Overview A certified water operator is a professional responsible for operating and maintaining water treatment and distribution systems or wastewater treatment facilities. They ensure that water is safe for consumption or that wastewater is treated properly before being released into the environment. Certification typically involves passing exams and meeting education or experience requirements set by a state or regulatory body, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or state-specific agencies. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: Water Treatment and Distribution: Operate and monitor equipment at water treatment plants to purify and treat water. Test water samples for contaminants, pH, and chemical levels to ensure compliance with safety standards. Adjust treatment processes (e.g., adding disinfectants like chlorine) to meet quality regulations. Maintain water distribution systems, including pipes, pumps, and valves, to ensure reliable delivery. Wastewater Treatment: Manage wastewater treatment plants to process sewage and industrial waste. Monitor and control processes to remove pollutants, ensuring treated water meets environmental standards before discharge. Handle sludge disposal and maintain treatment equipment. System Maintenance: Perform routine inspections and repairs on pumps, motors, and other equipment. Troubleshoot issues like leaks, blockages, or equipment failures. Ensure systems comply with federal, state, and local regulations. Record-Keeping and Reporting: Maintain logs of operational data, test results, and maintenance activities. Submit reports to regulatory agencies to demonstrate compliance with environmental and public health standards. Emergency Response: Respond to system failures, contamination events, or natural disasters to restore safe water services. Implement contingency plans to protect public health during crises. Certification Levels: Certification levels vary by state or country but often include tiers (e.g., Class I, II, III, IV in the U.S.), with higher levels requiring more experience and expertise. Operators specialize in areas like water treatment, distribution, wastewater collection, or treatment. Certification bodies, such as the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC), provide standardized exams. Certified water operators are critical to public health, ensuring clean drinking water and environmentally safe wastewater management. For more details on certification, you can check resources like the EPA’s website (epa.gov) or state-specific environmental agencies. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Education: High school diploma or equivalent; some roles require further training or an associate degree. Certification: Passing state-specific exams (e.g., ABC or state licensing programs). Skills: Knowledge of chemistry, biology, hydraulics, and mechanical systems; problem-solving; and attention to detail. Experience: Entry-level operators may need 1–2 years of on-the-job training; advanced certifications require more. WORKING CONDITIONS: Rotations are dependent on the work program Work in remote locations as an independent provider Must be willing to work overtime and be on-call while at the site as needed Must be willing to work weekends and holidays as needed May be required to fly in small aircraft REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: Fairweather's business philosophy and practice is to provide reasonable accommodations, according to applicable state and federal laws, to all qualified individuals with physical or mental disabilities. PREFERENCE STATEMENT: Fairweather grants preference to qualified Doyon Shareholders first, and second to qualified shareholders of other Alaska Native corporations that grant a similar preference in all phases of employment and training, which include, but are not limited to hiring, promotion, layoff, transfer, and training.