Water Treatment Operator

Grade and Salary G) €30,917 - €46,375

We are Uisce Éireann. Every day, we are responsible for the delivery of secure, safe, and sustainable water services for the people of Ireland. As Ireland’s national regulated water utility, our vision is a sustainable Ireland where water is respected and protected, for the planet and all the lives it supports.

Our purpose at Uisce Éireann is to rise to the challenge of delivering transformative water services that enable communities to thrive. That means we are proud to take on the responsibility of protecting our water supply and passing on a safe and secure water system to a rapidly growing population and empowering Ireland’s social and economic growth.

We are passionate about empowering our people, enabling them to make a positive impact on communities across Ireland. We are guided by a shared vision and purpose, grounded in values that define who we are and shape how we work, where we deliver for customers and communities, we work better together, we do the right thing, we aim high, and we keep each other safe. Our behaviours define how we interact, communicate, and succeed together. These values and behaviours apply to each one of us, across every role, location, and level.

Our goal is to attract and develop skilled and talented people from diverse backgrounds, who bring a dynamic range of expertise and insights to our work. With a strong, values-driven workforce, we ensure Uisce Éireann can continue advancing Ireland’s water services and meeting the needs of the communities we serve for generations to come.

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 Water 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. 

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 at other assigned Treatment Plants or assets as required.

The Shannon Estuary Plant operates on a 24/7/365 basis therefore working hours for this role will be on a shift rotation pattern. Following a period of training shifts will be assigned on a 24/7 basis year-round. Shifts will be 12 hours in duration and you will be required to cover day and night shifts. A shift premium will be provided in addition to base salary. Out of hours working will be required and appropriate rates will apply.

In addition to current vacancies we are looking to create a panel for vacancies that may arise in the next 12 months.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support the operation of the water treatment processes in the plant and carry out routine maintenance activities. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, river gauges, flow gauges, water mains, water intakes, disinfection and dosing installations, pumping plant and reservoirs

• 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 

• Conduct daily indicative operational checks and analysis as required and reporting results through appropriate systems. 

• Respond to SCADA/telemetry alerts in accordance with standards and procedures.

• 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.

• Operate pumping plants and water treatment works and control treatment operations, in accordance with the makers instructions.

• Keep the treatment works, pumping stations, reservoirs, site, pipeline system and other items of plant in a clean condition with all fittings in working order. 

• Be responsible for the custody of all materials, tools and equipment in their area and keeping of necessary records relating to them

• Scour out water mains every week on a regular programmed basis as agreed with the engineer.

• Maintain stocks of materials and chemicals ensuring reorder when necessary.
• Support Customer Contact Centre with any customer issues/queries
• Maintain onsite critical spare stocks, tools and equipment.
• Participate in any training programmes as required

• Complete Accurate and comprehensive documentation on a daily basis including information daily reports of tests and consumption of water as well as any other report forms

• Serve notices on consumers and shall give adequate notice to customers if the water supply is interrupted.

• Read gauges and water meters and record readings, including commercial and industrial meters

• Co-operate with water conservation work being carried out in the area by any other authorised parties. 

• Maintain onsite critical spare stocks, tools and equipment. 

• Supervise all maintenance and repair work carried and shall ensure that it is executed properly, efficiently and left in a completed and satisfactory condition.

• General maintenance of all sewers, including rising mains, storm overflows, pump chambers, treatment plants and sites including all fencing, gates and buildings and ancillary facilities.

• Be in attendance when new connections are being made if required.

• Maintain interiors and exteriors of all treatment works, pumping stations, and other building in good repair and in a clean and tidy condition. In particular, all buildings shall be kept in a spotlessly clean condition on account of the nature and purpose of the Works.

• Carry out any other maintenance/construction work as required.

• Co-operate in the adoption and use of any new technology which may become available to assist them in the effective and efficient carrying out of their duties

• Participate in an emergency call out roster if required and be available to attend at pollution related accidents

• Comply with Health and Safety requirements at all times and wear/use any safety equipment/clothing supplied

• The role holder will attend and carry out duties at other water and sewerage plant/installations within the area if instructed by line management

• 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

• Support in the operation of newly commissioned/upgraded assets as required including undertaking of relevant training.

• 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 Irish Water 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

• Maintain site welfare facilities

• Control and record access to sites by other Irish Water personnel and by external visitors and service providers

• Co-operate at site level with other Irish Water personnel and with other service providers

• Record all site matters, including accidents, incidents and near misses

• Complete any corrective actions for Operational area of responsibility

• Provide support in updating the Construction Stage Safety & Health Plan

• Provide relevant information for the Safety File

• Update and Maintain the Safety File locally and send updates to Irish Water’s ECM system.

• Carry out any other duties deemed necessary and / or required which your line manager may reasonably request

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Secondary level education or equivalent work experience 

• Experience of using IT systems and a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office e.g. Word & Excel 

• We keep each other safe - experience and understanding of working within a strong health & safety culture 

• We deliver for customers and communities - Striving for quality and ensuring consistent high standards of work

• Good basic knowledge of water and wastewater systems and practices is desirable 

• Strong problem-solving skills and drive to resolve issues promptly using initiative 

• Strong literacy skills 

• Full, clean and valid Irish category B driving licence is minimum requirement. Additional Driving License categories an advantage. 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).

• We work better together - proven ability to create and develop good working relationships to facilitate the accomplishment of work goals, coupled with the ability to gain commitment from others 

• 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 have the ability to work in environments that may attract vermin, be noisy and require use of ear defence, require you to manage and handle hazardous chemicals with all of the necessary protective equipment, enter confined spaces where trained to do so. 

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