Water/Wastewater System Technician 1 or 2
Non-Union Position
WTR-Operations Staff-Foothills 2; Yuma, Arizona (US-AZ)
Regular FT, Non-Exempt
Posting # 5526
About Us:
NW Natural Water owns and operates water and wastewater utilities in communities throughout Texas, Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Since 2018, we have acquired more than 30 utilities and today serve more than 190,000 people via 76,000 connections.
Our parent company, NW Natural Holding Company (NYSE: NWN) (NW Natural Holdings), is headquartered in Portland, Oregon and has been doing business for over 165 years. The company operates through NW Natural Gas Company (NW Natural), SiEnergy Operating (SiEnergy), NW Natural Water Company (NW Natural Water), NW Natural Renewables Holdings (NW Natural Renewables), and other business interests, serving a combined population of over 2.6 million people.
NW Natural Holdings' Texas operations are some of the fastest growing utilities in the nation, where our focus is on supporting developers by providing essential services to new communities. Our highly driven out-of-the-box thinkers are motivated to meet developer/builder timelines and requirements and pride themselves on partnerships with the developers, builders, and communities we serve.
The Role:
The System Technician performs a variety of operational, maintenance, and customer facing duties related to the operation of water and wastewater treatment and distribution systems. This position is available at Level 1 or Level 2, depending on the candidate’s experience, technical capability, and certification status.
Day to Day:
- Operate and maintain water treatment and distribution system equipment, including valves, gates, pumps, meters, and related machinery
- Perform inspection and maintenance of facility equipment and components in accordance with safety, quality, and regulatory standards
- Assist with day to day treatment facility operations to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal drinking water regulations
- Collect and analyze water samples (influent, effluent, source, product, feed, and permeate); interpret test results and identify trends or variations in water quality and flow
- Monitor operating conditions through gauges, meters, and control systems; report abnormalities and assist with resolution of operational issues
- Perform routine system maintenance including flushing, valve exercising, hydrant maintenance, and meter work
- Participate in installation, repair, and replacement of water mains, services, valves, fire hydrants, and water meters
- Complete customer service requests and work orders (connects, disconnects, transfers, pressure checks, leaks, meter investigations, water quality inquiries)
- Interact professionally with customers and serve as a representative of Foothills Utilities
- Perform meter reads and field investigations as needed
- Operate company vehicles, tools, and equipment safely and in compliance with established policies
- Locate underground water and wastewater facilities in accordance with Arizona 811 requirements
- Perform manual labor using hand and power tools, measuring and testing equipment, and heavy equipment consistent with training and skill level
- Maintain plant work areas, tools, and equipment
- Participate in emergency response and after hours/on call rotation (24/7)
- Perform other duties as assigned
This position may be assigned duties across water treatment, water distribution, and wastewater systems depending on operational needs.
Level Differentiation:
W/WW System Technician – Level 1
Focus: Entry level to early career technician performing work under direction
- Works under close supervision of experienced operations personnel
- Learns and performs routine operational and maintenance tasks
- Assists senior technicians with troubleshooting and corrective actions
- Developing working knowledge of treatment processes, distribution systems, and regulatory requirements
Qualifications – Level 1
- High School Diploma or GED
- Minimum 1 year of experience in water, wastewater, utility operations, or a closely related field
- Basic understanding of water treatment principles and system operations
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W/WW System Technician – Level 2
Focus: More experienced technician performing work with greater independence
- Performs operational and maintenance tasks with limited supervision
- Troubleshoots operational issues and assists in resolving system anomalies
- Demonstrates solid working knowledge of treatment processes, laboratory practices, and distribution system functions
- May guide or support less experienced technicians during assigned tasks
Qualifications – Level 2
- High School Diploma or GED
- Typically 2+ years of progressively responsible experience in water or wastewater system operations
- Demonstrated ability to independently perform system operations, sampling, and routine maintenance
Come on your first day with:
Knowledge of:
- Tools and equipment used in water treatment and distribution systems
- State and federal regulations governing potable water operations
- Laboratory testing practices (pH, chlorine residual, turbidity, hardness, TDS, etc.)
- Conventional water treatment processes (coagulation, flocculation, filtration, disinfection)
- Basic mechanical and electrical troubleshooting
- OSHA safety standards applicable to water and wastewater facilities
- Microsoft Office applications
Skill in:
- Operating and maintaining treatment and distribution equipment
- Sampling water and interpreting operational data
- Making routine operational adjustments
- Following safety procedures and written/verbal instructions
- Communicating effectively with coworkers, supervisors, and customers
- Working independently and collaboratively
- Demonstrating accountability, integrity, initiative, and attention to detail
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Licenses & Certifications:
- Valid Arizona Driver’s License required
- Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Grade I Water Operator Certification - Must be obtained within one year of hire
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Working Conditions:
- Work is performed on site and outdoors in varying weather conditions
- Moderate to heavy physical demands, including lifting up to 50 pounds
- Exposure to confined spaces, hazardous materials, chemicals, biological hazards, extreme temperatures, and heavy equipment
- Strict adherence to safety protocols is required
What we offer:
Health & Wellness –
- Rich health insurance benefits with competitive employer contribution
- Free access to an online wellness resources platform
Work Life Balance -
- Start at 20 Vacation Days
- 80 Hours of Sick Time
- 13 paid holidays
- 3 weeks paid parental leave
Financial -
- Competitive 401K company contribution and match
- 15% discount on NW Natural stock through Employee Stock Purchase Program
- Up to $5250 a year in tuition reimbursement
Hourly Range: $20.57 - $29.73 (Level 1) or $22.62 - $32.69 (Level 2) per hour, depending on qualifications
Application Process: To be considered for this position, submit a complete electronic application including cover letter and resume via our website.
https://www.careers.nwnatural.com/nwnaturalwater
Deadline: 5/19/26
Disclosure: We are a drug free workplace and we comply with Federal Drug Free Workplace Act and Department of Transportation regulations. NW Natural Water participates in E-Verify. Individuals hired will have their Form I-9 information submitted to E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.
E-Verify Information
NW Natural participates in E-Verify. Individuals hired will have their Form I-9 information submitted to E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet-based system that compares information from an employee’s Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, to data from U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration records to confirm employment eligibility.
All applications must be submitted through NW Natural Water’s Electronic Application System. Resumes submitted via email, fax or mail will not be accepted in lieu of an electronic application.
We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.
NW Natural Water does not accept unsolicited submissions or assistance from search firms for posted positions. Resumes submitted by search firms working under a valid and current written contract with NW Natural Water valid written Statement of Work in place for this position from NW Natural Water HR/Employment will be deemed the sole property of NW Natural Water. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by NW Natural Water as a result of the referral or through other means.
