The City of Crystal Lake is seeking a knowledgeable, motivated, and safety-conscious Public Works Public Water Supply Operator to join our Public Works Department. This position focuses primarily on the City’s drinking water treatment, storage, and distribution operations, helping to oversee and maintain a system that includes:

Production & treatment of ˜3.9 million gallons per day on average
6 active shallow aquifer wells
5 active deep aquifer wells
5 drinking water treatment plants
4 elevated storage tanks
4 ground storage tanks
4 pressure reducing valves
Over 250 miles of water main
3,200 hydrants
14,000 services

If you enjoy hands-on technical work, problem-solving, and working both independently and as part of a team, we encourage you to apply.

This is technical work involving the operation, maintenance, monitoring, and repair of the City's water treatment plants, deep and shallow wells, and related infrastructure. Responsibilities include plant operations, equipment troubleshooting and repair, water sampling and analysis, regulatory compliance, preventive maintenance, recordkeeping, and responding to emergency situations.

Work is performed under the general supervision of the Water & Sewer Supervisor or Superintendent, who reviews work through observation, reports, and operational results.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Operate, monitor, inspect, and maintain water treatment plants and related facilities to ensure efficient and compliant operations.
Perform routine facility inspections and process control testing, including laboratory analysis of water samples for operational control and regulatory reporting.
Monitor and adjust treatment processes, chemical feed systems, pumping levels of wells, storage reservoirs, water towers, tanks; operates and maintains all brine pits, pumps, iron removal and softening and other equipment; operates and maintains all altitude valves; and plant operations to maintain compliance with state and federal water quality standards.
Operate and monitor SCADA systems and enter operational data into computer applications for analysis, reporting, and recordkeeping.
Troubleshoot, inspect, repair, and perform preventive maintenance on pumps, motors, valves, blowers, electrical, mechanical, and treatment equipment.
Safely handle and change treatment chemicals while following all applicable safety procedures.
Maintain inventory of treatment chemicals, equipment, and repair parts; order supplies and assist with budget recommendations.
Performs chemical changes including routine chlorine gas cylinder changes and safely handles dangerous chemicals.
Plan and coordinate assigned maintenance, operational, capital improvement, and capital maintenance projects under the direction of the Supervisor or Superintendent.
Maintain accurate operational records, work orders, project documentation, and prepare required daily, weekly, monthly, and regulatory reports.
Assist in preparing work assignments and coordinating daily activities for division personnel.
Operate a variety of equipment used in water system maintenance, repair, and construction.
Perform semi-skilled building maintenance including painting, plumbing, masonry, and minor electrical work.
Clean, maintain, and perform preventive maintenance on buildings, facilities, vehicles, tools, and equipment.
Ensure that equipment is operated safely and in accordance with established procedures.
Perform heavy physical work, including loading and unloading materials and attaching equipment accessories.
Respond to customer concerns, investigate operational issues, communicate findings, and assist with public education, facility tours, and community outreach.
Respond to emergencies caused by severe weather, power outages, equipment failures, or other system disruptions.
Assist other Public Works divisions as needed.
Participate in snow and ice removal operations during the winter season.
Maintains availability for emergency call back status.
Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent.
Coursework in water treatment, environmental sciences, or a related field is preferred.
Experience in water treatment plant operations, maintenance, or related mechanical trades; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Familiarity with personal computers, Microsoft Office applications, spreadsheets, email, GIS mapping, and SCADA systems is highly desirable.
Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple tasks, solve problems effectively, and maintain accurate records.
Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills.

Required Certifications and Licenses

Candidates must possess:

Illinois EPA Class B Public Water Supply Operator Certification or Class B Operator-in-Training Certification.
Ability to wear a respirator.

Candidates must also possess, or obtain within six (6) months of hire:

Illinois Commercial Driver's License (CDL) Class A or B with Air Brake Endorsement and Tanker Endorsement. The City will provide training as needed.

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday
7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This position requires:

Participation in an on-call rotation for after-hours emergencies.
Weekend, evening, and holiday work as needed.
Emergency response during severe weather, utility outages, and other Public Works emergencies.
Participation in snow and ice control operations.

Compensation and Benefits

Starting Hourly Rate: $37.74 to $48.30 per hour, depending on qualifications (currently subject to negotiations for a successor Collective Bargaining Agreement).

The City of Crystal Lake offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

Health, dental, and life insurance effective on the first day of employment
Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) pension participation
Ten (10) paid holidays
Monthly accrued vacation and sick leave
Employer-provided CDL training, if needed

Employment Requirements

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of:

Background investigation
Pre-employment physical examination
Drug screening

This position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between the City of Crystal Lake and Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

How to Apply

Qualified candidates should complete a City employment application at www.crystallake.org.

The City of Crystal Lake is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

The City of Crystal Lake provides an excellent benefit package to its full-time employees that includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance as well as medical and dependent care flexible spending accounts, a retirement plan through Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, paid holidays, paid vacation, and sick leave.

City of Crystal Lake

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Public Water Supply Operator