WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

Position/Program Information

EXAM NUMBER

C7224H

FILING PERIOD

The application filing period will begin on February 19, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. (PT) - Continuous. We will keep accepting applications until the position is filled. The application window may close unexpectedly once we have enough qualified candidates.

TYPE OF RECRUITMENT

We welcome applications from everyone.

Why work for us?

With more than 10 million residents, Los Angeles County has the largest population of any county in the nation! As the largest employer in Southern California, with more than 42 diverse departments and over 2,300 different job descriptions, the County offers a lifetime of opportunities and careers. We are Los Angeles County Public Works, the largest municipal public works agency in the nation. With more than 4,000 employees, Los Angeles County Public Works offers over 500 different types of career opportunities that promote professional and personal growth as well as a rewarding and exciting work environment!

For more information about the outstanding benefits offered by Los Angeles County, please visit us here: https://hr.lacounty.gov/benefits/ .

If you have questions about working for Los Angeles County , including current open recruitments, tips on crafting a resume or acing an interview, career planning, or any other general information, please visit our website at: https://hr.lacounty.gov/ .

Essential Job Functions

A Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator is responsible for performing a combination of the following essential job functions:

• Inspects, operates, and maintains sewage pumps, flow metering stations, extended aeration and activated sludge processes, clarifiers, filters, disinfection systems, chemical feed systems, digesters, monitoring devices, centrifuges, effluent disposal and irrigation systems, and other related equipment used to treat raw sewage;
  
• Monitors and checks operational parameters of physical, chemical and biological processes that clean wastewater and makes process adjustments to optimize operating parameters and achieve effluent quality standards;
  
• Isolates causes of plant malfunctions, makes necessary adjustments and minor repairs to equipment and orders major repairs;
• Collects water samples from groundwater wells, surface waters, and treatment plants at various process stages;
• Performs routine process control and regulatory laboratory tests of water samples;
• Maintains plant, equipment, and test records for evaluation of plant operating performance, preventive maintenance and preparation of regulatory reports;
• Obtains quotes for supplies, chemicals, and replacement parts;
• Lifts, stores, and dispenses liquid and solid chlorine, and other chemicals at treatment plant sites;
• Performs general maintenance of facility grounds and buildings including safety inspections, and ensures compliance with facility Best Management Practices;
• Drives automotive equipment to and from work sites.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO QUALIFY :

A valid Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator's Certificate, Grade II or higher*, issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board.

LICENSE:

A valid California Class C Driver License is required at the time of appointment to perform job-related essential functions.

Successful applicants for positions that require driving must obtain and present a copy of their driving record from the California State Department of Motor Vehicles before final appointment. Applicants should not present a copy of their driving history until asked to do so by the hiring department. The County will make an individualized assessment of whether an applicant’s driving history has a direct or adverse relationship with the specific duties of the job. License must not be currently suspended, restricted, or revoked.
PHYSICAL CLASS:
Physical Class III - Moderate: Includes standing or walking most of the time, with bending, stooping, squatting, twisting, and reaching; includes working on irregular surfaces, occasionally lifting objects weighing over 25 pounds, and frequent lifting of 10-25 pounds.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT INFORMATION:

*APPLICANTS MUST PROVIDE A COPY OF THEIR VALID WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR'S CERTIFICATE, GRADE II OR HIGHER, ISSUED BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD AT THE TIME OF FILING OR WITHIN FIVE (5) BUSINESS DAYS FROM THE DATE OF FILING THE APPLICATION. THE COPY OF THE WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR CERTIFICATE PROVIDED MUST SHOW THE DATE OF EXPIRATION. A PRINTOUT WITH EXPIRATION DATE FROM THE STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD WEBSITE WILL BE ACCEPTED. REGISTRATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO VERIFICATION BEFORE BEING APPOINTED.

If you are unable to attach required documents with your application, please e-mail PWExams@pw.lacounty.gov within five (5) business days from the date of filing the application. Include your name, exam number, and exam title in the Subject line of your e-mail.

We do not accept password-protected documents. Ensure documents are unlocked before attaching to your application or sending to the exam analyst.

If you are a veteran, you may be eligible for veteran’s credit, which is an additional 10% of the total points added to a passing score. We will need a copy of your form DD214 to review, so please include that with your application or email it to the exam analyst at PWExams@pw.lacounty.gov with the subject of "Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator C7224H" as soon as possible so, if you are eligible for veteran’s credit, we can include it before the list is available.

Additional Information

EXAMINATION CONTENT :

This examination will consist of TWO (2) parts:

Part I: Multiple choice and/or simulation assessment(s), weighted at 60%, assessing:

• Thoroughness
• Mechanical Comprehension
• Achievement
• Safety Orientation
• Responsibility
• Teamwork
• Deductive Reasoning

MULTIPLE CHOICE AND/OR SIMULATION ASSESSMENT(S) ARE NOT REVIEWABLE BY CANDIDATES PER CIVIL SERVICE RULE 7.19.

Part II: An evaluation of Training and Experience, weighted at 40%, assessing:

• Professional/Technical Knowledge of the Operation & Maintenance of Sewage Treatment Plants
• Mechanical Comprehension
• Safety Focus
• Problem Solving

Applicants must meet the Requirements and achieve 70% or higher on the combined score of Parts I and II in order to be placed on the eligible list.

TESTING ACCOMMODATION:
If you require an accommodation to fairly compete in any part of the assessment process, you will be given the opportunity to make a request when completing your application. Please note, you may be required to submit documentation from a qualified medical provider or other qualified professional to support your request for a testing accommodation.
TRANSFER OF TEST COMPONENTS:
If you have taken identical components recently for other exams, your responses may be automatically transferred to this examination. This exam contains test components that might be used on future exams, and your responses could be transferred to that exam.

SCORES CANNOT BE GIVEN OVER THE TELEPHONE.

TEST PREPARATION:
We provide study guides and other test preparation resources to help candidates prepare for employment tests. While the guides may help in preparing for the test, we recommend reviewing all related materials that seem necessary.

* Various information can be found on our website at https://hr.lacounty.gov/job-search-toolkit/ . The section dedicated to test preparation is "Employment Test Assistance."

* Online practice tests are available at https://www.shldirect.com/en-us/practice-tests .

ELIGIBILITY AND VACANCY INFORMATION:
Applicants who passed the assessment(s) are placed on a list in the order of their score group for a period of twelve (12) months. Applications will be processed as they are received and added to the list accordingly. We will use this list to fill vacancies in the Public Works as they occur.

NO PERSON MAY COMPETE FOR THIS EXAMINATION MORE THAN ONCE EVERY TWELVE (12) MONTHS.
APPLICATION AND FILING INFORMATION:
We only accept applications filed online. Applications submitted by U.S. mail, fax, or in person are not accepted. Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" green button at the top right of this posting. This website can also be used to get application status updates.
Please fill out the application completely. Provide relevant job experience including employer's name and address, job title, beginning and ending dates, number of hours worked per week, and description of work performed.

We may verify information included in the application at any point during the examination and hiring process, including after an appointment has been made. Falsification of information could result in refusal of application or rescission of appointment. Copying verbiage from the Requirements or class specification as your work experience will not be sufficient to demonstrate meeting the requirements. Doing so may result in an incomplete application and may lead to disqualification.

We will send notifications to the email address provided on the application, so it is important that you provide a valid email address. If you choose to unsubscribe or opt out from receiving our emails, it is possible to view notices by logging into governmentjobs.com and checking the profile inbox. It is every applicant's responsibility to take steps to view correspondence, and we will not consider claims of missing notices to be a valid reason for re-scheduling an exam part. Register the below domains as approved senders to prevent email notifications from being filtered as spam/junk mail.

• AWeaver@pw.lacounty.gov
• PWExams@pw.lacounty.gov
• klent@hr.lacounty.gov
• info@governmentjobs.com
• talentcentral@shl.com
• noreply@proctoru.com
• donot-reply@amcatmail.com

New email addresses need to be verified. This only needs to be done once per email address and can be done at any time by logging in to governmentjobs.com and following the prompts. This is to enhance the security of the online application and to prevent incorrectly entered email addresses.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER : Federal law requires that all employed persons have a Social Security Number, so include yours when applying.

COMPUTER AND INTERNET ACCESS AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES: For candidates who may not have regular access to a computer or the internet, applications can be completed on computers at public libraries throughout Los Angeles County.

NO SHARING OF USER ID, E-MAIL, AND PASSWORD: All applicants must file their application using their own user ID and password. Using a family member or friend’s user ID and password may erase a candidate’s original application record.

ANTI-RACISM, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION (ARDI): The County of Los Angeles recognizes and affirms that all people are created equal and are entitled to all rights afforded by the Constitution of the United States. We are committed to promoting Anti-racism, Diversity, and Inclusion efforts to address the inequalities and disparities amongst races. We support the ARDI Strategic Plan and its goals by improving equality, diversity, and inclusion in recruitment, selection, and employment practices.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Department Contact Name: Annette Weaver
Department Contact Phone: (626) 458-2141
Department Contact Email: PWExams@pw.lacounty.gov
ADA Coordinator Phone: (626) 458-2141
Teletype Phone: (626) 282-7829
California Relay Services: (800) 735-2922

For detailed information, please click here

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• Los Angeles County

• (800) 970-5478

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