Water Supply Operator - City of Liberal

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WATER SUPPLY OPERATOR

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

The fundamental reason this classification exists is to perform daily monitoring and control of staffed and non-staffed water works facilities through the operation of the Water Supply Division's central computer system called Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). Incumbents routinely interact with Water Distribution Division regarding current water demands, and determine daily well production, as well as pumping and/or transmission requirements. Incumbents monitor citywide water usage and communicate production and pumping needs among the City's water treatment and remote water facilities. Incumbents are also responsible for maintaining operational set points and alarm levels, as directed by a Water Director. Work assignments are made by the Water Director, through written or oral instructions. Work is reviewed for results in meeting the operating requirements of the system.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

·       Receives and interprets real-time water system data for maintaining water service delivery and historical trending;

·       Orders and adjusts water treatment plant production rates in response to daily water demands;

·       Turns wells on and off remotely;

·       Adjusts flow control valves remotely;

·       Responds to short-term emergency water supply situations;

·       Makes decisions regarding treatment plant productions based on short-term strategies as conveyed by the Supply Supervisor;

·       Maintains SCADA set points for computer controlled wells, booster pumps, pressure control valves, storage tanks, and reservoirs;

·       Controls total water storage levels and pumping and plant production rates, in accordance with operational strategies developed by the Water Services Director;

·       Works with Instrumentation and Control Technicians and Operations & Maintenance Technicians in troubleshooting equipment failures and water system operation difficulties;

·       Notifies facility supervisors of equipment malfunctions;

·       Monitors chemical usages at remote (non-manned) facilities;

·       Updates ground water production data base;

·       Inputs data to other water system databases not integrated with SCADA;

·       Initiates computer generated reports for management;

·       Documents daily water deliveries;

·       Diagnoses and identifies SCADA system malfunctions;

·       Communicates with other cities or governmental agencies regarding daily water orders and delivery schedules;

·       Operates well pumps, booster pumps, pressure vessels, and storage units to balance water storage and pressure in service areas;

·       Adjusts chlorinators to maintain proper chlorine residual in the system;

·       Computes and records the water produced from wells;

·       Reads and interprets meters, charts, and gauges to ensure adequate water pressure an quality;

·       Keeps a log of operating conditions;

·       Performs minor repairs on water pumping equipment;

·       Demonstrates continuous effort to improve operations, decrease turnaround times, streamline work processes, and work cooperatively and jointly to provide quality customer service.

 

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of:

·       City of Liberal water supply systems.

·       Computer applications with remote machinery or facility operations.

·       Function and application of pumps, air compressors, chemical feeds, pressure vessels, and storage facilities as they relate to pumping, transporting, and storage of potable water in a principal water system.

·       Mechanical procedures for activating or controlling a well, booster station, pressure reducing valve, reservoir, and storage tank operations.

Ability to:

• Work Weekends

·       Distinguish between the full ranges of colors in the color spectrum to work with alarm signal lights.

·       Operate keyboard devices such as calculators, PC, and CRT.

·       Determine the nature and urgency of a problem.

·       Establish priorities for own workload based upon such factors as need for immediate action, work objectives, and schedules.

·       Establish and maintain effective communications among superiors and other departmental water operation personnel, and outside utility agencies.

·       Learn job-related material primarily through oral instruction and observation to effectively perform job duties. This learning takes place mainly in an on-the-job training setting.

·       Understand and follow oral and written instructions in the English language.

·       Communicate orally with other City employees and outside agencies using a telephone, in face-to-face, one-to-one and group settings in the English language.

·       Make decisions in accordance with the rules, regulations, and ordinances, pertaining to assigned organizational unit.

·       Work under pressure (i.e., handling significant problems and tasks which come up simultaneously and/or unexpectedly and approaching deadlines).

·       Read, comprehend, and interpret written material in the English language.

·       Comprehend and analyze spreadsheet reports.

·       Work safely without presenting a direct threat to self or others.

Working Environment:

• Work in a variety of weather conditions with exposure to the elements.
• Travel across rough, uneven or rocky surfaces at excavation sites.
• Work in small, cramped spaces, such as ditches, to repair water mains or service connections.

• Bend or stoop repeatedly or continually over time to install or repair water mains, service connections, hydrants, and valves.

• Move heavy objects (50 pounds or more) long distances (more than 20 feet).
• Coordinate the movement of more than one limb simultaneously to operate a jackhammer or repair pipes.

Additional Requirements:

• Possession of a Class I Water Supply System Operator Kansas Department of Health and Environment Certificate within eighteen months of hire.
• This classification requires the use of personal or City vehicles on City business. Individuals must be physically capable of operating the vehicles safely, possess a valid driver's license and have an acceptable driving record. In addition, individuals are required to pass a Kansas Department of Transportation physical exam and possess the appropriate commercial driver's license. Pre-employment drug testing is required, and employees will be subject to unannounced alcohol and drug testing as a condition of continued employment. Use of a personal vehicle for City business will be prohibited if the employee does not have personal insurance coverage.
• This classification requires emergency callback response and on-call participation as a condition of employment.
• Some positions will require the performance of other essential and marginal functions depending upon work location, assignment, or shift. Duties as assigned.

 

ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING:

Demonstrated ability to do mechanical work as shown by prior experience and training or through examination. High School diploma or GED equivalency required. Experience working with natural gas and diesel engines, electric motor controls, computers, welding and plumbing preferred. Mechanical ability required. Prefer at least one-year experience in repair and maintenance of pumps, engines, and water wells.  Other combinations of experience and education that meet the minimum requirements may be sub