Treatment Plant Operator

Requisition ID: 109810

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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.

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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 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s approximately 7,000 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.

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

Position Information

Posted Range: $38.25/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!

Primary Role

The Treatment Plant Operator operates, maintains, and inspects the water treatment plant and related facilities to supply, treat, store, and distribute potable water, and/or operates and maintains the solids handling facilities of the water treatment plant as required to thicken, dewater and dispose of the residuals from the water plant. The Treatment Plant Operator Operator performs technical work related to the overall plant operation and maintenance (including adjustments and repairs), and/or the solids handling operation and maintenance. The Treatment Plant Operator assumes and performs all duties and responsibilities for the operation, maintenance, and control of the water treatment plant, tanks, boosters, and solids/dewatering facilities. They will also be responsible for the overall daily operation of all solids handling and dewatering processes associated with and resulting from the plant operation and meeting the dewatering needs of the treatment plant.

The Treatment Plant Operator may also perform the duties of other Treatment Plant Operators in their absence, working with and assisting other Treatment Plant Operators daily with operations as needed and to stay current on operational changes. The Treatment Plant Operator must maintain effective, respectful communications and interactions with other Operators, Supervisors, and employees from other departments, while informing other work areas, departments and operations personnel of situations, which may affect overall operations. When assuming the role of other Treatment Plant Operators, all duties and job responsibilities within that classification are to be performed.

The position requires experience and possession of a Kentucky Class IV-A Water Treatment Operators License.

Key Accountabilities

- Monitors overall operations, analyzes chemical processes, and performs functions related to process control.

- Operates, monitors and adjusts, as necessary, all related plant process equipment, pumps and instrumentation.

- Operate a belt filter press dewatering system, monitoring and adjusting thickener performance, tracking solids volume and offloading dewatered sludge to the solids holding area.

- Operates, maintains, and controls all related plant process equipment.

- Conducts various tests to determine proper chemical feed rates; calculates chemical feed rates and changes pump settings and feeders as needed; maintains timing and calibration of chemical feed equipment.

- Monitors and controls the water supply, transmission and storage systems through SCADA.

- Assists in the safe unloading and storage of chemicals. Takes daily inventory of process chemicals.

- Operates water plant processes to provide compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations.

- Makes rounds of the treatment facilities, collects and analyzes samples required for compliance and process control; performs laboratory tests to determine plant process performance.

- Maintains laboratory, plant, and operation equipment; performs routine housekeeping and grounds maintenance duties inside and outside the plant and conducts site safety inspections.

- Maintains, standardizes and calibrates bench top, on-line monitoring equipment, analyzers and treatment equipment; takes routine readings and records plant operation data as required.

- Maintains daily logsheet of plant operations, test results, maintenance work performed and unusual operating conditions.

- Performs quarterly filter inspections, basin washes as needed.

- Monitor the performance and levels of gravity thickeners, holding tanks, and settling basins. Calculates chemical dosages and makes adjustments to flows, polymer feed and cake size based on visual inspections and physical testing. Operates and adjusts mixing and feed systems to ensure optimum polymer feed rate and evenness of sludge feed onto belt. Prepares polymer and sodium thiosulfate solutions.

- Takes daily meter readings and records press operation data as required on daily logsheet of press operations. Makes multiple rounds of the basins, holding tanks and thickeners daily to verify equipment operation and conditions of incoming residuals.

- Operates a dump truck daily in hauling the solids materials; conduct daily vehicle checks; inspects and maintains heavy equipment.

- Performs solids analysis on slurry, dry cake and supernatant discharge samples; performs duties related to annual carbon exchange on filters.

- Operates residuals program to maintain compliance with all applicable state and federal regulations.

- Maintains, standardize and calibrates assigned equipment throughout the plant; maintains sludge holding area; keep solids leveled out, transport around property for beneficial reuse and land applications.

- Performs other related functions and duties as assigned.

Knowledge/Skills

- Must have the ability to read and interpret charts, gauges, meters and recording devices.

- Must have the ability to prepare and maintain neat and accurate paperwork such as records, logs, and routine reports and computer entries as directed.

- Must have the ability to perform accurate mathematical calculations related to this position.

- Must have the ability to perform standardized water process control, monitoring, and compliance sampling, testing and laboratory analyses.

- Knowledge of water rules and regulations, and the ability to understand and follow written and verbal instructions.

- Past working knowledge using mechanical skills, for making minor repairs to process equipment.

- Ability to use initiative and sound independent judgment within established guidelines.

- Forklift, dump truck and backhoe experience preferred.

- Computer skills; MS Word, MS Excel and SCADA systems experience.

Experience/Education

- High school graduate or state recognized Educational Equivalency Certificate

- Knowledge of the operations, methods, practices, techniques, equipment and materials used in the water treatment, solids handling, pumping facilities and maintenance of related equipment and systems.

- Should posses a good overall working knowledge of tools, equipment, safety hazards and precautions common to assigned area of responsibility.

- Knowledge of methods and precautions in storing and handling industrial chemicals.

Knowledge of health and safety regulations and practices in the operation of electrical and mechanical equipment used in water facilities.

Licensing Requirements

- The position requires experience and possession of a Kentucky Class IV-A Water Treatment Operators License.

- Requires a valid KY drivers license.

- Must maintain personal DOT certification for required operation of dump truck.

Other

- Employee may be required to work indoor or outdoor during seasonal heat and cold or other adverse weather conditions.

- Employee may be required to work where they regularly may be exposed to fumes, dust and odors.

- Must be physically able to complete necessary tasks while wearing an approved full face respirator as required.

- Must be able to lift in excess of 55 pounds, unassisted. Must be able to perform activities such as walking, stooping, lifting and climbing.

- Employee may be required to work shifts other than their regularly assigned shift. The shift work may be eight (8) to sixteen (16) hour shifts and Operator may be assigned to day, night, or early morning shifts as needed. There will be weekend, holiday and overtime work as needed.

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.