Facility Technician - Laurel

In a team environment, the Facility Technician operates, maintains, and monitors water treatment systems, remote facilities, lift stations, and solids processing equipment to comply with state and federal permits. The Facility Technician also performs repairs and electrical/mechanical duties and associated administrative tasks in the operations and maintenance of wastewater and/or water systems and remote facilities.

Essential Functions

Level I:

- Observes safety regulations; wears required personal protective equipment; follows and enforces recommended safety practices such as lock out/tag out procedures, confined spaces, traffic control and others as established by OSHA and MOSHA

- Adjusts chemical feed rates and flow rates, as directed

- Learns and frequently performs sampling duties in compliance with certification/regulatory requirements including simple chemical analyses of sampling to determine operational parameters, as well as maintains a log of sampling results

- Learns and assists in operation and maintenance of the plant’s and remote facilities’ sanitary requirements by skimming clarifiers or treatment modules, scrubbing weirs and cleaning rotary and bar screens, flushing wet wells as well as handling chemicals

- Assists in maintaining equipment by packing and re-packing rotating equipment, removing pump blockages, replacing air filters, lubricating equipment and maintaining the preventive maintenance schedule for the facility

- Learns and assists in operating and maintaining instrumentation and electrical components, including but not limited to re-lamping, maintaining probes and repair of analyzers and meters where present, assists in monitoring telemetry gauges and alarms to ensure proper pressure and water levels and records data at regular intervals

- Assists in troubleshooting and repairing all mechanical problems as described above, as well as the continuance of preventive maintenance practices for all areas

- Learns and assists in the acquisition of materials through purchasing, including the submittal of purchase requests and the maintenance of a local inventory of supplies by facility

- Provides general housekeeping for all facilities, including grounds keeping, general painting, and sweeping, hosing down and the cleaning of tools and equipment

- Assists in operating remote facilities

- Assists in climbing tanks for inspection, de-chlorination, and maintenance

- Learns and uses the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) for the monitoring of preventive maintenance schedules and the retrieval of work orders and learns and uses computerized process control systems, must also become familiar with applicable work processing and spreadsheet applications

- Drives a vehicle to conduct WSSC Water business.

Level II:

- Observes safety regulations, wears required personal protective equipment, follows and enforces recommended safety practices such as lockout/tag out procedures, confined spaces, traffic control, and others as established by OSHA and MOSHA

- Operates and maintains the plant’s and remote facilities’ sanitary requirements by skimming clarifies or treatment modules, scrubbing weirs and cleaning rotary and bar screens, flushing wet wells as well as emptying chemical containment pits where present

- Maintains equipment by packing and recapping rotating equipment, removing pump blockages, replacing air filters, lubricating equipment, and maintaining the preventive maintenance schedule for the facility

- Assists in operating and maintaining instrumentation and electrical components, including but not limited to, re-lamming, maintaining probes, and repairing analyzers and meters where present

- Installs, inspects, troubleshoots, tests, and repairs all mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation equipment; continues preventive maintenance practices for all areas

- Calibrates instrumentation and control devices

- Assists in evaluating and troubleshooting Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) failures

- Repairs and replaces fans and belts in all heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems

- Identifies and requests the acquisition of materials through purchasing, including the submittal of purchase requests and the maintenance of a local inventory of supplies

- Uses the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to monitor preventive maintenance schedules and generate and close out work orders

- Assists in and performs the operation of computerized process control systems and data management systems

- Performs sampling duties according to certification/regulatory requirements

- Performs the following operational/maintenance tasks according to certification requirements related to:

- All plant process equipment and/or remote facilities:

- Collects all process data needed to produce essential reports. Maintains treatment modules in an aesthetically pleasing manner

- Performs preventive/corrective maintenance on all plant mechanical equipment and/or remote facilities

- Recognizes proper and improper plant operating conditions and determines corrective measures to return the process to optimal condition

- Disassembles and cleans pumps and other rotating equipment; disassembles and cleans valves; adjusts chains and belt drives; and generates work orders

- Assists in maintaining pneumatic and hydraulic systems

- Performs minor carpentry, plumbing, and metal fabrication

- Maintains system control valves such as PRVs, altitude valves, remote control valves, and backflow preventers; work involves operating valves in the water distribution system as needed

- Monitors gauges and alarms to ensure proper pressure and levels; records data at regular intervals; takes readings according to certification/regulatory requirements

- Initiates emergency procedures by notifying appropriate employees in the event of a system malfunction

- Operates valves and pumps through SCADA and/or process control automated system

- Climbs tanks for inspection, de-chlorination, and maintenance as required at specific locations

- Provides general housekeeping for all facilities, including grounds keeping, painting equipment and facilities in which they are housed, as well as cleaning tools and equipment

- Establishes and maintains a positive customer service demeanor and effective working relationships with internal and external customers

- May be required at times to be solely responsible for facility operations

- Drives a vehicle to conduct WSSC Water business.

Level III:

- Observes, implements, and reviews safety regulations; wears required personal protective equipment; follows and enforces safety practices such as lockout/tag out procedures, confined spaces, traffic control, and others as established by OSHA and MOSHA; performs/facilitates safety training as required

- Takes the lead in facility operations, as required

- Operates, maintains, and oversees the plant’s and remote facilities’ sanitary requirements by skimming clarifiers or treatment modules, scrubbing weirs and cleaning rotary and bar screens, flushing wet wells as well as emptying chemical containment pits where present

- Maintains equipment by packing and re-packing rotating equipment, removing pump blockages, replacing air filters, lubricating equipment, and overseeing the preventive maintenance schedule for the facility

- Oversees, operates, and maintains instrumentation and electrical components, including but not limited to, re-lamping, cleaning probes, and repairing analyzers and meters where present; reads and interprets ladder/wiring diagrams

- Troubleshoots, replaces, repairs, and reassembles rotating and stationary equipment

- Adjusts chemical feed rates and calibrates instrumentation and control devices

- Evaluates and troubleshoots Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) failures, as well as rebooting and reloading PLC programs and troubleshooting control loops

- Performs operation, testing, and repair of computerized process control systems and data management systems

- Identifies and requests the acquisition of materials through purchasing, including the submittal of purchase requests and the maintenance of a local inventory of supplies by facility

- Uses the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to monitor the preventative maintenance schedules, plan/schedule jobs, generate/closeout work orders, and utilize data to make business decisions

- Facilitates collection of data by readings according to certification, regulatory, or plant need requirements

- Performs sampling duties according to certification/regulatory requirements

- Oversees and performs operations/maintenance tasks according to certification requirements

- Disassembles and cleans pumps and other rotating equipment; disassembles and cleans valves; adjusts chains and belt drives; and generates work orders

- Maintains plant lighting systems, changes the rotation of motors to facilitate blockage removal as well as tests for the integrity of the insulation housing motors and circuitry for the disconnection/reconnection of electric motors; changes fuses and cleans electrical equipment

- Maintains pneumatic and hydraulic systems; • Performs minor carpentry, plumbing, and metal fabrication

- Provides general housekeeping for all facilities, including grounds keeping, painting equipment and facilities in which they are housed; cleans tools and equipment

- Troubleshoots power, lighting, and HVAC control circuits, and changes out electrical equipment

- Involved in the operation and maintenance of complex control circuits such as hydraulic and AC/DC pump control, and motor control

- Maintains system control valves such as PRVs, altitude valves, remote control valves, and backflow preventers; work involves operating valves in the water distribution system as needed; • Coordinates support to complete large jobs when necessary, that is heavy equipment, traffic control, and large main shutdowns

- Prioritizes work to maintain water supply and water quality

- Coordinates field studies that may include the installation and operation of portable pressure and flow recording gauges and the operation of pressure calibration and test equipment

- Monitors gauges and alarms to ensure proper pressure and levels; records data at regular intervals

- Initiates emergency procedures by notifying appropriate employees in the event of a system malfunction

- Operates valves and pumps through the SCADA and/or process control automated system; • Climbs tanks for inspection, de-chlorination, and maintenance as required at specific locations

- Maintains electrical substations up to 69Kv

Other Functions

Performs other related duties as required

Work Environment And Physical Demands

- Work is performed at a wastewater treatment plant

- May require working in confined spaces and climbing ladders

- Ability to demonstrate normal color perception, hear audible alarms and sounds to detect abnormal equipment conditions

- Ability to visually inspect equipment and processes at anytime of the day or night

- Ability to effectively utilize appropriate safety equipment and procedures

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Level I:

- Good knowledge of standard procedures and tasks where basic analytical ability is required, as in the comparison of numbers and simple facts in selecting the correct action

- Ability to work effectively in a team-based organization focused on continuous improvement

- Establish and maintain a positive customer service attitude and effective working relationships with internal and external customers

- Ability to demonstrate a strong two-way communication skills, including the ability to listen, explain, and facilitate

- Ability to ask for input; offer help without being asked

- Accept suggestions; work with others to solve problems

- Provide recognition and encouragement

- Additional skills are designated in the skill block allocation requirements as set forth by the Production team

Level II:

- Comprehensive knowledge of standard procedures and tasks that require basic analytical ability, as in the comparison of numbers and simple facts in selecting the correct action

- Ability to lead and train effectively in a team-based organization focused on continuous improvement

- Ability to demonstrate strong collaborative skills, including the ability to listen, explain, and facilitate

- Ability to: ask for input, offer help without being asked, consider and potentially accept suggestions; and work with others to solve problems

- Ability to provide recognition and encouragement

Level III:

- Leadership ability is mandatory—the incumbent would be solely responsible and accountable for facility operations and maintenance. Regulatory violations may be punishable by federal prosecution due to the potential for serious health and safety impacts

- Good electrical and mechanical skills

Minimum Education, Experience Requirements

Level I:

- High School diploma or equivalent

- 2+ years of experience in mechanical and electrical, water or wastewater operational systems

Level II:

- High School diploma or equivalent - 2+ years of water or wastewater operational and maintenance experience as a Facility Technician I or equivalent

Level III:

- High School diploma or equivalent - 2+ years of water or wastewater operational and maintenance experience as a Facility Technician II or equivalent; and completion of the Facility Technician III Certification Program, which includes passing an objective and quantifiable certification review and skills demonstration