methodology.
• Meets with users to explain the methods, purpose, and objectives of the program, provides information on the program to industry representatives and the public, and assists individual businesses in setting up required pretreatment and spill prevention programs.
• Participates in the review of engineering plans to determine regulatory conformance and compliance monitoring sites.
• Conducts compliance seminars for affected commercial and industrial facility representatives.
• Prepares and presents oral and written reports as required.
• Provides information through a public information program.
• Maintains compliance with Federal, State, County, City, and other applicable public health environmental and safety standards.
• Performs other related duties as required.

• Idaho Wastewater Treatment Operator-In-Training certification within 12 months of hire date. Wastewater Pretreatment Coordinator certification within 12 months of hire date.
• Idaho driver’s license with Class B CDL, air brake and tanker endorsements without standard restriction.
• Methods, equipment, materials, tools, and standard practices for the sampling and testing of industrial and commercial waste discharge.
• Methods for laboratory testing of wastewater.
• City wastewater collection system, including mains, lift and pumping stations, manholes and access points, and treatment plants.
• Design, construction, and operation of wastewater treatment facilities and techniques.

Experience, Skills & Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalency required and college-level chemistry courses or equivalent technical training in chemistry or field science is preferred; and some wastewater or water laboratory experience preferred; OR any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work.
• Accurately follow written and oral instructions.
• Accurately read and interpret system plans and blueprints for industrial pretreatment and wastewater treatment facilities as well as maps, diagrams, and technical and operational manuals.
• Accurately read and interpret gauges, meters, operational and testing and monitoring equipment.
• Operate and maintain wastewater sampling and laboratory testing equipment; prepare and present oral and written reports on the same.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment and applications appropriate to assigned duties.
• Communicate effectively and establish and maintain working relationships with other employees, the public, affected program users, and other interested and affected parties under stressful and sometimes adversarial circumstances.

Sufficient clarity of speech, hearing, manual dexterity and personal mobility and stamina, with or without reasonable accommodation, which permits the employee to:

• Discern verbal instructions, communicate with other employees and the public, and discern warning or emergency alarms, including vehicle backup warnings.
• Comprehend written work instructions and work orders, technical and operational documents, diagrams, and read and record meters and gauges.
• Operate a variety of power and hand tools, including specialized meter reading equipment, and adjusting equipment.
• Frequently lift and/or move objects up to 75 pounds, and work in an outdoor field environment.
• Sufficient visual acuity required by this job, with or without reasonable accommodation, including close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Other Qualifications:
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of the conditions that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Regular, predictable, and on-site attendance is an essential function of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job. Employment with the City of Blackfoot is contingent upon the successful completion of a background investigation and pre-employment drug screening in accordance with applicable laws and City policies.

Physical Demands:
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee may be required to stay in a stationary position or stand for extended periods of time. The position requires sufficient clarity of speech and hearing with or without reasonable accommodation, to understand and follow verbal instructions and communicate effectively with other employees and the public via telephone and in person. The employee may be required to have manual dexterity, physical reflexes and personal mobility and stamina, to frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Vision requirements for this position include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Work Environment:
Work is performed in both indoor and outdoor settings throughout the wastewater treatment plant, including offices, control rooms, laboratories, and process areas. Employees in this environment may be exposed to unpleasant odors, loud noise, wet or humid conditions, and wastewater or related by-products. The position involves exposure to biological and chemical substances, as well as moving mechanical parts and potentially slippery or uneven surfaces. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, masks, safety glasses, and protective clothing, is provided and required to ensure employee safety.

The City of Blackfoot is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer.