Plant Operator

Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued. People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals. We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey. About American Water American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $30 to $34 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities. American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Indexfor the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions. For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Primary Role To have active involvement in and make process control decisions associated with the operation and maintenance of water purification systems and related washwater processes. This is for a Water Treatment Plant in Wilkes Barre, PA.Key Accountabilities

• Operate, maintain, control and perform routine repair of plant equipment including preventive maintenance duties.
• Establish, maintain and control flow through the water purification process and into and within the distribution system.
• Maintain process control through the water purification and washwater processes including the establishment, maintenance, calibration and adjustment of chemical feed rates necessary to optimize the process operation.
• Monitor the water purification plant and water distribution system and make operational control adjustments as necessary.
• Maintain all necessary records.
• Perform water quality sampling, testing and analysis to determine compliance with federal, state and PAWC’s standards.
• Loading, unloading, handling, placing into storage and batching water treatment plant chemicals.
• Operate and maintain raw water facilities including reservoir supply, transmission and pumping facilities.
• Perform general maintenance duties at water treatment plant and related facilities and other assigned duties.
• Provide assistance to other company employees, as directed by supervision.
• Perform necessary emergency operating procedures and take proper corrective action for continuous, effective operation of the water purification plant.
• Any other duties which are assigned Knowledge/Skills
• Knowledge of water purification processes, basic scientific concepts, water quality standards and regulations.
• Working knowledge of basic mechanical and automated control systems.
• Experience with technically advanced computer control systems (SCADA) and advanced coagulant control using zeta meter is preferred.
• Ability to obtain Waterworks Operators Certificate (Plant Specific) within one to three years, depending on class.
• Must adhere to company policies regarding mandatory shift coverage when required.
• Communicate in an effective manner, both oral and written, with the general public and company personnel.
• Read and understand instructions, safety rules, etc. Mathematical skills sufficient to be able to calculate dosages, surface areas, volumes, weights, measures and algebraic formulas.
• Mechanical ability sufficient to operate pumps, valves, motors and other mechanical equipment related to plant operation and maintenance.
• Must cope with environmental conditions including contact with water, chemicals, fumes, odors and dust as a result of working with and handling potentially hazardous water treatment and laboratory chemicals.
• Minimum exposure to inclement weather mostly of short duration. Experience/Education
• High School graduate or state recognized education equivalency certificate; Technical college coursework and / or degree in chemistry, environmental sciences, civil or environmental engineering is preferred.
• Previous employment in water treatment, hydrology or related environmental science, civil or environmental engineering, or analytical experience, is preferred.
• Must be able to comply with continuing education requirements as needed for Water Operator certification renewal.Certifications/Licenses
• Class A Water Treatment Operator is highly preferred, not required
• PA DEP Water Operator License is highly preferred or required to obtain within first 3 years of employment
• Valid state drivers licenseWork Schedule / Environment
• This is a 3 shift rotation role. Can be on 1st, 2nd or 3rd shift depending on the rotation week. These are 8 hour shifts. Need to be able to work holidays and weekends.
• Physical fitness- capable of lifting and/or carrying 50 lbs. or more on a frequent basis. Walking up and down stairs. Working in confined areas.
• Ability to wear a respirator.
• Ability to comply with the Company's attendance policies.
• Ability to respond to 24 / 7 callout.

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