Water Plant Operator

Meet Santa Margarita Water DistrictÂ

Santa Margarita Water District is a dynamic, forward-thinking agency dedicated to delivering high-quality potable water, recycled water, and wastewater services to its 200,000 customers across Southern Orange County. As one of the region's largest and most impactful utilities, we are committed to the highest standards of transparency, innovation, and environmental stewardship.Â

Our people drive our progress, innovation, and results. Our collaborative, human-first culture fosters the sense of fun, comradery, and a rewarding sense of purpose as we do work that matters.Â

Dynamic teams of intelligent individuals work collaboratively to achieve SMWD's goals and solve challenges with a common aim that fosters a unique bond that is not often found in governmental agencies.Â

Santa Margarita Water District's values include:Â

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed by individual positions.

Under direct supervision, performs a variety of skilled duties in the operation, monitoring, Â maintenance and servicing of water and/or water treatment processes, machinery and equipment; performs routine laboratory tests; ensures the process meets regulatory compliance guidelines.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICSÂ

A Water Plant Operator is the entry level in the Water Plant Operator series. Duties are performed within parameters established by the level of the California State Water Resources Control Board certifications, referring more complex issues and problems to the senior operator, shift operator or Chief Plant Operator for resolution and decision making..

This position reports directly to the Chief Plant Operator and may take work direction from a higher level operator or shift operator. Water Plant Operator is distinguished from Senior Water Plant Operator in that an incumbent in the latter class has a higher level of certification, has the plant operations knowledge and experience to perform direct supervision, and able to resolve problems/malfunctions in any plant.

The duties listed below 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 this class.

Qualifications

Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Education, Training and Experience:Â

Graduation from high school or GED equivalent with additional college-level coursework in water and/or wastewater treatment, environmental studies or related field, and at least one year of progressively responsible experience in entry-level water plant operation; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience in a public agency is preferred.

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:Â

Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Class C driver's license and the ability to maintain insurability under the District's vehicle insurance program.

Possession of the following certificates

Ability to

Knowledge of

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDSÂ

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Â

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk and hear; use hands to handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; perform repetitive movements of hands or wrists; climb or balance on ladders or stairs; stoop, kneel, bend at the waist, crouch or crawl; and smell. The employee is frequently required to lift up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 100 pounds with assistance.

Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, use of both eyes, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.Â

Employees in this class are periodically required to wear Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) and make confined-space entry. In accordance with OSHA regulations, employees are prohibited from having facial or head hair that impairs the effectiveness of respirator equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties of the class as they relate to this requirement.

Mental DemandsÂ

While performing the duties of this class, an employee uses written and oral communication skills; reads and interprets data, information and documents; analyzes and solves problems; uses math and mathematical reasoning; observes and interprets people and situations; learns and applies new information and skills; performs highly detailed work; deals with changing deadlines, constant interruptions and multiple concurrent tasks; and interacts with others encountered in the course of work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee regularly works in outdoor weather conditions; extreme heat or cold; wet or humid conditions; in confined spaces; on ladders/scaffolding or in high, precarious places; on uneven or slippery surfaces; near moving mechanical parts; near moving equipment; and occasionally near heavy traffic.Â

The employee is exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, and biological hazards, loud or prolonged noise and equipment with heavy vibrations. The employee may be at risk of electrical shock.

The employee may be required to work various shifts , including after hours, weekends and holidays as needed.Â