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Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator

Job Description/Responsibilities

The job of wastewater treatment plant operator in a small municipality carries with it

many duties and responsibilities. Some are obvious, many are not. All too often the

operator is not just the operator, but also laborer, lab technician, mechanic and budgetadvisor. The following is a listing of some of these duties and responsibilities, intended to

aid small municipalities in their search for competent, qualified individuals to run the

wastewater treatment plant.

Qualifications:

To be considered for the position of wastewater treatment plant operator, the applicantmust meet the following minimum qualifications:

. !ducation. !ach grade of operator has a minimum education requirement. These

requirements can be found in the "!#$s %astewater Treatment &lant 'perator#ertification (anual, available on line at

www.dec.state.ny.us)website)dow)bwcp)foas*main.html.+. e #ivil Service !ligible. (ost municipalities use #ivil Service when hiring. The

applicant must either be on the #ivil Service list or capable of passing a #ivilService e-am within a specified time period.

. e a /0S certified operator or be capable of becoming certified. #ertified

operators are hard to find. 1f the applicant is not certified, he)she must be willingand capable of becoming certified in a reasonable amount of time.

2. 'ther. Some municipalities impose other qualifications, such as possessing a valid

drivers license, ability to pass a drug)alcohol test or residency requirements.

3esponsibilities:

The responsibilities of a wastewater treatment plant operator include, but are not limitedto, the following:

. 'peration.

4nderstanding the proper operation of the plant.

Ability to perform basic laboratory tests such as p5, temperature, and

chlorine residual.

Ability to apply the results of testing to the process.

Ability to ma6e process control decisions.

7eeping informed and up to date in areas such as operations, products and

techniques.

(aintain accurate and orderly records. Ability to troubleshoot process problems.

7nowing when and where to as6 for help.

Ability to wor6 unsupervised.

+. (aintenance.

&erform routine equipment maintenance 8change oil, grease equipment9.

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/bwcp/foas_main.htmlhttp://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/bwcp/foas_main.html

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rounds maintenance 8lawn cutting, snow removal9.

&ainting 8buildings and equipment9.

&osses a basic 6nowledge of electricity.

(aintain a clean and orderly office and lab.

Ability to wor6 unsupervised.

. (anagement.

"evelop and implement an effective preventive maintenance program.

e involved in the budget process.

&osses a basic 6nowledge of computers.

&ublic relations.

These are just a few of the many duties and responsibilities that should be included in thewastewater treatment plant operators$ basic job description. Additional duties and

responsibilities may be added based on the si;e of the treatment facility, the permit

requirements and any additional role the operator may play within the municipality.