JOB: Water Operator III (City of Grand Rapids)
Date postedSeptember 25, 2026
Water Operator III
City of Grand Rapids, MI
Salary: $70,482.85 - $83,703.83 Annually
Location: Lake Michigan Filtration Plant 17350 Lake Michigan Dr West Olive, MI
Job Type: Permanent
Job Number: 408-0926
Department: Water
Opening Date: 09/23/2026
Closing Date: 10/28/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Nature of Work
The purpose of this job is to assure the proper operation of a water treatment and pumping plant and its district wide water distribution system on an assigned shift. Receive phone calls and works directly with contractors, engineers, and staff mechanics to implement system maintenance, and breakdown mitigation.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by employees in this job. Employees may be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.
- Provides qualitative and quantitative analysis of treated water entering the plant. Monitors established levels and parameters that fall within the State of Michigan EGLE guidelines for safe human consumption. Performs multiple chemical and bacteriological tests during each shift
- Operates water distribution and filtration system
- Monitors water quality and assesses chemical feed rates, trends, and communicates them to plant workers, in terms of adjustments, and equipment changes
- Maintains plant records and creates work orders; updates log book
- Identifies problems in equipment and infrastructure and assesses what course of action is required to remediate them
- Monitors and adjusts distribution system; enters plant and distribution system data
- Monitors plant security using security programs to grant access and entry to various locations within filtration plant
- Acts as lead worker and assigns work and tasks
- Performs related work as required
Required Education and Experience
- High School diploma (or GED equivalent)
--AND--
-
- Four (4) years of work experience related to water treatment activities
- Any equivalent combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities
Required Certification
- State of Michigan EGLE F-3 Complete Treatment certification
Preferred Certification
-
- State of Michigan EGLE S-3 Distribution certification