Residence Requirements:

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY FOR AT LEAST ONE MONTH IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN TEST AND MUST BE LEGAL RESIDENTS OF ERIE COUNTY AT THE TIME OF APPOINTMENT.   Preference in certification may be granted to candidates who have been a resident of the jurisdiction in which the appointment is to be made for one month preceding the date of the eligible list certification and who are residents of the jurisdiction at the time of appointment.   Non-residents may be required to become a resident of the appointing municipality if local law so states. 

There is one vacancy in the Town of Cheektowaga. *Salaries may vary at other municipalities or agencies.

The eligible list resulting from this examination will be used to fill this vacancy and other appropriate vacancies which may occur in municipalities or districts under the jurisdiction of Erie County Civil Service while this list is active.

Examples of Duties:

A Pump Operator is responsible during an assigned shift for the efficient operation and maintenance of electric pumps at a water treatment plant wastewater pump station or booster station;

Starts and stops pumps in accordance with an established schedule of operations;

Periodically records readings of pressure gauges and storage water level meters and maintains a station log;

Oils and greases motors and pumps;

Cleans and paints pumps and motors;

Checks temperature of motor and pump bearings and water seals;

Performs a variety of mechanical maintenance and custodial tasks.

Water Treatment Plant:

Operates and services auxiliary motors and equipment;

Assists the Water Treatment Plant Operator when requested;

Assists in dismantling and reassembling motors and pumps when repairs are indicated;

Refers telephoned complaints of low pressure to supervisor;

Opens, closes and adjusts valves;

Reports unusual occurrences and energency situations to a superior.

Booster stations:

Travels a circuit of booster stations to assure proper operation of pumps and motors which may be manually or remotely controlled.

Wastewater Pump station:

Checks and inspects sewage pumps for proper operations;

Checks all gauges, seal water unit, relieve valves and lubricate bearings and related equipment;

Checks sump pump for proper operation;

Checks solenoids, ball valves and butterfly valves for operating condition;

Maintains pump room in good housekeeping;

Performs various operational and maintenance duties in the following areas: control room, wet 'Well, boiler room, motor room, electric room, penthouse;

Inspects and maintains stand-by generator;

Assists in groundskeeping activities, including grass cutting, snow renoval and maintaining groundskeeping mechanical equipment;

May do minimal water testing as direct by Supervisor.

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  Candidates must meet one of the following requirements on or before the date of the written test:

A) Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and one ( 1) year of experience in the operation and maintenance of electric pump and axuiliary equipment; OR

B) Completion of elene.ntary school and three ( 3) years of experience as indicated in (A) ; OR

C) An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A) and (B).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:  

Eligibility for New York State Driver's license at time of application; possession of license at time of appointnent.

Notes:

1. Verifiable part-time and/or volunteer experience will be pro-rated toward meeting the experience requirements. 

The New York State Department of Civil Service has not prepared a test guide for this examination. However,candidates may find information in the publication "How to take a written test" helpful in preparing for this test. This publication is available on line at: https://www.cs.ny.gov/testing/testguides.cfm

Subjects of Examination:

SUBJECTS OF EXAMINATION:  A written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills and /or abilities in the following areas:

1. Elementary hydraulics and pumping operations

These questions test for knowledge of elementary hydraulic principles and pumping operations, including such areas as basic hydraulics; terminology associated with pumps and pumping operations; and operation of pump station and related equipment, including the uses and operating principles of various types of pumps.

2. Operation and maintenance of pumps, valves, and related mechanical and electrical equipment

These questions test for knowledge of the principles and procedures involved in the operation, maintenance, and repair of pumps, valves, and related mechanical and electrical equipment, including motors and electric circuitry; and for the ability to identify various types of pumps, valves, and related equipment and understand their functions.

3. Tools, mechanical aptitude, and reading of scales, meters, and gauges

These questions test for knowledge of the tools used in water and wastewater treatment plants; the ability to identify various types of tools and their uses; knowledge of general mechanical principles and the operation of various types of mechanical devices such as gears, pulleys, levers, valves, and similar types of mechanical equipment; and the ability to read and interpret information displayed on various types of scales, meters, and gauges.

4. Pumping operations and related arithmetic computations

These questions test for knowledge of pumping operations, including such areas as terminology and basic principles associated with pumps and pumping operations; instruments and equipment used in pumping operations, including various types of pumps and their components; troubleshooting pumping problems and developing solutions; pump and pumping station inspection and maintenance; and the ability to perform arithmetic calculations associated with pumping and hydraulic operations.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: Unless otherwise noted, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand held, solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with typewriter keyboards, "Spell Checkers", “Personal Digital Assistants", "Address Books", "Language Translators", "Dictionaries", or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring books or other reference materials.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $20.00 filing fee is required for this exam. The required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.