Job Description
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: - To learn principles and practices of water treatment, water transmission, and water storage.
- To learn drinking water quality regulations.
- To learn equipment, tools and materials use in the operation and maintenance of the water treatment plant.
- Safety rules and regulations.
- To learn hydraulics, applied mathematics, chemical metering, pumps, SCADA and chemicals used in water treatment.
- To learn water sampling and analysis, including jar testing.
- Use of modern office equipment and applicable software.
Ability to: - Ability to follow oral and written instruction.
- Assess changing conditions and initiate appropriate action.
- Operate modern office equipment and software programs.
- Communicate clearly and concisely orally and in writing.
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): - Possession of a valid California Water Treatment Operator T-1 or higher Certificate at the time of appointment with the ability to acquire a Water Treatment Operator T-2 Certificate in 18 months of appointment to the position.
- Ability to acquire a California Water Distribution Operator D-2 Certificate in 18 months of appointment to the position.
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 education level - this can be a copy of high school diploma or transcripts to show high school course work.
- Proof of the following certifications -
- Possession of a valid California Water Treatment Operator T-1 or higher Certificate at time of appointment
2. You may submit your required Documentation using the following options:
- Attach a scanned copy in the “Add Attachment” option (of the NeoGov online application) or
- Fax a copy to (209) 668-5529 or
- Email a copy to agodinez@turlock.ca.us or
- Hand deliver copies of your attachment to 156 S. Broadway, Suite 235, Turlock, CA
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 - Holidays: Eleven (11) paid holidays and three (3) floating holidays.
- Vacation: Paid vacation that increases with years of service.
- Sick Leave: Accrual of one day (eight (8) hours) for each month worked.
- Retirement: Qualified candidates who are currently a CalPERS member or have been a CalPERS member within the last six (6) months or are subject to reciprocity with another eligible retirement plan, may be a "classic member" and may be enrolled in the City's 2.7% @ 55 plan. Employee pays employee contribution rate of 9% on a pre-tax basis. CalPERS "final compensation" may be based on the highest twelve (12) continuous months of qualifying employment. Non-classic or "new members" will be enrolled in the 2% @ 62 plan and CalPERS "final compensation" will be based on the highest thirty-six (36) continuous months of qualifying employment.
- Deferred Compensation: The City will match employee's contribution up to one half of one percent (0.5%) of the employee's base salary for each pay period in which employee contributes to the program.
- Retiree Health Savings (RHS) Vantage Care: Two (2) percent of the employee's base payroll will be deposited in each individual's RHS Vantage Care account.
- Health: The City offers a generous health, prescription, vision, and dental insurance plans for employees and dependents.
- 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* *Upon completion of probation.
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
(209) 668-5150
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 1-855-524-5627.
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Job Tags
Contract work, Apprenticeship, Work at office, Remote work, Trial period, Night shift, Rotating shift,