Water and Wastewater Technician

The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) believes in Our Communities, Our Environment and Our People. As a trusted partner to municipalities, First Nations communities, businesses, governments and institutions across Ontario, we provide our clients with total solutions in water and wastewater. We are dedicated to working closely with our clients to help them build healthy sustainable communities and organizations and provide safe and reliable drinking water to thousands of Ontarians each day.

Join our team as a water/wastewater professional with OCWA

What can I expect to do in this role?

In this role, you will be responsible for the optimal operation of a technologically complex and advanced Class 4 Water Treatment facility with a rated capacity of 1200 mega liters per day, which supplies drinking water to several municipalities. This requires knowledge of various treatment processes including Ultrafiltration Membranes, Ultraviolet Light Disinfection, Biologically Active Carbon Contactors, Conventional Treatment, and various chemical systems. Working on a rotating shift schedule, as part of your operational duties this position ensures the safe and efficient operation of all systems required to operate water facilities to meet regulatory compliance, contractual obligations, and protect the health of residents and environment.

Equipped with personal protective equipment you will need to be able to work in all weather conditions, in confined spaces, dirty and/or noisy environments and have physical dexterity. In water / wastewater facilities, physical dexterity includes but is not limited to: walking, standing, sitting, lifting floor to waist, lifting waist to shoulder, kneeling, crouching, bending, twisting, stair climbing, ladder climbing, pushing, pulling, carrying, handling, fingering, reaching forward, reaching overhead.

How do I qualify?

Mandatory

• Class 1 certification in Water Treatment
o May consider lesser qualified candidates as underfill - minimum Operator-in-Training (OIT), as specified in O.Reg. 128/04 of the Safe Drinking Water Act.
• Valid Class G driver's license.
• Must be available to be on-call after regular working hours.
• Must be willing to work shifts.

Knowledge

• Applied knowledge of the operation and maintenance of advanced water treatment plants, with conventional treatment, ozone oxidation, use of liquid oxygen, oxygen, , Ultraviolet disinfection, ultrafiltration membranes, advanced oxidation, Granular Active Carbon and Biological Active Carbon Contractors.
• General knowledge of industrial processes and maintenance and repair of a variety of equipment and structures such as hydraulic, electric and mechanical plant equipment such as gauges, pumps, valves, fittings, piping, tanks, heating boilers, incinerators, hydraulic ram pumps, centrifuges, air blowers, screens and conveyors and sufficient to operate, inspect, clean, and maintain them by conducting scheduled readings and recordings; monitoring local process conditions and equipment operations (flow rates, temperatures and pressures).
• Familiarity with the requirements of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and its regulations for the safe performance of his/her duties. Knowledge of occupational hazards and standard safety precautions including storage of chemicals, confined space entry, equipment lockout/tagging and personal protective equipment.
• Knowledge of basic mathematics in order to make calculations regarding chemicals and operating processes.
• Familiarity/competency with computerized monitoring systems such as SCADA, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) and overall computer literacy to record data from inspections and monitoring activities to complete work orders, project forms to initiate repairs for maintenance.
• Working knowledge of basic chemistry, biology, thermodynamics and hydrology and be able to apply these principles to operational activities and process adjustments.

Skills and Ability

• Analytical and evaluative skills to identify and correct operating discrepancies; to trace abnormal conditions or noise; to report major deviations or conditions that don't respond to normal corrective actions; and to determine from several choices the method to restore normal operating conditions.
• Good oral communication and interpersonal skills to liaise with clients and mentor/train new staff.
• Good problem solving skills to report equipment problems or malfunctions in order to ensure urgency of the problem is conveyed and understood, and to receive direction for corrective response.
• Good written communication skills to write reports and maintain neat and accurate records.
• Ability to work well in a team, and to take initiative when required.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints engineering drawings and follow process drawings to aid in troubleshooting equipment problems.
• Ability to use and understand operating and maintenance manuals, and other technical specifications. A demonstrated interest in continuous learning.
• Equipped with personal protective equipment ability to work in all weather conditions, in confined spaces, dirty and/or noisy environments and have physical dexterity. In water / wastewater facilities, physical dexterity includes but is not limited to: walking, standing, sitting, lifting floor to waist, lifting waist to shoulder, kneeling, crouching, bending, twisting, stair climbing, ladder climbing, pushing, pulling, carrying, handling, fingering, reaching forward, reaching overhead.

What's in it for you?

• Flexible learning and development opportunities.
• Opportunities for career advancement and specialization with the largest provider of water and wastewater services in Ontario.
• You will be eligible for additional pay for certification, should you be successful in completing and maintaining facility water/wastewater operator's licenses
• Work with the partner of choice for more communities than any other water and wastewater service organization in Ontario for over 25 years.
• Work with an organization committed to innovation and advanced technology.
• A defined benefit pension plan; Comprehensive Health Plan; Life and Disability Insurance.
• Maternity and parental leave top-up benefits including for adoptive parents.

Collection of Information

Your personal information is being collected and will be used to determine your qualifications for employment with the Ontario Public Service, and for recruitment modernization initiatives. OPS Careers is an authorized common service in accordance with s. 6 of the Ministry of Government Services Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.25 and this collection of personal information is necessary to the proper administration of OPS Careers.

Please do not provide more personal information than what is asked of you. For example, do not include your social insurance number, photograph, or banking information, etc. with your application. We strongly encourage you not to provide us with information beyond that which is requested in the job posting.

If you have any questions about the collection, use, disclosure, or retention of your personal information, please contact us.

All external applicants (including former employees of the Ontario Public Service) applying to a competition in a ministry or Commission public body must disclose (either in the cover letter or resume) previous employment with the Ontario Public Service. Disclosure must include positions held, dates of employment and any active restrictions as applicable from being rehired by the Ontario Public Service. Active restrictions can include time and/or ministry-specific restrictions currently in force, and may preclude a former employee from being offered a position with the Ontario Public Service for a specific time period (e.g. one year), or from being offered a position with a specific ministry (either for a pre-determined time period or indefinitely). The circumstances around an employee's exit will be considered prior to an offer of employment.

Remember: The deadline to apply is Friday, May 21, 2021 11:59 pm EDT. Late applications will not be accepted.

We thank you for your interest. Only those selected for further screening or an interview will be contacted.