A $12.50 PROCESSING FEE OR WAIVER OF THIS FEE MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR APPLICATION

FEE: There is a $12.50 non-refundable examination fee. When filing an application by mail, include a cashiers check or money order, payable to the Fulton County Treasurer. Do not send cash or a personal check. When filing in person with cash, the exact amount must be submitted. If the fee or fee waiver documentation proof does not accompany the application, the application will be rejected and returned to the applicant. There will be NO REFUNDS to applicants who fail to appear for the exam or fail to meet the minimum qualifications required for admittance to the exam, therefore, applicants are cautioned to review this announcement carefully.

WAIVER OF EXAMINATION FEE FOR UNEMPLOYED AND FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RECIPIENTS: A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support of a household. In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or receiving Supplemental Security Income payments, or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Assistance or Safety Net Assistance) or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency. All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification. If you can verify eligibility for application fee waiver, complete a “Request for Examination Application Fee Waiver and Certification” form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Last Filing Date as listed on the Examination Announcement. (The Request for Examination Application Fee Waiver and Certification form can be obtained from the Fulton County Personnel Department, Fort Johnstown Building, 1 E. Montgomery Street, Johnstown, New York 12095, telephone number 518-736-5574.)

APPLICATIONS: Applications are available at the Fulton County Personnel Department or on the Fulton County website www.fultoncountyny.gov. Examination applications must be obtained and filed with the Fulton County Personnel Department. The Department recommends that you do not wait until the last day to file your application. When received in our office after 5:00 PM, on the last filing date, the application will be rejected and returned to the applicant. The correct examination number and title must appear on the application form. EVERY question on the application should be answered and complete in all aspects. Under “Duties” you must describe the nature of the work personally performed by you, with estimated percentages of time spent on each type of work. This department does not acknowledge receipt of applications or take responsibility for non-delivery or postal delay.

Failure to notify this office of a change of address may result in disqualification for examination or certification for appointment following examination.

Any application you may have previously filed will not gain you admittance to this exam and will not be used to obtain additional information. You must refile a separate Application for Examination during the official filing period as set forth in this announcement.

DISQUALIFICATION OF EXAMINATION APPLICATIONS:

When an application for an examination is disapproved by the Director of Personnel, the candidate will be given ten (10) calendar days to appeal this determination. Your appeal must clearly demonstrate that you meet or exceed the minimum qualifications as set forth on the examination announcement. Additional information must be pertinent, detailed and accurate. Your appeal must be in writing, addressed to the Personnel Department, 1 East Montgomery Street, Johnstown NY 12095, and received in this department no later than 5:00pm of the tenth calendar day. If the tenth calendar day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the candidate will have until 5:00pm that following Monday to submit their appeal.

LOCATION OF POSITIONS/VACANCY: These positions exist in the City of Gloversville and City of Johnstown Water Departments.

PLEASE POST CONSPICUOUSLY AT A HEIGHT REACHABLE BY PEOPLE IN WHEELCHAIRS

AND WITH OTHER MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS - REMOVE AFTER LAST FILING DATE

ELIGIBLE LIST: A single eligible list will be established as a result of this examination and will be used to fill vacancies as they occur. Candidates who are successful in this examination and who have the proper grade certificate issued by the New York State Department of (Environmental Conservation or Health), will be certified for appointment at the Operator level. Other eligibles will be certified at the Trainee level and will be advanced to the journey level without further examination upon satisfactory completion of the certificate requirement. The eligible list will remain in existence for a period of one (1) year, unless extended by the Director of Personnel to a maximum of four (4) years. When a list has existed for more than one year, it may terminate upon the establishment of a new list. This list will be used to fill this vacancy and any other appropriate full-time or part-time competitive vacancy occurring in an agency under the jurisdiction of the Fulton County Director of Personnel, anytime during the life of the eligible list.

SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS: May be made if you require a religious accommodation, are a disabled person, or deprived of participation on the scheduled date due to active military service. Specific information must be requested when filing your application.

APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WHEN EXAMINATIONS ARE SCHEDULED ON SAME DATE: If you have applied for any other civil service examinations to be given on the same test date for employment with New York State or any other local government jurisdiction excluding New York City, you must make arrangements to take all the examinations at one test site.

If you have applied for both State and local government examinations, you must notify Fulton County of your intent to take both a State and a local government examination. When taking both a State and a local government examination you will be requirement to take all your examinations at a State examination center. You will be advised by letter when and where to report for your examination.

If you have applied to take a written test announced by either one or several local jurisdictions (county, town, city) scheduled to be held on the same test date as this written test, you must notify each of the local jurisdictions no later than two weeks before the test date, so they can make arrangements for taking all tests at one site. All examinations for positions in State government will be held at a State examination center. For this examination call (518) 736-5574 or write to the Fulton County Personnel Department, Fort Johnstown Building, 1 E. Montgomery Street, Johnstown, New York 12095.

2025 SALARY: Water Treatment Plant Operator (City of Gloversville) Hourly Salary: $22.86

Water Treatment Plant Operator (City of Johnstown) Hourly Salary: $27.68

Water Treatment Plant Operator/Trainee (City of Gloversville) Hourly Salary: $22.24

Water Treatment Plant Operator/Trainee (City of Johnstown) Hourly Salary: $25.00

RESIDENCY: Candidates must, at the time of examination and at least four (4) months prior thereto, be a resident of Fulton, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery or Saratoga County. 

Preference in appointment from open-competitive lists may be given to candidates who have been residents of the locality in which appointment is to be made for four (4) months prior to the date of the written test. For appointment in some jurisdictions you may be required to become a resident thereof in accordance with law or resolution.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES (Illustrative but not exhaustive):

WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR

Operates and monitors pumps, valves, motors and related machinery and equipment;

Performs maintenance work and makes minor repairs to machinery and equipment;

Records readings of meters, gauges and scales;

Regulates and adjusts chlorinators;

Washes filter beds and settling basins, if existing;

Takes samples of water for testing;

Makes necessary tests for control of plant operation;

Assists in the instruction of trainees;

May check reservoir level and pump station operations;

May supervise the work of laborers and other subordinate employees;

Keeps a log of plant operations and related records;

Performs custodial duties in connection with maintenance of buildings and grounds.

WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR TRAINEE

Performs study and reading assignments, observes demonstrations and otherwise learns the techniques of operation and maintenance of a water treatment plant;

Learns and assists in the operation and adjustment of pumps, valves and related mechanical equipment;

Learns and assists in the inspection, maintenance and repair of pumps, valves and related mechanical equipment;

Learns and assists in the making of physical tests of water for color, odor and taste; 

Learns and assists in the making of chemical tests of water for alkalinity and residual chlorine;

Learns and assists in regulating and adjusting chlorinators and other chemical feeders, washing filters and settling basins;

Learns and assists in the preparation and maintenance of activity records and reports;

Performs increasingly responsible duties as assigned in the operation and maintenance of a water treatment plant.

The above examples of duties are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

CANDIDATES PLEASE NOTE: It is vital that you submit, with your application, all information, including driver’s license (front and back), college transcripts, degrees, or diplomas, necessary to show your qualification for examination. APPLICATIONS WHICH DO NOT SHOW TRAINING AND/OR EXPERIENCE TO MEET MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE DISAPPROVED, AND WE WILL NOT REFER TO OTHER APPLICATIONS ON FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must meet the following requirements on or before the last filing date: 

WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR:

System Classification IA: A water treatment plant with facilities for filtration which is designed to treat over 2.5 million gallons per day (Surface Water or ground water systems under the direct influence of surface water that provide filtration): Possession of a Grade IA certificate issued by the New York State Department of Health under the provisions of the New York State Sanitary Code.

System Classification II A: A water treatment plant with facilities for filtration which is designed to treat 2.5 million gallons per day or less (Surface Water or ground water systems under the direct influence of surface water that provide filtration): Possession of a Grade IIA certificate issued by the New York State Department of Health under the provisions of the New York State Sanitary Code.

System Classification IB: A water treatment plant which is designed to treat over 2.5 million gallons per day (Groundwater [excluding groundwater under the direct influence of surface water] or Surface Water systems with filtration avoidance without facilities for clarification): Possession of a Grade IB certificate issued by the New York State Department of Health under the provisions of the New York State Sanitary Code.

System Classification IIB: A water treatment plant which is designed to treat 2.5 million gallons per day or less (Groundwater [excluding groundwater under the direct influence of surface water] or Surface Water systems with filtration avoidance without facilities for clarification): Possession of a Grade IIB certificate issued by the New York State Department of Health under the provisions of the New York State Sanitary Code.

System Classification C: A water treatment plant and/or distribution system that is designed to serve 1000 people or less (Systems with facilities for basic treatment (including bag, cartridge, pressure and/or other basic filtration as outlined in sections 5-1.22 and 5-1.30 of this Part), and/or pressure zones, booster stations, storage tanks, fire protection, disinfection, non-residential consumers, cross-connection potential, demand variations, etc.): Possession of a Grade C certificate issued by the New York State Department of Health under the provisions of the New York State Sanitary Code.

System Classification D: A distribution system serving greater than 1000 people and/or purchasing water system (Pressure zones, booster stations, storage tanks, fire protection, disinfection, non-residential consumers, cross-connection potential, demand variations, etc.): Possession of a Grade D certificate issued by the New York State Department of Health under the provisions of the New York State Sanitary Code.

WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATOR/TRAINEE:

Graduation from high school, possession of a high school equivalency diploma, or a high school individual education plan diploma.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Candidates must possess and maintain a valid New York State Driver’s License at the time of appointment. If the position requires operation of a commercial motor vehicle, candidates will be required to obtain and maintain the appropriate licensure.

All experience required to meet the minimum qualification section is PAID. 

Part-time experience will be pro-rated as follows:

16-23 hrs/wk….1/2 time 24-31 hrs/wk….3/4 time 32+ hrs/wk….full-time

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION: The written, multiple-choice test will be designed to measure knowledges, skills and/or abilities in the following areas:

1. Mechanical Aptitude: These questions test your ability to identify and understand how basic mechanical instruments such as motors and gears work.

2. Safety Practices: These questions test your knowledge of basic safety practices.

3. Tools and Reading of Scales and Gauges: These questions test your ability to recognize or identify basic tools and their common uses and to make accurate readings of various types of dials, scales and gauges.

4. Elementary Chemistry and General Science: These questions test your knowledge of basic processes and concepts in chemistry and general science.

5. Understanding and Interpreting Written Material: These questions test how well you comprehend written material.

6. Basic Mathematics: These questions test your ability to use addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to solve basic arithmetic problems that might be encountered in water and wastewater treatment plant operations. Questions may also involve the use of fractions, decimals, averages and percents.

The NYS Department of Civil Service has published a test guide intended for candidate preparation use for this particular examination. This test guide contains important test-related information as well as sample test questions similar to the questions that will be used in this written test. The NYS Department of Civil Service is making a copy of this test guide, Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator/Trainee Series, and other related information available on its web site at https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm.

CALCULATOR POLICY: Quiet, hand-held, solar or battery-powered calculators are RECOMMENDED.

Devices with typewriter keyboards, “Spell Checkers”, “Personal Digital Assistants”, “Address Books”, “Language Translators”, “Dictionaries”, or any similar devices are prohibited.

AT THE EXAM THE USE OF CELLULAR PHONES, BEEPERS, ETC. IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

VETERANS’ CREDITS: Veterans, Disabled Veterans, or candidates currently in the armed forces claiming the additional credit allowed veterans in competitive examination, must apply for such credit while filing their examination application or at any time between the date of the application but prior to the date of the establishment of the resulting eligible list. The time periods, for which veterans’ credit is permitted, are defined in Question 12 on the examination application. To receive additional veterans’ credit you must file a separate Veterans’ Credit Application including acceptable supporting documentation for each examination. Veterans’ Credit is added only to the score of the examination when the candidate’s passing grade is 70 or higher.

CHILDREN AND SIBLINGS OF FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY CREDIT: In conformance with sections 85-a and 85-b of the Civil Service Law, children and siblings of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent, sister or brother has served. If you are qualified to participate in this examination and are a child or sibling of a firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duty in this municipality, please inform this office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has been established. Children and siblings of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty credit is added only to the score of the examination when the candidate's passing grade is 70 or higher.

RATING AND REVIEW: This written examination is being prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23.2 of the Civil Service Law and Section 7.1 of the State’s Civil Service Rules and Regulations. No reviews of any kind will be permitted nor will any appeals be accepted. The Personnel Department, at the request of a candidate, will verify the accuracy of his/her score, and notify the candidate in writing.

NOTICE TO APPEAR: Approved applicants will receive a Notice to Appear for the written examination providing the location and time. Late arrivals will not be admitted into the exam room under any circumstance. Please contact this office if you have not received a notice to appear for the written examination by May 10, 2025. 

ANY LAST-MINUTE CHANGE OR CANCELLATION WILL BE BROADCAST OVER RADIO STATION WENT (AM 1340) BETWEEN 6 AND 8 AM ON THE DATE OF THE EXAMINATION.

FULTON COUNTY DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, CREED, COLOR, NATIONAL ORIGIN, MARITAL STATUS, SEX, RELIGION, AGE OR DISABILITY IN EMPLOYMENT OR THE PROVISIONS OF SERVICES.

ISSUED: 2/20/25

PDF : Water Treatment Plant Opr-Tr 25006010 5 17 25 pdf