Waste Water Treatment Plant Operator

The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Operator is responsible for the safe, compliant, and continuous operation and maintenance of the Short Stay Wastewater Treatment Plant and associated utility systems at Joint Base Charleston. This role ensures 24/7 operational readiness, regulatory compliance with the NPDES permit, and timely response to preventive, corrective, urgent, and emergency service calls in accordance with the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

The Operator serves as a technical personnel onsite, supporting wastewater treatment processes, water distribution systems, wastewater collection systems, septic systems, and RV dump station operations.

Key Responsibilities

Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations

* Operate and monitor the wastewater treatment plant on an onsite basis to ensure continuous, compliant treatment of influent wastewater.

* Adjust treatment processes as required to maintain permit compliance and system performance.

* Monitor alarms, flows, tank levels, and equipment status and respond to abnormal operating conditions.

* Support seasonal operational changes and variable loading conditions.

Preventive & Corrective Maintenance

* Perform Preventive Maintenance Inspections (PMIs) in accordance with the approved PM schedule and manufacturer recommendations.

* Conduct routine maintenance and minor repairs within the contractual limitation of liability.

* Identify deficiencies requiring corrective maintenance or service calls and report findings to the Lead Operator or Supervisor.

* Verify completion of repairs prior to closing PM or service activities.

Utility Systems Support

* Support operation and monitoring of:

o Wastewater collection systems, lift stations, pumps, and force mains

o Water distribution systems, including flushing and valve inspections

o Bathhouse septic systems and RV dump station operations

* Coordinate with subcontractors performing pump-and-haul and waste disposal services.

* Verify disposal manifests and maintain required records.

Sampling, Testing & Environmental Compliance

* Collect wastewater and environmental samples in accordance with approved procedures and regulatory requirements.

* Coordinate sample delivery to state-certified laboratories.

* Support beach and public swimming area sampling during the designated season.

* Immediately report any permit exceedances or abnormal results to the Lead Operator and site leadership.

Emergency & Service Call Response

* Respond to emergency, urgent, and routine service calls in accordance with required response times.

* Support emergency bypass operations as directed to prevent service interruptions or environmental impacts.

* Participate in on-call rotations as scheduled.

Documentation & Reporting

* Maintain hard-copy onsite logs, including:

o Daily operations logs

o Sampling and testing logs

o Maintenance and service call records

* Ensure logs are complete, legible, and available for inspection.

* Support preparation of monthly and regulatory reports as assigned.

Safety, Security & Base Compliance

* Comply with all installation access, safety, force protection, and environmental requirements.

* Follow approved safety plans, spill response procedures, and hazardous material controls.

* Maintain professional conduct when interacting with military, civilian, and contractor personnel.

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Required Qualifications

* South Carolina Group B-B Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Certification (or higher) - required.

* Ability to work onsite and support continuous operations, including on-call availability.

* Working knowledge of wastewater treatment processes, mechanical systems, and monitoring equipment.

* Ability to read, understand, and follow technical manuals, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

* Valid driver's license and ability to obtain and maintain base access credentials.

* Proficiency in maintaining accurate hard-copy operational records.

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Preferred Qualifications

* Additional wastewater, water distribution, or collection system certifications.

* Backflow prevention testing certification.

* Experience with NPDES-permitted facilities.

* Experience working on federal or DoD installations.

* Familiarity with lift stations, activated sludge systems, tertiary filtration, and chlorination/dechlorination systems.

* Experience coordinating subcontracted pump-and-haul services.