Ever wonder how to the Water District is run on a daily basis? On this page, you’ll find descriptions of what the commissioners do, their roles and responsibilities, as well as the services provided by the Clerk, Water Operator, and Readings Monitor.
Commissioner – Job Description and Duties
The Board of Commissioners’ purpose is to ensure a continuous supply of safe, reliable drinking water to the customers of the service area of Kittitas County Water District #7. The Board holds its public meetings generally once a month. The three commissioners are elected for varying terms of service.
The primary goals of the commissioners are:
- Policies and Procedures
- Customer Service Goals & Communication Strategies
- Short-Term & Long-Term Planning Initiatives
Among other duties, commissioners are responsible for setting water rates and monitoring the cost and maintenance of the system. Specific duties include, but are not limited to:
- Analyze operations to evaluate performance of water system and staff in meeting objectives or to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement, or policy change.
- Review reports submitted by staff members to recommend approval or to suggest changes.
- Confer with the other commissioners, organization officials, or staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, or resolve problems.
- Direct, plan, or implement policies, objectives, or activities of Kittitas County Water District #7 to ensure continuing operations, to maximize good stewardship of the water system.
- Appoint department heads or managers and assign or delegate responsibilities to them.
- Direct or coordinate an organization’s financial or budget activities to fund operations, or increase efficiency.
- Prepare budgets for approval, including those for funding or implementation of programs.
- Interpret and explain policies, rules, regulations, or laws to organizations, government or corporate officials, or individuals.
- Prepare or present reports concerning activities, expenses, budgets, government statutes or rulings, or other items affecting drinking water distribution.
- Direct human resources activities.
- Coordinate the development or implementation of budgetary control systems, recordkeeping systems, or other administrative control processes.
- Review and analyze legislation, laws, or public policy and implement changes to reflect new requirements.
- Direct or coordinate activities concerned with access, pricing, and distribution of residential water service.
- Solicit participation from water service customers, and respond to and incorporate their questions, concerns, and suggestions in the governance of the system.
- Attend and participate in monthly meetings of Kittitas County Water District #7 water commissioners.
- Appoint interim commissioners, in the event of a board vacancy.
Water Operator – Job Description and Duties
Scope of Work
The individual in this position will do work activities associated with the operation, maintenance, and repair of the water delivery system serving municipal, rural and industrial water user entities.
Essential Functions
- Operates and maintains water distribution system including servicing of pumps, motors, valves, generators, and Pipeline equipment.
- Exercises system blow-off valves, air-vacuum valves and in-line valves as scheduled.
- Cleans out and maintains system reservoirs as scheduled.
- Assists as necessary to maintain electrical system.
- Inspects, where necessary, work of contractors.
- Locates equipment and pipelines when necessary for contractors and landowners.
- Reads flow meters, adjust pressure reducing valves, and repair flow meters.
- Promotes positive relationships with co-workers, customers, and landowners.
- Performs rural water hookups for rural customers.
- Performs other activities as might be required or requested from time to time.
- Available for and willing to be on call on a 24-hour basis.
- Familiar with the rules, regulations, and policies of the Department of Health.
- Takes water samples and delivers to health department for mandated testing.
- Responsible for maintaining water quality within the distribution system through applicable methodology.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Ability to maintain effective working relationships with a diversified group of people under trying and stressful conditions.
- Ability to communicate courteously and professionally to reflect a positive image to its customers and the public.
- Ability to analyze, evaluate, and recommend sound solutions to problems of routine nature.
- Ability to read schematic drawings at a minimum level.
- Ability to research, interpret, explain, and correctly apply policies, rules, regulations, and procedures.
- Ability to work independently and efficiently.
- Ability to adjust work schedule to necessary duties.
- Ability to handle confidential matters.
- Ability to attain first aid and CPR certification.
- On a daily basis, requires the ability to read, write, compile, and analyze data and reports.
- On a daily basis, requires the ability to work courteously and firmly with others.
- Must enter confined space areas such as manholes, vaults, and reservoirs as necessary.
- Must climb towers and reservoirs as necessary.
Guidelines
Guidelines consist of operations, equipment, and safety manuals. Water Distribution Operator 1 exercises judgment in selecting applicable procedure and decides varied matters. In situations where guidelines do not apply, the Water Distribution Operator 1 will refer questions to the Commissioners for assistance.
Personal Contacts
Contacts are with customers, the public, County Commissioners, employees of other federal, state, and local agencies, contractors, suppliers, and other business interests.
The purpose of the contacts is to obtain, clarify, give facts, or exchange information. Contacts with customers and the public often require exceptional tact and judgement. To ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the Water Distribution Operator 1 must frequently coordinate and effectively deal with water commissioners, district clerk, Kittitas County officials, representatives of governmental agencies, and others.
Readings Monitor – Job Description and Duties
The person who fills the position of Readings Monitor has the following duties:
1. Goes every day to the pump house in the morning and records the amount of water usage in gallons. There is a monthly chart kept there. Items recorded on this chart are:
- gallons pumped every day
- daily chlorine residuals
- daily consumption of chlorine solution
2. Maintains and refills the chlorine solution tank that is pumped into the system. Records each time the tank is filled. Orders and picks up chlorine supplies and stores them in the Baker Building.
3. Every 3 days, takes a sample of water from 1 of 4 rotating locations in the system and measure the amount of chlorine residual in the system. This is measured with a hand held meter. Records that number.
4. If there is a large jump in water usage in a 24-hour period, the Readings Monitor alerts the Water Operator. (The Water Operator then will usually drive around the system see if he can visually see any leaks.)
5. At the end of the month the Readings Monitor sends in the following numbers to Kittitas County Water District #7’s clerk.
- Master reading at end of month
- Gallons used this month
- Daily average used this month
- Acre feet used this month
- Cumulative acre feet
These records are kept on the computer and also hard copies.
6.. At the monthly Water District meetings, the Readings Monitor provides charts and reports the above information to the commissioners. The Readings Monitor also:
- Gives a maintenance report of the pump house and surroundings and recordings. Makes requests for any items that to be repaired or maintained (such as needing weed eating or snow plowed, etc.).
- Copies and emails the monthly Chlorine Residual chart to the Water Operator for reports that he or she generates monthly.
7. Keeps the pump house clean and sanitary.
8. Assists the Water Operator with postings of repairs or leaks to the Sunlight Waters Community Facebook. May make signs to alert water service customers of repairs.
9. Forwards retained readings information to agencies when requested.
Clerk – Job Description and Duties
The person who serves as Clerk for Kittitas County Water District #7 performs the following duties:
- Collects mail
- Sorts mail
- Saves mail for commissioners
- Takes appropriate action on mail
- Prepares payroll
- Prepares vouchers (to pay for services, supplies, taxes, etc.)
- Drafts resolutions
- Prepares tax returns (monthly, quarterly & annually) (excise tax, federal tax, employment security, property tax, labor & industry, Family and Medical Leave Act tax)
- Sends letters and shut off notices as needed on behalf of the Board of Commissioners
- Purchases supplies as needed
- Takes signed vouchers, payroll & resolutions to the County Auditor’s office
- Keeps all computer/paper files
- Answers phone calls/email questions from water customers
- Answers requests from realtors and title companies regarding property sales
- Prepares surveys, reports, etc. for government/water agencies
- Attends monthly meetings of the Kittitas County Water District #7 commissioners
- Takes notes
- Types minutes
- Sends press release notification of meetings to newspaper
- Prepares agenda for meetings
- Distributes minutes to commissioners prior to meetings
- Distributes pay checks
- Presents minutes, vouchers, payroll, resolutions to the commissioners for signature
- Keeps billing accounts
- Prepares billing statements
- Calculates fees, delinquent charges, etc.
- Mails billing statements
- Accepts payments to Kittitas County Water District #7
- Credits payments to Kittitas County Water District #7
- Makes deposits at the County Treasurer’s Office semi-weekly or weekly
- Acts as liaison with the Treasurer’s Office to monitor/reinvest the Water District’s interest-earning investments
- Receives pumphouse readings from the readings monitor, files them, and adds them to the monthly meeting agenda
- Receives chlorine test logs from designated tester and files copies
- Keeps paperwork related to periodic water tests required by the Department of Health
- Prepares and mails annual Consumer Confidence Reports
- Performs other duties assigned by the Kittitas County Water District #7 commissioners
