Water Treatment Operator - Louth / Meath

The Role

The Asset Operations function forms the cornerstone of service delivery to customers, protecting the environment and meeting regulatory standards as well as managing the majority of operational expenditure. The Asset Operations function has responsibility for operational and maintenance strategy, policies, planning and standard operating procedures for Water and Wastewater operations both nationally and regionally, ensuring that value for money and customer service is delivered.

The Regional Operations team is responsible for the regional delivery of water and wastewater operational services through the operation, inspection, maintenance & repair of the treatment and network assets.

Reporting to the Water Treatment Operations Team Lead, the Water Treatment Operator will have a remit over an assigned treatment plant, carrying out routine maintenance activities on assets in accordance with the task schedule.

The Water Treatment Operator shall provide appropriate cover for other Operators as required.

Out of hours working will be required and appropriate rates will apply.

Please note that there will be a requirement to be located within a reasonable distance from the assigned work area to respond to out of hours requirements in a timely manner.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Support the operation of the water treatment processes, and carry out routine maintenance activities.
• Monitor and control the operation of the plant and treatment process to ensure clean, safe water is produced in compliance with regulations and that the plant is operated in accordance with best practice.
• Implement and follow all Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are in effect at the plant and any such further or revised SOPs that may be introduced from time-to-time by Uisce Eireann in the interests of properly operating and maintaining the plant in accordance with best practice.
• Monitor changes in Raw Water Quality and undertake routine Jar Tests to determine the optimal dosing of coagulant and flocculant chemicals for the proper operation of the plant in accordance with best practice.
• Operate and maintain assigned assets as required including controlling and adjusting assets, inspecting and monitoring assets, testing and calibrating equipment, maintaining assets, replenishing consumables etc.
• Conduct asset checks and inspections to ensure early identification and resolution of asset problems, raising work orders on Maximo where required. Use electronic equipment as assigned, such as handheld units, PCs, Lone Working App as required.
• Check, record and monitor all necessary quality parameters including manual checks at the various stages of the water treatment process as required.
• Conduct daily indicative operational checks and analysis as required and report results through appropriate systems.
• Monitor and respond to SCADA/telemetry alerts in accordance with standards and procedures and take appropriate corrective actions.
• Support the implementation of process optimisation recommendations to improve treatment performance or to deliver efficiencies.
• Promptly record and accurately report relevant information in relation to water treatment using the technology systems provided.
• Check the operation of the instruments and when necessary, clean and re fill with correct reagents to ensure continued proper operation. Report any malfunction or matter requiring more detailed investigation to the supervisor.
• Check and record the levels and stocks of all chemicals and reagents. Report when stocks are low in a timely manner.
• Accept and supervise the delivery into the plant of bulk chemicals.
• Support in the operation of newly commissioned/upgraded assets as required including undertaking of relevant training.
• Ensure compliance with work safety procedures and fully participate in any safety programme that may be implemented. Undertake duties in a safe manner and use such personal protective safety equipment or clothing on a daily basis as is suitable for the tasks.
• Monitor the plant CCTV system and report any untoward matter to the plant supervisor or plant security.
• Perform duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, including:
  • Adhere to Construction Regulations including undertaking of duties assigned under the Regulations, as per Uisce Eireann policy.
  • Identify hazards and conduct site risk assessments in advance of work activities.
  • Apply safe work procedures and standard operating procedures.
  • Undertake all assigned health and safety training, including Safe Pass and, where relevant, Certified Construction Skills.
  • Use appropriate safety equipment and tools, including Personal Protective Equipment.
  • Where necessary, seek guidance from Team Lead on the carrying out of site risk assessments.
  • Control and record access to sites by other Uisce Eireann personnel and by external visitors and service providers.
  • Co operate at site level with other Uisce Eireann personnel and with other service providers.
• Keep up to date with current best practice, legislative requirements and guidance documents in relation to drinking water treatment and production.
• Conduct duties and responsibilities in accordance with Uisce Eireann's Information Security policies, standards, processes and controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of Uisce Eireann business information, and deliver critical services in accordance with the NIS Directive and other relevant cybersecurity regulations.
• Carry out any other duties deemed necessary and/or required which your line manager may reasonably request in support of the proper and continual operation of the plant.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Secondary level education or equivalent work experience.
• Full, clean and valid Irish category B driving licence is minimum requirement. A clean driving licence is defined as meaning that the applicant has not been convicted of an offence under the Road Traffic Acts (other than an offence for which the penalty is the imposition of penalty points).
• Certification in Water/Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations preferred.
• Water Services Training Group qualification preferred.
• Plumbing or Electrical skills or training desirable.
• Experience working within Water Industry and/or other Utilities preferred.
• Experience of working with automated control systems such as SCADA is desirable.
• Experience of working with control systems and the servicing and maintenance of instrumentation installed on plants to automatically monitor and control processes is desirable.
• With full training and risk assessment, the role holder must be able to work in environments that may attract vermin, be noisy, require use of ear defence, manage and handle hazardous chemicals with all necessary protective equipment, enter confined spaces where trained to do so.
• Experience of using IT systems and a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (e.g. Word & Excel).
• Good basic knowledge of water and wastewater systems and practices is desirable.
• Strong literacy skills.
• Strong problem solving skills and drive to resolve issues promptly using initiative.

Please note that successful candidates will be placed on the salary band based on their skills and experience with the starting position for this role being the minimum of €36,640.

Uisce Eireann is an equal opportunities employer.