Water Quality Technician

The Water Quality Technician is responsible for water quality sampling from the drinking water distribution system, water filtration plants, wastewater plants, rivers, and reservoirs. Responsibilities include responding to customer inquiries about water quality and activities related to maintaining contamination response preparedness.

Essential Functions

- Collects samples in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act, Clean Water Act, Industrial Discharge Control, and all other applicable local, state, or federal regulations

- Performs daily activities related to customer complaints handling and coordination of customer sampling logistics. Communicates directly with customers to coordinate investigations and sampling

- Conducts non-compliance, operational sampling at water filtration plants and distribution system sites

- Maintains online water quality monitoring instruments, performs routine site inspections, sensor calibration, and minor repairs

- May serve as a standing member of Contamination Rapid Response Team (CRRT)

- Performs activities related with uninterrupted CRRT preparedness. Responsibilities include maintaining CRRT inventory, uninterrupted equipment functions, routine equipment checks and calibrations

- Participate in CRRT trainings and exercises

- Prepares reagents and standards for both routine and non-routine analyses and maintains accurate, relevant, and timely records

- Prepares sample bottles for field work, including cleaning, adding chemical preservatives, labeling, and organizing sample transport in accordance with method requirements

Other Functions

- Maintains compliance with all QA/QC and safety requirements at pre-scheduled intervals

- Creates legible and accurate records of all analytical work

- Cross trains in other water quality disciplines

- Supports Division Manager or Section Manager in developing Standard Operating Procedures

- Performs other related duties as required

Work Environment And Physical Demands

Professional lab environment

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

- Knowledge and understanding of drinking water treatment processes, water distribution system operation, water quality monitoring, and contamination response

- Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws and regulations governing drinking water regulatory monitoring

- Knowledge of chemistry and/or microbiology principles, terminology, practices, techniques, and instrumentation in performing qualitative and quantitative analysis

- Knowledge of OSHA safe work requirements and practices, including MSDS and personal protective equipment

- Ability to interpret data, identify water quality problems, and take proactive actions

- Ability to prepare comprehensive analytical reports

- Ability to interact with internal and external customers in an effective and professional manner

- Ability to effectively prioritize work and manage time in order to meet deadlines and rush orders

Minimum Education, Experience Requirements

- Bachelor’s degree

- 2+ years of experience in the environmental field

OR

- Associate’s degree - 4+ years of experience in the environmental field

OR

- High School diploma - 5+ years of experience in the environmental field