Treatment Plant Operator (TPO)
The Springfield Water and Sewer is seeking Treatment Plant Operators for its water treatment plant in Westfield, MA.
The Commission has contracted for a new $300 million water treatment plant to replace its current facility. Final designs of the new treatment plant must be approved by MassDEP before construction can begin. Following MassDEP approval, construction of the DAF facility and treatment plant upgrades is anticipated to start in 2024. Completion is expected in 2027. Treatment plant operators will be working in a new state of the art plant.
The Commission offers a competitive compensation and benefits package. The Commission’s investment in its employees includes competitive salaries, reasonably priced health and dental plans, extensive paid training, ability to participate in a public pension plan, thirteen paid holidays annually, and voluntary benefits like disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, and public service student loan forgiveness.
The Commission is currently accepting applications for Treatment Plant Operators (TPO).
Duties include but are not limited to:
- Participates in the operation of assigned water treatment and processing systems, machinery, and equipment to control the flow, processing, and treatment of water throughout the Commission.
- Participates in the operation of pumping stations, conveyors, pumps, blowers, heating boilers and systems, compressors, tanks, channels and related auxiliary and appurtenant machinery and equipment.
- Operates a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.
- Participates in the operation of valves and gates either manually or by remote control.
- Performs sample collections, analyzes water samples.
- Assists in the delivery and unloading of chemicals.
Essential qualifications include but are not limited to:
- Considerable knowledge of the principles, procedures, practices, methods and techniques of operating water treatment machinery and equipment.
- Working knowledge of occupational hazards and standard safety practices and procedures of water treatment plants.
- Must be able to do mathematical calculations.
- Must read and understand Safety Data Sheet (SDS) sheets for chemicals.
- Must be able to safely operate a variety of specialized water treatment machinery.
- Must regularly lift and carry small packages of up to 20 pounds.
- Must be able to lift and carry boxes of supplies, materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds necessary to perform job functions.
- Must be able to negotiate slopes and rugged terrain, climb ladders, work in confined space including below ground pits.
- Must be able to pass fit testing and related testing for use of a tight fitting air purifying respirator.
A complete job description is available upon request.
Working for the Commission
TPO positions are unionized and pay is tiered based upon experience as a treatment plant operator and grade of the applicant’s certification from the Massachusetts Board of Certification of Operators of Drinking Water Supply Facilities.
Effective July 1, 2024, hourly rates for first shift operators (7:00-3:30) are:
- TPO I (OIT) $21.20
- TPO II $29.84
- TPO III $33.81
- TPO IV $36.56
- TPO V $39.26
There are shift differentials for second and third shift operators.
There are opportunities for overtime.
The Commission offers two health insurance options from Blue Cross Blue Shield and offers Single, Two Singles, and Family plans (Examples of Two Singles be a married couple or a single parent with one child). Rates range from $41.02/week for a Single HMO plan to $134.19/week for a Family PPO plan.
Current MA municipal employees are able to have their years of service in a PERAC plan transfer to the City of Springfield retirement system.
Please include your current MA water treatment certification information on your resume or in your letter.
Springfield Water & Sewer Commission Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwNbmYHCWf