Job Description

Requisition ID: 110196 

Share Our Purpose. Be Yourself. Feel Valued.  

People are the heart of our business. As an American Water employee, you will be offered a competitive salary and health benefits package, along with opportunities to develop, grow, and evolve your career. Our benefits packages focus on key areas such as health & wellness, emotional & well-being, and savings for current & future goals.

We are Beautifully Different . We strongly believe having diversity across our company makes us more successful and helps us provide essential services to our customers. We are stronger because we embrace different ideas, viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds. American Water is the best choice for your next role! Click here for more information on our inclusion, diversity, and equity journey.

About American Water
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886 and celebrating 140 years in 2026, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to approximately 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s approximately 7,000 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders.

For more information, visit  amwater.com and join American Water on  LinkedIn ,  Facebook , X  and  Instagram .

Position Information

Posted Range: $33.14/hour

This position may be eligible for annual incentive pay and contracted increases as determined by the collective bargaining agreement,  and you will have the opportunity for continued salary growth.  

In addition to compensation, you will be offered a comprehensive benefits package including 401(k), Defined Contribution Plan, Employee  Stock Purchase Plan, medical, prescription, dental and vision coverage, plus disability, paid time off, life insurance, voluntary benefits,  health and wellness programs and much more!  

American Water is also proud to offer employees learning opportunities and work experiences to grow professionally!  

Primary Role

The Plant Operator is responsible for operating and controlling plant machinery and equipment to purify and clarify water for human consumption and commercial and industrial use. They are also tasked to remotely control distribution pumps, tanks, and equipment to maintain water and fire service in the distribution system. The Plant Operator will also monitor and test water quality to assure safe water quality.

Key Accountabilities

Monitors SCADA to operate and control electric motors, pumps, valves, and filters to regulate flow of water through the plant. Dumps specified amount of chemicals, such as polymer, salt, and potassium permanganate into chemical feeders. Make adjustments to same devices to control the amount of chemical admitted into tanks, clearwells, and pipelines to disinfect, deodorize, clarify, and purify the water. Control, operate, and monitor mixers, vacuum pumps, sludge blanket levels, sludge blanket concentrations and sludge removal to clarify the water. Monitors SCADA to remotely adjust and control pumps, motors, and chemical feed equipment, to regulate pressures, water elevations, flow of water, and quality of water in the distribution system. Monitors filter operation to maintain water quality and determine backwashing scheduling. Collect and test water samples water from various process points to determine acidity, color, turbidity, pH, bacteria content, treatment application, odor, and other impurities using various laboratory equipment such as electrodes, colorimeters, mixers, turbidimeters, titrators, mixers and hot plates. Maintain and test online analytical instruments monitoring water quality. Record data such as test results, chemical dosages, weights, and volumes,
water quality information, operational problems, and compliance monitoring as required by various State and Federal regulations. Monitor, operate, and control Bynum Well, Winters Run Well, and Mt. Soma
reservoir facilities and equipment. Respond to consumer complaints, emergencies, answer telephone or make notification to appropriate supervisors about same. Load/unload/receive chemicals and materials used to purify and operate the water treatment systems.Clean, paint and maintain workplace. Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Knowledge/Skills

• Learn the functioning of the overall system. 
• Use judgment to make decisions to keep the system operating and in compliance.
• Remain calm during emergencies.
• Use arithmetic to figure amounts of material needed or applied to function. 
• Direct the work of others.
• Use eyes, hands, and fingers to operate or adjust equipment.
• Differentiate between colors.
• Math Skills: Requires mathematical development sufficient to be able to: Calculate surface, volume, weights and measures. Calculate square roots, variable formulas. Calculate plane and solid figures circumference, area and volume. Understand kind of angles, and properties of pairs and angles.
• Language Skills: Must have developed language skills to the point to be able to: Read and understand instructions, safety rules, state/federal regulations, etc.

Experience/Education

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Specific Vocational Preparation includes an occupationally significant combination of: vocational education, apprentice training, in-plant training, on-the-job training, or essential experience in less responsible jobs

Physical Demands

• Lifting 100 lbs maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Stooping. Kneeling. Crouching. Crawling. Reaching. Handling. Fingering. Feeling. Seeing.
• Walking up and down flights of stairs.
• Working in confined areas. 
• Climbing up and down ladders. 
• Work on a ladder.

Environmental Conditions

• Both: inside and outside: a job is considered “both” if the activities occur inside or outside in approximately equal amounts.
• Wet and humid: Wet: Contact with water or other liquids. Humid: Atmospheric condition with moisture content sufficiently high to cause marked bodily discomfort.
• Noise and Vibration: Sufficient noise, either constant or intermittent, to cause marked distraction or possible injury to the sense of hearing, and/or sufficient vibration (production of an oscillating movement or strain on the body or its extremes from repeated motion or shock) to cause bodily harm if endured day after day.
• Hazards: Situations in which the individual is exposed to the definite risk of bodily injury.
• Exposure to: Odors, toxic conditions, chemical dust or dust or poor ventilation. Ability to wear a respirator and work in confined spaces.

Other

• Must possess a valid Maryland drivers license.
• CONTINUING EDUCATION: Company, state, federal, private, or county sponsored courses will be attended to improve job skills. Applicant must obtain Maryland operator certification within the allotted time frames set forth in the bargaining agreement.

Competencies

Champions safety

Customer obsessed

Cultivates innovation

Drives Results

Nimble learning

Collaborates

Join American Water... We Keep Life Flowing ™

American Water is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and prohibits employment discrimination for employees and applicants based on his or her age, race, color, pregnancy, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, marital status, citizenship, or because they are an individual with a disability, protected veteran or other status protected by federal, state, and local laws.

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