WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR APPRENTICE

Definition

Under the close supervision of a Licensed Water Treatment Plant Operator or other supervisory official learns to operate, adjust, regulate, and maintain plant machines and equipment to purify and clarify water for human consumption and industrial use; assists in the repair and maintenance of equipment, chemical dosing; does other related duties.

Examples of work

• Learns to operate and control electric motors, pumps, and valves to regulate flow of raw water into treatment plant.
• Learns to add specified amounts of chemicals such as chlorine, ammonia, and lime into water.
• Adjusts automatic devices that admit specified amounts of chemicals into tanks to disinfect, deodorize, and clarify water.
• Learns to start agitators to mix chemicals and allow impurities to settle to bottom of tank.
• Learns to turn valves to regulate water through filter beds to remove impurities.
• Learns to pump purified water into water mains.
• Participates in the monitoring of panel boards and adjusts controls to regulate flow rates, loss of head pressure and water elevation, and distribution of water.
• Participates in the cleaning of tanks and filter beds using backwashing (reverse flow of water).
• Learns to repair and lubricate machines and equipment using hand tools and power tools.
• Learns to and participates in the tests of water samples to determine acidity, color, and impurities using colorimeter, turbidimeter, and conductivity meter.
• Learns to add chemicals such as alum into tanks to coagulate impurities and to reduce acidity.
• Records data such as residual content of chemicals, water turbidity, and water pressure.
• Learns to and assists in performing minor repairs such as replacing packing in pumps or valves and/or replacing bearings in motors and pumps, lubricating machines, and equipment.
• Learns to operate primary pumping equipment to transfer raw water to treatment plant or to distribute treated water to residential, commercial, or industrial establishments.
• Attends conferences and meetings to keep current with new developments in the field of water treatment.
• Prepares reports.
• Establishes and maintains records and files.
• Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and0 computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.

Experience

Eighteen (18) months of experience in operating, adjusting, regulating, repairing, and maintaining electric motors, pumps, valves, and other electrical and mechanical equipment of the type used in a water treatment plant, pumping station, or filtration plant.

License

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 the essential duties of the position.

Knowledge, skills and abilities

• Knowledge of arithmetic calculations used in determining correct amounts of chemicals (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division of whole numbers).
• Knowledge of precautions to be observed when handling chemical agents.
• Ability to learn the purpose and operation of varied equipment found in a water treatment plant such as pumps, valves, and gauges.
• Ability to learn methods used in operating, adjusting, and regulating alum and lime feeders, chemical feed machines and chlorinators, purification machines, water pumps, filters, and flowmeters.
• Ability to learn methods used in regulating amounts of water and pumping it into a distribution system or storage tanks.
• Ability to learn the location and functions of all equipment present in the plant.
• Ability to learn techniques used in collecting water samples and in conducting and recording standard bacteriological analysis of water.
• Ability to learn methods used in replacement of packing in pumps and valves, replacement of bearings in motors and pumps, and of equipment lubrication.
• Ability to learn techniques used in conducting other tests using colorimeter, turbidimeter, and conductivity meter.
• Ability to learn water treatment processes including but not limited to ammoniation, deflouridation and chlorination.
• Ability to work under general direction and to follow a prescribed schedule.
• Ability to do work that is repetitive but requires strict adherence to prescribed procedures.
• Ability to check operations throughout a shift and to record various data according to established format.
• Ability to maintain proper water levels and water pressures.
• Ability to relay information regarding shift operation such as problems encountered and action taken.
• Ability to perform minor maintenance such as oiling and greasing, cleaning and replacing gaskets and piping, and replacing packing.
• Ability to stand and walk for prolonged periods of time.
• Ability to climb.
• Ability to turn valves and controls.
• Ability to learn 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, or 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 essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
• <b>ADVANCEMENT:</b>
• Appointee's work performance will be reviewed and rated semi-annually during each twelve (12) months of the three (3) year apprenticeship program. Successful completion shall be defined as passing the NJ T-2 Water Treatment Licensing Examination and receipt of a NJ T-2 Water Treatment Plant Operator's license from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Upon successful completion of the thirty-six (36) month apprenticeship program, appointees will be eligible for advancement to the title of Licensed Water Treatment Plant Operator without the usual promotional examination process, but rather by reclassifying the apprentice position and by concurrent regular appointment of the apprentice to the position.
• The inability of an employee in the Apprentice title to attain the required level of performance stipulated in each of the six (6) month training periods and/or the inability to obtain within a thirty-six (36) month period a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection T-2 license shall be considered cause for separation from employment.

Note

The 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.

Applicants must have successfully completed an introductory Water Treatment Course approved by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in Water Treatment as well as an Advanced Water Treatment Course approved by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Applicants can substitue a completed Associate's Degree or higher from an accredited college for the above DEP courses.

A Bachelor's degree in environmental science, biology, chemistry, engineering, or other related area from an accredited college can be substituted for the required experience and DEP courses.

Appointees are required to have obtained a NJ T-1 Water Treatment Plant Operator's License within twenty-four (24) months of appointment.

Appointees will be required to complete other job-related training courses, as required by the Appointing Authority.

Appointees will be required to successfully complete an Advanced Water Treatment Course approved by the Department of Environmental Protection in Water Treatment.

Appointees will be required to attend in-house classes in water treatment and maintain a 70% average on all tests.