Water Treatment Plant Operator I

The City of Turlock is seeking applicants for the Water Treatment Plant Operator I position. Under general direction, the Water Treatment Plant Operator Apprentice learns to operate, monitor, and inspect the Water Treatment Plant and ancillary facilities.

This classification is assigned to the Turlock City Employees Association bargaining unit for labor relations purposes and is subject to overtime, call back, and standby assignments.

An eligibility list will be established from this recruitment that will be valid for six (6) months. All employees serve a one (1) year probationary period.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

General supervision is provided by the Water Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor and may receive technical direction from the Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator or Water Treatment Plant Operator.

Essential Functions :

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS  - Duties may include, but are not limited to the following :

• Learn to operate all necessary water treatment plant equipment to deliver potable water to the customers including plant flow rate and chemical.
• Learn to compute chemical dosages and flow rates.
• Learn to operate pumps, valves, and other equipment manually and remotely.
• Learn to inspect, adjust, and operate equipment as required.
• Learn to conduct water treatment sampling and process analysis, including jar testing.
• Learn to maintain necessary reports and records.
• Observe and enforce safety rules.
• Learn to maintain proper chemical applications and storage.
• Learn to coordinate the delivery and receipt of plant chemicals and materials.
• Learn to monitor processes using a SCADA control system.
• Participate in special projects or studies as assigned.
• Assist with the preparation of technical and administrative reports, and other written documents, including the submittal of all regulatory required reports.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with staff through clear and concise communication.
• Subject to rotating shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of :

Ability to :

Experience and Education :

Any combination of education, training and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and ability is as follows :

Experience :

Experience in a Water Treatment Plant is desirable but not required.  Therefore, no experience is necessary.

Education :

Equivalent to a high school education.

LICENSE AND / OR CERTIFICATES

License :

Possession of an appropriate, valid Class C California Driver's License at the time of appointment, to be maintained as a condition of continued employment.

Certificate(s) :

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Maintain the following physical abilities : see well enough to read, write and make observations, operate hand and power tools, vehicles and heavy equipment; hear well enough to converse on the radio, telephone and in person; bodily mobility to walk, bend, stand, crouch or climb for extended periods of time, operate assigned equipment and vehicles and perform heavy manual labor for extended periods; ability to tolerate extreme fluctuations in temperature while performing essential functions and be able to lift equipment on a frequent basis 25lbs, and on an occasional basis 50lbs.

SELECTION PROCESS :

1.   All applicants must complete a standard City of Turlock application for employment form, supplemental questionnaire and submit the following documentation :

Proof of the following certifications -

2.   You may submit your required Documentation using the following options :

Failure to include this documentation at time of application will be considered an incomplete application.

3.  Applications will be reviewed for possession of the minimum qualifications. In the event that a large number of applicants possess the minimum qualifications, applicants who appear to be the most qualified based on their breadth and recency of experience will be invited to compete in the testing process.

4. Candidates invited to compete in the testing process may be required to take a written examination, which will be based on a pass / fail basis. If a written examination is conducted and a large number of candidates receive a passing score, the City reserves the right to invite a percentage of the top scoring candidates to compete in the next phase of the testing process, the oral examination.  The oral examination is tentatively scheduled the week of  November 17, 2025.

5. Candidates who are invited to participate in the oral examination and receive a score of 70% or more will be placed on an eligibility list. Ranking on the eligibility list will be based solely on the results from the oral exam.

6.  Completion of a practical exercise may be conducted in order to further evaluate skills relating to essential job functions.

7.   Top candidates on the eligibility list will be referred to the Municipal Services Director for final appointment consideration.

8.  Final appointment will be contingent upon passing the following : reference review, medical examination which includes a drug / alcohol screening, hearing exam and vision exam.

VETERAN'S PREFERENCE SYSTEM

The City of Turlock has adopted a veteran's preference system (effective January 1, 2002). The percentage score achieved through an entrance (non-promotional) examination which ranks applicants on an eligibility list shall be adjusted to provide : (a) one (1) percentage point added to the final test score for each six (6) months of active service during a time of armed conflict, up to a maximum of five (5) points, and (b) five (5) percentage points added to the final test score for veterans who are disabled as a result of active military service during a time of armed conflict, regardless of length of service. To receive preference points, applicants must provide supporting documentation and proof of honorable discharge. In no event shall an applicant receive more than a five (5) point adjustment. This request should be made in section #12 of the employment application form.  A copy of your DD214 must be attached for this request to be considered.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The City of Turlock is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are sincerely interested in receiving applications from qualified minorities, women and the disabled. Qualified applicants receive equal consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, political affiliation or belief except where indicated by requirements of the job. The City of Turlock will make every effort to accommodate applicants that have disabilities that would not allow them to compete in the announced process. Applicants are asked to indicate their request for accommodation in the application form.

MEDICAL EXAMINATION AND FINGERPRINTING :

The incumbent will be required to take a medical examination including a drug / alcohol screening and be fingerprinted.

CUSTOMER SERVICE POLICY :

The City of Turlock is committed to quality service to our customers. Our goal is to create a positive, productive and courteous atmosphere for our employees and customers. Employees are evaluated on the quality of customer service they provide.

BENEFITS

Continuous Service Pay :

Beginning with the tenth (10th) year and every year thereafter, 1.5% of base salary.

Beginning with the fifteenth (15th) year and every year thereafter, 1.5% of base salary.

Beginning with the twentieth (20th) year and every year thereafter, 1.5% of base salary.

Additional Benefits :

Associate / Bachelor / Master's Degree Incentive Pay (If not listed as a minimum qualification)

Educational Reimbursement Program

Computer Loan Program

NOTES :   Information contained herein does not constitute an expressed or implied contract as it is subject to change.

WHERE TO APPLY

City of Turlock

Human Relations Department

156 S. Broadway, Suite 235

Turlock, CA 95380-5454

OR

Visit our website at to apply.

All applications must be returned to the Human Relations Department no later than Tuesday, October 28, 2025.

POSTMARKS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Cell phones are typically incompatible with the online application format or browser. We recommend using a desktop or laptop computer. If you are still having technical difficulties, please call NEOGOV at .

recblid uadwog5kibpe07co3fw0y38t6lqvde