Maintenance Relief Operator

Requisition ID: 109369

Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued.

People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.

We are Beautifully Different. We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey.

About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people across 14 regulated jurisdictions and 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

As one of the fastest growing utilities in the U.S., American Water expects to invest $40 to $42 billion in infrastructure repairs and replacement, system resiliency and regulated acquisitions over the next 10 years. The company has a long-standing history of executing its core operations, aligned with sustainable best practices, through its commitments to safety, affordability, customer service, protecting the environment, an inclusive workforce and strengthening communities.

American Water has been recognized on the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index for the fifth consecutive year, ranked 18th on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable U.S. Companies 2023 List, earned the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act designation and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense® Excellence Award, among additional state, local and national recognitions.

For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Primary Role

Works under the direction of the Chief Plant Operator, Plant Operator, Production Supervisor, Maintenance Supervisor and Production Superintendent and is subject to any specific direction to help with all control decisions associated with the operation and maintenance of wastewater systems to optimize operational performance and assure regulatory compliance.

Position Responsibilities

- Monitors, reads, and calculates the flow of sewage through the plant by meters, gauges, and usual inspection; operates pumps and valves to regulate flow and adjust chemical feeding according to established standards.

- Performs any combination of the following tasks in sewage disposal under the direction of the plant operator.

- Tends pumps, conveyors, blowers, chlorinators, chemical feed equipment and other equipment used to decontaminate waste by settling, aeration, sludge thickening.

- Removes coarse material and other obstructions from bar screens to accelerate Influent through initial screening process.

- Adjusts valves controlling flow velocity through settling tanks to separate sludge by sedimentation.

- Determines need for lubrication and fills lubricant containers and greases equipment as needed.

- Reads and interprets charts, flowmeters and other gauges to determine operating efficiency of equipment.

- Extracts samples, makes process reports, and performs other duties as directed by plant operator.

- Performs routine lab analysis. Required to perform routine maintenance repairs, such as, but not limited to, shear pins, belts, chains, minor electrical, minor plumbing, flush lines, repair hoses, change filters, and similar jobs.

- Collects samples and makes routine and more complex chemical and physical tests monitoring for changing conditions and chemical feed requirements.

- Logs test results, meter and feed readings, flow rates, maintenance and other data; prepares daily and periodic reports on plant operations. Inspects pumps, motors, chemical feeders, level controls and other equipment to ensure proper operations; makes adjustments and emergency repairs on plant equipment.

- Performs routine and more complex plant cleaning and maintenance such as cleaning clarifiers; cleaning lines; hosing clarifiers and basins; disposing of sludge; cleaning sludge beds; painting structures, equipment and piping; performing routine carpentry.

- Maintains plant grounds and facilities.

- Maintains and Operates the sludge thickening equipment, to include but not limited to polymer system and storage tank.

- Performs preventative maintenance and minor repairs to the sludge dewatering/thickening facility treatment equipment.

- Determines need for lubrication and fills lubricant containers and greases equipment, as well as maintaining the correct hydraulic fluid levels in all sludge handling equipment.

- Responsible to inspect and report any unusual conditions of sludge equipment, including but not limited to, condition of the sludge presses, rollers, belts, wash boxes, polymer feed pumps, pugmill, Serpentex belt and sludge cake loading area.

- Follows written Standard Operating Procedures created for the operation of the sludge handling equipment.

- Completes Sludge Handler Daily task sheet as well as assigned work orders.

- Change out chemical totes and maintains chemical feed system to ensure proper operation, collects samples, runs process control testing such as but not limited to sludge cake pH, % solids testing.

- Records test results on daily benchsheet.

- Perform these tests several times per shift to monitor for changing conditions and chemical feed requirements.

- Logs test results, meter and feed readings, flow rates, maintenance and other data; prepares daily and periodic reports on plant operations.

- Makes adjustments on chemical feed systems and presses to maintain optimal sludge handling operation.

- Performs the cleaning and upkeep of the sludge handling equipment and facility.

Position Skills

- Communicate in an effective manner both oral and written with the general public and Company personnel.

- Read and understand instructions, safety rules, etc.

- Mathematical skills sufficient to be able to calculate dosages, surface areas, volumes, weights, measures and algebraic formulas.

- Mechanical ability sufficient to operate and maintain pumps, valves, motors and other mechanical equipment related to plant processes.

- Physical fitness- capable of lifting and/or carrying 50 lbs. or more on a frequent basis. Walking up and down stairs. Working in confined areas. Ability to wear a respirator.

- Environmental conditions including contact with water, chemicals, fumes, odors and dust as a result of working with and handling potentially hazardous water treatment and laboratory chemicals.

- Minimum exposure to inclement weather mostly of short duration.

Experience/Education

- High School graduation or state recognized education equivalency certificate.

- College course work and/or degree in biology, chemistry, environmental science or engineering curriculum are preferred.

- Valid PA Drivers License

- PA DEP Wastewater Operator certificate (Class A E, subclass 1) preferred.

- Basic computer skills

Work Enviornment

- The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet with exception of usage of certain machinery.

- Individual may be required both indoors and out.

Other

- Must work rotating shifts including nights weekends, holidays and overtime as assigned.

- Must remain on until properly relieved from shift.

- Attend continuing education as needed for Operator certification renewal.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

Competencies

Champions safety

Customer obsessed

Cultivates innovation

Nimble learning

Drives Results

Collaborates

Join American Water...We Keep Life Flowing™

American Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on his or her age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they are an individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.