WATER SUPERINTENDENT

Definition

Under direction, performs administrative and supervisory duties involved in the operation, maintenance, and management of a water system including operation, maintenance, and repair of water treatment and purification plant, water reservoirs or watershed areas, maintaining and repairing water and/or pumping stations used to transport water from reservoirs or watershed areas to treatment plants or consumer establishments, and/or the installation, repair, maintenance, and reading of water meters and the accounting functions and billing procedures for the providing of water services; does other related duties as required.

Examples of work

• Directs and coordinates activities of workers engaged in installation, maintenance, repair, expansion, and relocation of water distribution facilities.
• Analyzes trends, such as population and industrial growth of area being served, to determine adequacy of current facilities and to project community demands for future facilities.
• Develops plans to meet and serve expanding community needs such as increasing capacity of water storage and filtration facilities or arranging new sources of water supply.
• Plans methods and sequence of operations to facilitate additions, deletions, and modifications to the system.
• Directs activities of staff who oversee installation, maintenance, and repair of water distribution facilities.
• Inspects field projects to confirm conformance to specifications.
• Confers with administrative and technical personnel and personnel of other utilities to coordinate activities.
• Evaluates new developments in materials, tools, and equipment to recommend or deny purchase.
• Prepares budget estimates based on anticipated needs.
• Plans and coordinates activities of workers in operation and maintenance of water system to ensure adequate water supply for human consumption and industrial or agricultural use.
• Schedules and coordinates activities concerned with processing and distributing water.
• May assign personnel to shifts to operate treatment plant facilities.
• Prepares plans and specifications for new equipment or modification of existing equipment to affect increased operational capacity or efficiency.
• Reviews and evaluates water reports, records, logs, and graphs to confirm adequacy of present and projected water needs.
• May prepare reports concerned with chemical and bacteriological analyses of water for administrative purposes and governmental agencies.
• Supervises the establishment, development, and execution of work plans and procedures for the construction, maintenance, repair, and inspection of water service installations.
• Maintains liaison between the water maintenance unit and other government units.
• Takes the lead in developing the work program, internal organization, and operational procedures for the inspection, maintenance, repair, and construction of water installations.
• Establishes work plans and methods for subordinate assignments.
• Periodically inspects work in the field.
• Develops plans for effective use of available funds, personnel, equipment, and materials.
• Develops recommendations for improvement of processes and techniques.
• Determines factors that cause unnecessarily high costs and delays in making needed repairs.
• Prepares annual budget estimates for the unit.
• Supervises the preparation of department fiscal reports, current and delinquent water bills, records of consumer accounts, and other financial reports.
• Receives complaints and requests for repairs and takes remedial action.
• Prepares reports.
• Acknowledges and replies to correspondence.
• Supervises the obtaining, storage, and safeguarding of equipment, materials, and supplies.
• Supervises the establishment and maintenance of essential records and files.
• Directs the opening and closing of streets, the tapping of water mains, pipes, gates, hydrants, and valves, and the installation of new mains and appurtenances.
• Receive complaints from water consumers and takes remedial action.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

Five (5) years of experience in the maintenance, operation, and repair of a water distribution and/or water treatment system, three (3) years of which shall have been in a supervisory capacity.

License

Possession of a current, valid license of the appropriate class to operate a public water treatment system and/or public water distribution system issued by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection may be required.

Appointees will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of financial, personal, and technical problems involved in developing and executing the work program for the inspection, repair, maintenance, and construction of a water system.
• Knowledge of the d internal organization of the water department after a period of training.
• Knowledge of operations, procedures, and processes used in the repair and maintenance of water installations.
• Knowledge of the uses of varied types of specialized tools and equipment.
• Ability to organize assigned work and develop effective work methods.
• Ability to give assignments and instructions to workers engaged in water facilities repair and maintenance activities.
• Ability to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
• Ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
• Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.

Note

The definition and examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.