About the Department

Performs skilled trades work operating the water and wastewater treatment plants, sanitary sewer lift stations and water booster stations; including monitoring, evaluating and troubleshooting water and wastewater operations to ensure permit requirements are met, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work is performed under the moderate supervision of the assigned facility Crew Chief. 

Please note:
2026 Hiring Range: $34.08 - $37.99 per hour depending on qualifications.
2026 Pay Range: $34.08 - $40.57 per hour.
*2026 Performance based pay opportunity: Up to $45.44 per hour.

*The City of Brainerd utilizes a performance-based pay system as noted above. Our system provides an opportunity for additional pay steps based on merit. Contact the HR Department if you would like to learn more about our system.

Position Duties

• Operates water and wastewater treatment plants, sanitary sewer lift stations, and water booster stations ensuring compliance with operating permit requirements including but not limited to chemical additions, testing results, maintaining records; and preparing reports.
• Makes regular inspections of plants and equipment to ascertain that it is always in proper operation; monitors treatment process and flow throughout plants; performs repair and maintenance of wastewater and water equipment and reports major repair needs to the assigned Supervisor; troubleshoots telemetry, mechanical, chemical, biological, hydraulic and pneumatic systems; conducts repairs.
• Maintains records of plant operations and prepares periodic reports for submission to the assigned facility Crew Chief, Water/Wastewater Manager and/or others as required.
• Inspects and monitors water and wastewater treatment plants equipment and machinery to determine that all machinery is operating properly and to ensure proper treatment of water and wastewater and the disposal of sludge and biosolids; takes samples of water and wastewater at various stages of treatment processes in the water and wastewater plants.
• Reads various charts, graphs, gauges and meters; monitors and regulates tank levels and flow pressures to document operations and prepare reports.
• Respondstocalls;participatesinanon-callrotationprovidingfirstresponsetoafter-houralarmsor calls.
• Monitors SCADA and alarm systems.
• Performs facility custodial duties.
• Performs drinking water sample collection procedures.
• Performs the sludge application and hauling process.
• Assists in training personnel in water/wastewater procedures, requirements, and equipment.
• Maintains state certifications for operations by attending training seminars.
• Performs related tasks as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of the operating characteristics and maintenance requirements of water and wastewater treatment plants, sanitary sewer lift stations and water booster stations.
• Thorough knowledge of hydraulic, chemical and mechanical principles pertinent to water and wastewater treatment plant operations.
• Ability to maintain current knowledge of treatment processes and governmental rules and regulations pertaining to water and wastewater treatment industry, including MPCA, MDH, EPA, NELAC, and OSHA.
• Thorough knowledge of the occupational hazards of the work and necessary safety precautions to comply with OSHA safety requirements.
• Ability to detect flaws in the operation of mechanical equipment and to determine proper remedial measures; skilled in the use and care of hand tools.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.
• Ability to read meters and gauges accurately and to maintain records of operations.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• General knowledge in the use and care of laboratory testing and analysis equipment and instruments.
• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to plan workload to meet time requirements.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, as-built construction drawings, operating and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and policies.
• Ability to listen and speak effectively; follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, supervisors, and customers.

The following are highly desirable qualifications when hiring:

Other Qualifications

This work requires the regular exertion of up to 25 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 50 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires standing, sitting, speaking or hearing, reaching with hands and arms and repetitive motions, frequently using hands to finger, handle or feel, tasting or smelling and lifting and occasionally requires walking, climbing or balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and pushing or pulling, lifting and repetitive motions; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparingandanalyzingwrittenorcomputerdata,visualinspectioninvolvingsmalldefectsand/or small parts, using measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arm’s length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; worker is frequently exposure to outdoor weather conditions and occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working near moving mechanical parts, exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to the risk of electrical shock, exposure to vibration; work is generally in a moderately noisy location. The worker may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment.