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American Water

Wastewater Operator OIT U511

American Water, Pacific Grove, California, United States, 93950

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Job Description Position Title:

Wastewater Operator (OIT U511)

Posting Start Date:

8/28/25

Key Details:

Pay: $35.39 per hour

Full-time, 40 hours per week; rotating shifts, weekends, 24‑hour call out

Eligible for annual incentive pay and contractual increases under the collective bargaining agreement

Benefits:

401(k) match, Defined Contribution Plan, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental, vision, disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits, health and wellness programs

Learning Opportunities:

Internal professional development and work experiences to grow professionally

Position Description

Operate, tune, and maintain plant equipment, including pumping systems, chemical feeders, auxiliary equipment, and control systems.

Perform routine preventive maintenance (lubrication, adjustments, cleaning, painting).

Load and unload chemicals by hand or using chemical-handling equipment (hand trucks, hoists, transfer pumps).

Conduct corrective maintenance on mechanical equipment and telemetry (pumps, motors, valves).

Maintain plant records: operating logs, daily diaries, chemical inventories, data logs, SCADA trends.

Monitor plant operating guidelines: flows, pressures, chemical feeds, levels, water quality indicators.

Perform regular water quality sampling (bacteriological, organic, inorganic, process sampling) and field lab testing as required.

Order chemicals, parts, and tools.

Conduct safety inspections, follow plant safety rules, and attend safety tailgate meetings.

Communicate effectively with operators and supervisors at the expected technical level.

Calculate chemical feed rates, flow quantities, detention and contact times, and hydraulic loadings as required.

Perform other related duties as assigned to satisfactorily complete the job.

Drive a company vehicle and operate equipment according to established safety procedures and policies.

Materials, Chemicals, and Tools

Cleaning compounds: solvents and everyday cleaning supplies.

Treatment chemicals: Ferric Chloride, Sodium Hypochlorite, Sodium Hydroxide, Zinc ortho‑Phosphate, and various polymers.

Tools: small hand tools, calibration and testing equipment, and any other tools necessary to perform and complete duties.

Experience and Education

High school diploma or equivalent required.

One year of mechanical, utility, or manufacturing experience preferred.

Knowledge and Abilities

Carry out oral and written instructions.

Physical and mechanical abilities required.

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) highly desirable.

Certifications & Licenses

Wastewater Operator Grade I certification within one year of employment or transfer.

Wastewater Grade II certification within thirty (30) months of employment or transfer.

Valid California driver’s license.

Class B with tanker endorsement within two years of hire or reclassification date (desired).

Work Environment

Physical demands: standing, climbing, walking, lifting, bending, pulling, pushing, grasping, reaching, stooping, crouching, sitting.

Must lift up to 50 pounds, occasionally lift or move over 100 pounds.

Vision: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception.

May work in trenches, tanks, or elevated areas.

Competencies

Champions safety

Customer obsessed

Cultivates innovation

Nimble learning

Drives results

Collaborates

Seniority Level Not Applicable

Employment Type Full-time

Job Function Management and Manufacturing

Industry Utilities

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