2/80
Rev 5/88
Rev 7/92
Rev 1/93

City of San José

PLANT OPERATOR (3612)

CLASS PURPOSE
   Under general supervision, performs a variety of work of routine difficulty involved in operation of the Water Pollution Control Plant (i.e. the sewage and wastewater treatment facility). Performs related work as required.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESULTS (Any one position may not include all the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all the duties which may be performed.)

• Inspects, operates, adjusts and maintains equipment in one of the wastewater treatment plant sections (i.e., primary, secondary, sludge control, nitrification, filtration, chlorination).
• Removes grit from equipment to reduce excessive wear.
• Removes settleable organic particles and clumps to eliminate biological oxygen demand (B.O.D.) overloading.
• Removes grease, scum and floatable items to reduce odor, insect and rodent problems, and to improve other parts of the process.
• Removes biodegradable portions of primary, secondary, and nitrification sludges to make it less objectionable and more stable.
• Removes ammonia to stabilize end products and ammonia toxicity.
• Operates pumps, valves, motors, blowers, internal combustion engines, vehicles, and other related wastewater treatment process equipment.
• Cleans, performs preventative maintenance, paints, and performs minor repair work on plant equipment.
• Reads and interprets gauges, dials and other process instruments, and make necessary process and equipment adjustments to maintain process integrity.
• Maintains records of instrument readings.
• Makes routine log entries.
• Performs process computations and graphing as required.
• Takes samples and performs various simple tests for process control.
• Maintains and cleans designated work areas.
• Washes and cleans preliminary, primary, secondary, incineration, and sludge treatment tanks and equipment.
• May provide lead direction and training to Plant Operator Trainees.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
   This is the second level class in the Plant Operation series, and is at the full working level. Incumbents of this class perform work of routine difficulty under general supervision in the operation, maintenance, and minor adjustment of the Water Pollution Control Plant equipment used for the treatment of sewage, digestion of sludge, purification of water, and disposal of waste products.
   This class differs from that of Plant Operator Trainee in that an incumbent of the latter works under immediate supervision in a training capacity. This class differs from that of the next higher class of Senior Plant Operator in that an incumbent of that class is assigned more responsible work and may provide lead direction and training to Plant Operators and Plant Operator Trainees. Assignments may be made to any shift in an around-the-clock operation, and incumbents must also be available for work on Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.

QUALIFICATIONS
   Minimum Knowledges, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the operations of pumps, blowers and other mechanical process equipment powered by electric motors or gasoline engines.
• Knowledge of safety practices and procedures used around wastewater treatment facilities.
• Knowledge of methods and tools used in repair of mechanical equipment.
• Knowledge of wastewater treatment processes.
• Ability to perform a variety of plant operation duties and operate a variety of water treatment plant equipment.
• Ability to operate electric and hydraulic hoists.
• Ability to read and interpret gauges and other control instrumentation.
• Ability to recognize and diagnose alarms and other warning indicators.
• Ability to work effectively with others.
• Ability to understand oral and written communications.
• Ability to perform minor repairs on mechanical equipment.
• Ability to maintain logs, charts and graphs.

Competency Knowledges, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of routine laboratory tests used in sewage treatment process.
• Ability to provide lead direction and training.
• Ability to operate a variety of water treatment plant equipment.
• Ability to read dials, gauges and other process instruments correctly and interpret and record reading.
• Ability to perform routine laboratory analyses.
• Ability to inspect, operate, adjust, and maintain equipment in one of the wastewater treatment plant sections.

Training and Experience
   Any combination of training and experience equivalent to completion of high school and one (1) year of experience in the operation and minor maintenance of mechanical equipment in a sewage or wastewater treatment plant.

Licenses/Certificates
   Possession of a valid State of California Water Resources Control Board Grade II Operator Certificate.
   Possession of a valid driver's license authorizing the operation of a motor vehicle in the State of California.

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