AWP Operator

Padre Dam and the East County Advanced Water Purification Project is seeking applicants interested in working at our current Water Recycling Facility. We’re looking for Certified Operators as well as Operators in Training to join our team!

Over the next several years, this site will be developed into a 16 MGD Water Reclamation Plant with 11.5 MGD being treated at an advanced level. This is an exciting project and we are looking for dedicated employees who will embrace change and commit to running a world class facility.

Incumbents are responsible for: monitoring, maintaining, and operating a 2 MGD Ray Stoyer Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), East Mission Gorge Pump Station (EMGPS), attending training sessions and commissioning of the East County Advanced Water Purification (AWP) Facilities through construction of AWP facilities and until Ray Stoyer is decommissioned. Subsequent to decommissioning of Ray Stoyer WRF, commissioning, monitoring, maintaining, and operating a 16 MGD Class 5 WRF, associated Solids Handling Facility (SHF), Energy Recovery Facilities, a 12.5 MGD AWP Facility, appurtenant wastewater pump stations and conveyance facilities, product water pump station and conveyance facilities, and remote dechlorination facility; Ensuring customers receive adequate recycled and purified water without health risks; and any other duties as assigned.

Essential Duties:

Performs plant process control, sample collection, laboratory analysis and interpretation. Based on the results, suggests routine adjustments to wastewater, recycling, solids handling and advanced water treatment processes to ensure established operational parameters and regulatory and permit limits are met.

Able to understand, achieve and adhere to requirements set forth in multiple permits including but not limited to NPDES, APCD, DDW for surface water augmentation, and others as required.

Troubleshoots and performs maintenance activities on wastewater, recycling, solids handling and advanced water treatment plant equipment, satellite facilities (e.g., EMGPS, Dechlorination Facility), facilities and grounds, including instrument calibration, washing down facilities, and general housekeeping.

Monitor Santee Lakes and San Diego River upstream and downstream of the discharge to ensure regulatory and permit limits are met.

Monitor a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system for pump stations, wastewater, recycling, solids handling, dechlorination facility, and advanced water treatment processes to ensure established operational parameters and regulatory and permit limits are met.

Utilizes a computerized maintenance management system to perform necessary record keeping and tracking of tasks/maintenance.

Performs basic repairs and preventive maintenance on equipment and systems found throughout each treatment, disinfection, and distribution processes.

Controls inventory; orders, receives, and handles materials, equipment, and supplies, including hazardous chemicals, in accordance with Padre Dam’s purchasing and safety policies.

Operates pump stations to maintain continuous flow to customers and treatment processes.

Prepares documentation and data for use in regulatory reports and other documents as directed.

Supports tours and presentations to community groups on the value, treatment methods and need for wastewater treatment, recycling, advanced water purification and solids handling.

Responds to hazardous material discharge incidents in accordance with Spill Prevention Control Plans. This may include working in confined spaces, wearing SCBA respirator gear & respirator protection, wearing a level A suit and safety harnesses.

Performs minor fabrication of parts and tools.

Operates vehicles, tractors, forklifts, or other heavy equipment in treatment plant related work.

Participates in training required to maintain all regulatory compliance, learn operations and maintenance of AWP facilities and other capital improvements. Participates in commissioning of AWP facilities and capital improvements.

A Lead Operator in this position holds operational adjustment and decision-making responsibilities to maintain compliance during their assigned shift, leads and coordinates assigned workload within the operations group for their assigned shift and may provide input for Operator performance evaluations.

Performs other duties of a similar nature or level as needed.

Knowledge, Skills, Training, Experience & Licensing:

Knowledge of: (position requirements at entry)

Basic mathematics

Basic related theories and principles such as Water or Wastewater technology, Chemistry, Microbiology; Basic safety procedures and practices

Basic principles of valves, meters, pumps, and the operation of pumps

Basic electronic and electrical principles and practices.

Skills/Abilities: (position requirements at entry)

Use of hand tools and small motorized tools

Operating valves, pumps, and motors

Using computers and related software applications

Ability to perform basic mechanical repairs.

Communication, interpersonal skills to maintain cooperative working relationships with coworkers and supervisors, vendors, contractors, suppliers etc. Sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Training/Experience Required: (position requirements at entry)

High School Diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (G.E.D.)

One year of related basic repair and maintenance experience; OR

An equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above.

Licensing Requirements: (position requirements at entry; must be obtained and/or maintained throughout employment)

Valid California Driver’s License.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Grade I certificate or higher from the State of California, Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) within one year from date of hire; or

Currently holds SWRCB Water Treatment Operator Grade 1 certificate or higher.

CWEA/AWWA Advanced Water Treatment Operator (AWTO) Grade 3 certificate desired within 1 year of eligibility; For an employee to advance into Grade 25, they must be dual certified (WW3 and AWTO 3), or (Water Treatment 3 and AWTO 3) . Grade 27L is an assigned lead position and requires an employee to hold dual certification ((WW 3 and AWTO 3). The Dual Certification must be obtained within twelve months of hire date.

Supplemental Information:

Initially new operators will be working five 8 hour days that may include weekends. That is for initial onboarding and through Advanced Water Purification Water training. Once the plant is online, operators can expect be working 12 hour shifts seven days on and seven days off.

As part of the East County Advanced Water Purification Project (ECAWP), Padre Dam is entering into an Administrative and Operating Services Agreement (Agreement) with the East County CAWP Joint Powers Authority (JPA). Padre Dam, as the contracted Administrator and Operator, will provide management, administrative, operations, maintenance and similar or related services for JPA owned ECAWPAWP facilities. The Administrator and Operator functions will require Padre Dam to hire additional personnel for the development period of the project, or until the Agreement to provide those services is otherwise terminated or not extended. Once the Agreement is terminated or expires, Padre Dam will no longer need the additional personnel and will no longer have the funding to support additional personnel. ECAWP Project Funded Employees will be specifically hired as employees for the duration of time that the District is providing Administrative and Operating Services, but those employees may perform any work for the District within their employment classification, not just work under the Agreement. ECAWP Project Funded Employees will be provided the same rights and benefits as other

Permanent Padre Dam Employees, and be hired into the same classifications with the same salaries, except with respect to termination of employment if Padre Dam ceases to provide Administrator or Operator services to ECAWP.

The current Agreement is for a period of approximately ten years. External applicants will be considered contract employees.

Successful Candidates will be invited to testing held mid May with interviews being held the following week.

Applicants interested in touring our Advanced Water Purification Facility Construction site, please sign up for one of these tour dates below by using this QR code:

Monday, April 21, 2025 @ 9:00 a.m.

Friday, April 25, 2025 @ 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, April 26, 2025 @ 10:00 a.m.