Water Production Operator & Water Distribution Operator

Description For the WATER PRODUCTION OPERATOR I - IV Position

:

SALARY RANGE: $45,581 to $72,308 annually

Apply at: https://cityofrapidcitysd.tylerportico.com/tess/citizen/jobs/job-list/2025120%7C1

This position is part of the AFSCME Union.

Water Production Operator I:

- Operates and maintains water treatment facilities and related water production facilities.

- Performs visual checks of facilities for equipment and/or treatment malfunctions and assists in repairing or correcting malfunctions.

- Operates equipment, which may include pickup truck, forklift, crane truck, trailers, skid steer, and other related equipment.

- Collects and maintains records, logs, and additional facility performance information.

- Performs custodial duties to ensure clean, orderly, and well-maintained water production facilities.

- Investigates water quality complaints (taste, smell, etc.)

- Interacts with and enters information into facility SCADA (Supervisory Control and data Acquisition) system.

- Performs preventative maintenance and minor repair of vehicles and work equipment.

- Work hours are variable and requires on-call availability.

- Documents work activities within Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS).

- Collects and analyzes samples and performs required lab testing.

Water Production Operator II:

All Operator I duties plus:

- Calibrates and make changes to various facility and field instrumentation.

- Performs preventative maintenance on related equipment.

- Uses additional equipment and other tools to fabricate or repair components.

- May do plumbing, carpentry, and concrete repair.

Water Production Operator III:

All Operator I and II duties plus:

- Troubleshoots and repairs related equipment and process failures.

- Installs and sets up new equipment and machinery for proper running performance.

- Performs changes to treatment processes and equipment to enhance performance.

Water Production Operator IV:

All Operator I, II, and III duties plus:

- Assists supervisor in developing and carrying out safety and employee training.

- Serves as lead person in absence of supervisor.

- Serves as the safety supervisor and becomes the trained competent person for confined space entry, scaffolding, fall protection, etc.

- Serves on safety and other committee meetings as needed. Communicates committee activities to plant staff and supervision and represents staff feedback effectively in meetings.

- Reviews design plans and drawings for water CIP projects. Ensures operations staff feedback is communicated to design engineer and project manager for incorporation into final project.

- Acts as project coordinator between operations, engineers and contractors on water production and/or CIP projects.

For The WATER DISTRIBUTION OPERATOR I - IV Position:

SALARY RANGE: $45,581 to $72,308 annually

Apply at: https://cityofrapidcitysd.tylerportico.com/tess/citizen/jobs/job-list/2025121%7C1

This position is part of the AFSCME Union.

Water Distribution Operator I:

- Performs various tasks during the installation, repair, and maintenance of water mains, fire hydrants and other water infrastructure, including cutting, fitting, sealing, laying, and tapping pipe.

- Conducts inspection, operation and repair of valves, system hardware, and the flushing of water lines.

- Operates a variety of tools and equipment, including hydraulic pumps, centrifugal water pumps, tapping devices, jackhammers, chainsaws, air compressors, trucks, and flatbed trailers.

- Performs manual labor, including hand shoveling, lifting, carrying, and moving of materials and equipment, cleaning work areas.

- Turns customer water services on or off.

- Investigates complaints of water leaks and low pressure.

- Repair and replace water service lines.

- Assists with the repair and maintenance of vehicles and work equipment.

- Performs preventative maintenance and minor repair of vehicles and work equipment.

- Work hours are variable and requires on-call availability.

- Maintains proper logs and records on work activities.

- As needed, assists Water Reclamation operators with repair, maintenance and operation of the storm water/sanitary collection systems.

Water Distribution Operator II:

All Operator I duties plus:

- Operates skid loader, front-end loaders, ditching machinery, dump trucks, hydro-excavators, and pipe locators in repair of water and wastewater systems.

- May operate backhoe, excavators and other related equipment, such as pavement breaker, to repair water and wastewater Systems.

- Adjusts and repairs manhole frames and covers, valve boxes, fire hydrants, and tapping machines.

- Conducts new construction field inspections of water and sewer service lines and mains.

Water Distribution Operator III:

All Operator I and II duties plus:

- Installs and repairs valves and other system hardware.

- Conducts field inspection of new and existing pipelines and customer services.

- Flushes and de-chlorinates water mains, install and test cathodic protection system.

- Repair and replace fire hydrants.

- Operates backhoes, excavators and other related equipment, such as pavement breaker, to repair water and wastewater systems.

- Directs crew activities in emergency situations; i.e. water main breaks and sanitary over flows.

- May act as crew lead in the absence of a Water Distribution Operator IV.

Water Distribution Operator IV:

All Operator I, II, and III duties plus:

- Serves as a project leader & as acting crew lead in the crew lead’s absence.

- Becomes the trained competent person for trench safety, scaffolding, confined spaces etc.

- Becomes a certified backflow/cross-connection tester, and perform these test as needed.

- Understands and interprets cathodic protection readings, and take appropriate corrective actions as necessary.

- Acts as a point of contact for water Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects, acting as a liaison between operations, engineers, and contractors by attending project construction progress meetings, coordinating activities such as tie-ins, shutdowns, maintenance, coordinating flushing and sampling activities and communicating project conditions back to all project stakeholders.

- Reviews design plans and drawings for water CIP projects. Ensures operations staff feedback is communicated to design engineer and project manager for incorporation into final project.

- Serves on safety and other committees, as needed. Communicates committee activities to plant staff and supervision, and represent staff feedback effectively in meetings.

Requirements

For the WATER PRODUCTION OPERATOR I - IV Position:

All Levels: Must possess a valid driver's license or ability to obtain within 30 days from date of hire, and high school diploma or general education degree (GED).

Water Production Operator I: One-month related experience and/or training. A combination of education and experience deemed appropriate to fulfill the role and responsibilities of this position will be considered. Ability to obtain Class I Water Treatment Operations Specialist certification as stated as the minimum qualifications for licensing by the State of South Dakota Board of Operator Certification, South Dakota Department of Water and Natural Resources within 18 months of hire.

Water Production Operator II: SD Class II Water Treatment Operations Specialist certification or out-of-state equivalent. Ability to obtain Class II Water Treatment Operations Specialist certification as stated as the minimum qualifications for licensing by the State of South Dakota Board of Operator Certification, South Dakota Department of Water and Natural Resources within 6 months of hire.

Water Production Operator III: SD Class III Water Treatment Operations Specialist Certification or out-of-state equivalent. Ability to obtain Class III Water Treatment Operations Specialist certification as stated as the minimum qualifications for licensing by the State of South Dakota Board of Operator Certification, South Dakota Department of Water and Natural Resources within 6 months of hire.

Water Production Operator IV: SD Class IV Water Treatment Operations Specialist certification or out-of-state equivalent. Ability to obtain Class IV Water Treatment Operations Specialist certification as stated as the minimum qualifications for licensing by the State of South Dakota Board of Operator Certification, South Dakota Department of Water and Natural Resources within 6 months of hire.

For The WATER DISTRIBUTION OPERATOR I - IV Position:

All Levels: Must possess a valid driver's license or ability to obtain within 30 days from date of hire. Must possess a valid Class B Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with tanker endorsement or ability to obtain within 180 days from date of hire. Must have obtained a high school diploma or general education degree (GED).

Water Distribution Operator I: One to three months related experience and/or training. A combination of education and experience deemed appropriate to fulfill the role and responsibilities of this position will be considered. Ability to obtain Class I Water Distribution Operator’s Certification as stated as the minimum qualifications for licensing by the State of South Dakota Board of Operator Certification, South Dakota Department of Water and Natural Resources within 18 months of hire.

Water Distribution Operator II: Two years of experience operating skid loaders, front-end loaders, ditching machinery, dump trucks, hydro-excavators, pipe locators, backhoes, pipe pullers, and other related equipment. Ability to obtain Class II Water Distribution Operator’s Certification as stated as the minimum qualifications for licensing by the State of South Dakota Board of Operator Certification, South Dakota Department of Water and Natural Resources within 18 months of hire.

Water Distribution Operator III: Four years of experience operating skid loaders, front-end loaders, ditching machinery, dump trucks, hydro-excavators, pipe locators, backhoes, pipe pullers, and other related equipment. Ability to obtain Class III Water Distribution Operator’s Certification as stated as the minimum qualifications for licensing by the State of South Dakota Board of Operator Certification, South Dakota Department of Water and Natural Resources within 18 months of hire. Take and pass the Water and Sewer and Trenching Contractors test with the ability to renew annually.

Water Distribution Operator IV: Eight years of experience operating skid loaders, front-end loaders, ditching machinery, dump trucks, hydro-excavators, pipe locators, backhoes, pipe pullers, and other related equipment. Supervisory experience in managing a team of employees, assigning tasks, and overseeing their overall performance. Ability to obtain Class IV Water Distribution Operator’s Certification as stated as the minimum qualifications for licensing by the State of South Dakota Board of Operator Certification, South Dakota Department of Water and Natural Resources within 18 months of hire. Take and pass the Water and Sewer and Trenching Contractors test with the ability to renew annually.