Relief Water Operator

Job Description

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Job Title: Relief Water Operator

Posting Start Date: 6/17/26

Job Description:

Position Information:

Posted Range:

$37.24/hour

This position may be eligible for annual incentive pay and contracted increases as determined by the collective bargaining agreement, and you will have the opportunity for continued salary growth.

In addition to compensation, you will be offered a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs and much more!

American Water is also proud to offer employees learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally!

• #LI-Onsite
• #LI-MR23

Primary Role

Serves as operator when necessary due to absence/vacancy of operator positions and controls treatment plant operations to produce potable water for residential, commercial, and industrial use. Responsible to uphold all Company policies and procedures relative to safety and act in a professional manner to reduce the exposure of hazards to employees, customers, contractors and themselves.

Performs general maintenance of grounds and equipment related to water production in the general service area.

Key Accountabilities

Safety

• General Knowledge of safe practices for the operation and maintenance of the water treatment plant, booster stations, and other grounds and equipment related to water production in the general service area.
• Use safe working practices in the performance of duties and ensure that proper safety practices are used by all workers, including stopping all work, if necessary, to maintain a safe working environment.
• Identifying existing and predictable hazards in the surroundings, or working conditions which may be unsanitary, hazardous, or dangerous to employees.
• Take prompt corrective measures to eliminate hazards.

Trust

• Maintain appropriate records, both paper and electronic.
• Record required data, including, but not limited to, residual content of chemicals, turbidity, pressure, tank levels, and flow rates to the daily operational log.
• Utilize, as necessary, telemetry systems to monitor distribution tank levels and systems pressures. Monitor and adjust booster pumps, pressure reducing valves and other required equipment to maintain system effectiveness in delivery of finished water.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, employees and the public
• Maintain regular, predictable and punctual attendance.
• Work a flexible schedule, which may include evenings, weekends, holidays and overtime.

Environmental Leadership

• Maintain proper volume of chemicals and solutions required to provide complete treatment of source water and produce finished water that meets or exceeds all prescribed regulatory contaminant levels.
• Determine controls, and apply appropriate feed rate of all chemicals required to produce high quality finished water through process control testing and manual or automatic adjustment of specific chemical feed systems.
• Clean bulk and day tanks and backwash filter beds as necessary to maintain control and quality of treatment.
• Test water samples at various stages of treatment to determine appropriate levels of necessary constituents through use of laboratory equipment.
• Collect and test water samples from the distribution system
• Determine appropriate settings and adjust agitators and mixers to mix chemicals and treat water during coagulation, flocculation, and sedimentation processes.

Teamwork

• Actively train OITs and water treatment operators.
• Communicate with supervisors, operators and maintenance personnel on issues including, but not limited to, operational requirements and conditions, maintenance requirements, flow and feed rates, river conditions, chemical feed rates and levels, test results, safety issues, near misses and other issues affecting or having the potential to affect water treatment and delivery.
• Records required data, such as residual content of chemicals, turbidity, pressure, tank levels, and flow rates to the daily operational log.
• Assist in maintenance of plants, booster facilities, and equipment.
• Perform routine and preventive maintenance of pumps, booster pumps, chemical feeders and related equipment, electrical equipment and other equipment and piping as assigned

Knowledge/Skills

• General mechanical and plumbing repair and diagnosis.
• Reading and comprehending maps, diagrams, practices, regulations/policies, and environmental standards and compliance requirements.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, safety data sheets, instructions, procedures, and operations manuals. Ability to write reports and complete appropriate forms.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.
• Ability to understand and utilize specialized equipment including control software and SCADA
• General Computer Skills, including computers, smart phones, tablets, and/or other handheld devices

Experience/Education

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Valid Driver's License required
• West Virginia Class E Driver's License (or equivalent) with appropriate medical certifications for equipment operation.
• WV Water Operator License (Class III or better)

Work Environment

• Incumbents will be required to work overtime, weekends, and holidays; in all weather conditions; under hazardous conditions; on high structures; around operating equipment; in a noisy environment; with chemicals; and with the physical ability and stamina to perform physical work associated with water treatment plant operations.
• Incumbents will be authorized to take prompt, corrective actions to eliminate hazards.
• Most work is indoors, but incumbents may be required to work outdoors regularly. Incumbents may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, electrical currents, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, body fluids, chemicals, low lighting, work space restrictions and intense noises. Incumbent may be required to work unsupervised, alone or in teams. Must successfully complete Pulmonary Function Test.
• Medium Work: exerting up to 70 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 35 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
• Position requires standing, walking, use of hands to handle, grip, or control, reaches, stoops, kneels, crouches, crawls. Vision requirements are for close work as well as distance vision.
• Role will report into: 24th St & Ohio River Huntington WV 25703
• 8 hour shifts: 40 hours per week with O/T at time
• On call responsibilities

Other

High Performance

• Operate and control electric motors, pumps, and valves to regulate flow of raw and finished water during treatment process.
• Regulate high service pumps to transfer finished water to distribution mains and maintain adequate system storage volumes. Monitor and adjusts master control panel to ensure sufficient control of flow rates, filter loss of head pressure, and water production to supply system demand.
• Lubricate, troubleshoot, and repair machines and equipment.
• Clean treatment plant and booster stations
• Operate heavy equipment, machinery, and specialized equipment used in the operation and maintenance of the production system, including but not limited to: mini-hoes, dump trucks, forklifts and fork trucks, utility and pickup trucks, skid-steer vehicles, off-road vehicles, valve operators, and other equipment necessary for water treatment and production work.
• Maintain ground at treatment plant and booster stations, including, but not limited to, painting plant and booster station facilities and equipment
• Utilize laptop and desktop computers, smart phones, tablets and/or other handheld devices to enter data, complete orders, compute and enter timesheets, and other duties as required and assigned.
• Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

Champions safety

Collaborates

Cultivates innovation

Customer obsessed

Drives Results

Nimble learning

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