Laboratory Analyst I, II, or Chemist

Job DescriptionJob Description

All applicants must apply online at www.bjwsa.org/jobs.

Laboratory Analyst I:

SUMMARY: Under general supervision, performs duties related to the operation of the water and wastewater laboratory according to South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) regulations. Performs a variety of work involving the chemical and biological analysis of water and wastewater.

Duties include but are not limited to:

1. Provides technical and administrative support to the Laboratory and Water Quality Manager in managing the day-to-day operations of the Authority’s water and wastewater laboratories in accordance with all SCDES regulations.
2. Performs daily routine analysis of raw and finished drinking water at Chelsea and Purrysburg water plants for alkalinity, hardness, phosphates, total coliforms, E.coli, residual chlorine, turbidity, fluoride, conductivity, dissolve oxygen (DO), and other parameters.
3. Performs daily routine calibrations of lab equipment at Chelsea and Purrysburg water plants which include balances, ovens, spectrophotometers, DO meter, conductivity meters, and pH/ISE meters.
4. Operates the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) analyzer to check water samples for total and dissolved organic carbon.
5. Detects organic matter in water utilizing ultraviolet optical technology with UV-254 analyzer.
6. Quantifies and detects the presence of total coliform and E.coli using IDEXX DST nutrient indicators such as Colilert.
7. Estimates the population density of water samples using the standard plate count microbiological procedure.
8. Performs scheduled sample collection with water operations.
9. Performs analyses within holding times and confirms the accuracy of results.
10. Prepares samples bottles for water quality parameters sample collection.
11. Maintains appropriate bench sheets for all laboratory analyses performed.
12. Maintains adequate quality control and quality assurance program for all parameters which includes Method Blanks, Laboratory Fortified Blanks, Laboratory Fortified Matrixes, Laboratory Fortified Matrix Duplicates, and Method Detection Levels.
13. Prepares reagents and chemicals used for water lab analyses and calibrations utilized by lab staff and water operators.
14. Maintain continuing demonstration of capability requirements (CDOC) for lab certification by completing and passing proficiency tests (PT) yearly.
15. Enters data into Laboratory Information Management System (Hach WIMS).
16. Uses data programs to analyze and process lab data such as Microsoft Excel 2016 and Microsoft Word 2016.
17. Provide data results used to prepare a variety of reports including bacteriological reports and SCDES Monthly Operating Reports.
18. Performs preventive maintenance on laboratory probes use with pH/ISE, DO, and conductivity meters. This involves replacing probes and changing out membranes and inner/outer solutions of probes.
19. Utilizes a variety of technically related equipment to include a pH/ISE meter, turbidimeter, DR3900 spectrophotometers, dissolve oxygen meters, balances, calculator, laboratory ovens, laboratory dishwasher, computer, Total Organic Carbon analyzer, digital burets, Incubators, water bath, colorimeters, conductivity meters, adjustable volume pipettes, Quanti-Tray sealer, and autoclave.
20. Performs other related duties as required within the scope of their job.

Laboratory Analyst II:

SUMMARY: Under minimal supervision, performs duties related to the operation of the water and wastewater laboratory according to South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) regulations. Performs a variety of work involving the chemical and biological analysis of water and wastewater.

Duties include but are not limited to:

1. Provides technical and administrative support to the Laboratory & Water Quality Manager in managing the day-to-day operations of the Authority’s water and wastewater laboratories in accordance with all SCDES regulations.
2. Utilizes atomic absorption (AA) spectroscopy with flame and furnace atomizers to obtain quantitative and qualitative data for trace metals in water.
3. Operates the Gallery automated chemical analyzer to test samples for nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, and ammonia.
4. Performs routine weekly analysis of raw and treated wastewater for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand (CBOD), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolve solids, (TDS), ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, total and ortho phosphates, alkalinity, chlorides, and turbidity.
5. Performs daily routine analysis of raw and finished drinking water for alkalinity, calcium hardness, phosphates, total coliforms, e.coli, residual chlorine, turbidity, fluoride, conductivity, TDS, , and dissolve oxygen (DO).
6. Performs daily routine calibrations of lab equipment which include balances, ovens, spectrophotometers, DO meters, conductivity meters, pH meters, and ISE meters.
7. Operates the total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer to check water samples for total and dissolved organic carbon.
8. Detects organic matter in water utilizing ultraviolet optical technology with UV-254 analyzer.
9. Quantifies and detects the presence of total coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus (for example e.coli and e.faecium) using IDEXX DST nutrient indicators such as Colilert-18 and Enterolert.
10. Estimates the population density of water samples using the standard plate count microbiological procedure.
11. Prepare sample bottles for scheduled sample collection with water and wastewater operations.
12. Performs tests within holding times and confirms the accuracy of results.
13. Prepares samples and performs associated documentation for contract laboratories.
14. Maintains appropriate bench sheets for all laboratory analyses performed.
15. Maintains adequate quality control & quality assurance program for all parameters to include Method Blanks, Lab Fortified Blanks, Lab Fortified Matrixes, Lab Fortified Matrix Duplicates, and Method Detection Levels.
16. Prepares reagents and chemicals used for various analyses and calibrations utilized by lab staff and water/wastewater operators.
17. Maintains continuing demonstration of capability requirements (CDOC) for lab certification by completing and passing proficiency tests (PT) yearly.
18. Enters data into Laboratory Information Management System (Hach WIMS).
19. Uses various data programs to analyze and process lab data such as WinLab32, Gallery 5.1A, Microsoft Excel 2016, and Microsoft Word 2016.
20. Provide data results used to prepare a variety of reports including bacteriological reports, SCDES Ground Water Monitoring Reports, SCDES Discharge Monitoring Reports, and SCDES Monthly Operating Reports.
21. Performs preventive maintenance on AA spectrometer and laboratory probes use with pH/ISE, DO, and Conductivity meters. This involves replacing AA graphite furnace tube, replacing probes, and changing out membranes and inner/outer solutions of probes.
22. Drives to multiple groundwater monitoring well sites to pull water samples. Uses a sampling pump, shovel, conductivity meter, and pH meter to obtain groundwater well samples from various sites. Flag hard to find well locations in the field.
23. Utilizes additional lab equipment to perform analyses such as turbidimeter, DR2800, and DR3900 spectrophotometers, BOD dissolve oxygen meters, balances, calculator, furnace oven, laboratory oven, laboratory dishwasher, Metals Digestion Unit (HotBlock), Rapid Distillation Unit, computer, incubators, coliform water bath, digital burets, colorimeters, adjustable volume pipettes, Quanti-Tray sealer, and autoclave.
24. Performs other related duties as required within the scope of their job.

Chemist:

SUMMARY: Under minimal supervision, performs duties related to the operation of the water and wastewater laboratory according to South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) regulations. Performs an extensive range of analytical tests for the chemical and biological analysis of water and wastewater including but not limited to gas chromatography, spectrometry, and particle imaging.

Duties include but are not limited to:

1. Utilizes gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with solid phase microextraction (SPME) and programmable temperature vaporizing (PTV) for quantitative and qualitative results of water samples tested for taste and odor compounds (Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol).
2. Utilizes atomic absorption (AA) spectroscopy with flame and furnace atomizers to obtain quantitative and qualitative data for trace metals in water.
3. Utilizes the FlowCam for microbiological algae identification and quantification (for example cyanobacteria, detritus, diatoms, etc.) of surface water and wastewater activated sludge samples.
4. Operates the Gallery automated chemical analyzer to test samples for nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, and ammonia.
5. Performs routine weekly analysis of raw and treated wastewater for biological oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, total and ortho phosphorous, alkalinity, chlorides, and turbidity.
6. Performs daily routine analysis of raw and finished water for alkalinity, calcium hardness, phosphates, total coliforms, e.coli, residual chlorine, turbidity, fluoride, conductivity, TDS, , and dissolved oxygen (DO).
7. Performs daily routine calibrations of lab equipment which include balances, ovens, spectrophotometers, DO, conductivity meters, pH meters, and ISE meters.
8. Operates the total organic carbon (TOC) analyzer to check water samples for total and dissolved organic carbon.
9. Detects organic matter in water utilizing ultraviolet optical technology with UV-254 analyzer.
10. Quantifies and detects the presence of total coliform, fecal coliform, and enterococcus (for example e.coli and e. faecium) using IDEXX DST nutrient indicators such as Colilert-18 and Enterolert.
11. Estimates the population density of water samples using the standard plate count microbiological procedure.
12. Maintains adequate quality control and quality assurance program for all parameters which includes Method Blanks, Laboratory Fortified Blanks, Laboratory fortified Matrixes, Laboratory Fortified Matrix Duplicates, and Method Detection Levels.
13. Prepares reagents and chemicals used for various analyses and calibrations utilized by lab staff and water/wastewater operators.
14. Maintain continuing demonstration of capability requirements (CDOC) for lab certification by completing and passing proficiency tests (PT) yearly.
15. Prepare sample bottles for scheduled sample collection with water and wastewater operations.
16. Perform analyses within holding times and confirms accuracy of results.
17. Maintains appropriate bench sheets for all laboratory analyses performed.
18. Enters data into Laboratory Information Management System (Hach WIMS).
19. Uses various data programs to analyze and process lab data such as, Tracefinder, Xcalibur, ISQ Dashboard, visual spreadsheet 4.0, WinLab32, Gallery 5.1A, Microsoft Excel 2016, and Microsoft word 2016.
20. Prepares sample bottles and performs associated documentation for contract laboratories.
21. Provide data results used to prepare a variety of reports including biological reports, SCDES Ground Water Monitoring Reports, SCDES Discharge Monitoring Reports, and SCDES Monthly Operating Reports.
22. Performs preventive maintenance on GC/MS, AA, and laboratory probes use with pH/ISE, DO, and Conductivity meters. This involves cutting and replacing GC column, cleaning the MS source, changing out GC liners and sleeves, cleaning GC injection ports, replacing AA graphite furnace tube, replacing syringes, replacing probes, and changing out membranes and inner/outer solutions of probes.
23. Drives to multiple groundwater monitoring well sites to pull water samples. Uses a sampling pump, shovel, conductivity meter, and pH meter to obtain groundwater well samples from various sites. Flag hard to find well locations in the field.
24. Utilizes additional lab equipment to perform analyses such as turbidimeter, DR2800 and DR3900 spectrophotometers, dissolve oxygen meters, balances, calculator, furnace, laboratory oven, laboratory dishwasher, Metals Digestion Unit (HotBlock), Rapid Distillation Unit, computer, incubators, colorimeters, coliform water bath, digital burets, adjustable volume pipets, Quanti-Tray sealer, and autoclave.
25. Provide technical and administrative support to the Laboratory and Water Quality Manager in managing the day to day operations of the Authority’s water and wastewater laboratories.
26. Performs other related duties as required within the scope of their job.

All applicants must apply online at www.bjwsa.org/jobs.