Water Treatment Plant Internship

Water Treatment Plant Internship

Colorado Springs' water quality is included in the finest in the country with our source water coming straight from the Rocky Mountains!  For over 100 years, Colorado Springs Utilities has been providing exceptional drinking water to our citizens.  Managing and purifying the water from it's source takes a diverse group of water treatment professionals with outstanding knowledge, skills and a passion for producing quality water.  

Water Treatment offers a unique opportunity for college students to learn about the breadth of Colorado Springs Utilities’ treated water system, specifically water treatment plant operations, and its importance to our community.  Work tasks involve chemistry, biology, mechanics, instrumentation, communication, collaboration, and a safety mindset, among other skills.  A well-balanced suite of learning experiences will be offered through an introduction at each of the six water treatment plants, with more in-depth job shadowing at one to two water treatment plants with a wide variety of operational, mechanical, instrumentation/controls, and electrical staff.

A Water Treatment Internship offers the following learning opportunities:

• Overview of water resources management in Colorado Springs and our unique water systems and challenges
• Overview of regulatory requirements that ensure Safe Drinking Water
• Water treatment operational roles and responsibilities including observation, trending, water chemistry, and production basics
• Exposure to operational strategies and dynamic staff at six water treatment plants
• Maintenance tasks including basic preventative maintenance, general plant maintenance, and plant outage planning
• Treatment monitoring and troubleshooting skills

Specifically, the following duties makes up this internship position:

• Water Treatment Plant Operations - 50%
  • Learning and participating in the job duties of a water treatment plant operator; trouble shooting, conduction lab analysis of water quality, learning SCADA system
  • Shadowing with treatment plant staff including leadership
  • Attending pertinent training and collaborative meetings that support WTP operations
• Preventative Maintenance - 20% - Support staff with completing preventative maintenance
• General Plant Maintenance - 15% - Support staff members with any necessary maintenance, projects and general cleaning
• General Knowledge of all Treatment Facilities - 15% - Visit other treatment plant facilities to gain a working knowledge of the scope and type of processes of the treatment plants

The position may extend past the traditional summer internship period with up to 20 hours/week available throughout the remainder of 2024 and potentially into 2025.  (The position can be designed to support a student’s school schedule.) 

*This is an on-site, non-remote/non-telecommuting position 
*Hourly rate is dependent on year completed of academic degree, e.g., second year complete, third year complete, etc. 
*Candidates MUST be enrolled in a degree seeking program (Associates/Bachelors/Masters) and be able to provide documentation if requested.  Enrollment in a certification program does not qualify. 

Our Commitment to Our Employees…
Our people are the heart and soul of Colorado Springs Utilities.  They keep the lights on, gas flowing, water coming in, and wastewater leaving.  We do not just say people are important – we prove it!  That’s why we are honored to invest in protecting the health and financial security of our employees and their families through our rich benefits program. As a Temporary employee you will enjoy the following benefits:

• Time Off – Because everybody needs time off to recharge
  
  • Vacation –New employees accrue 13 days of paid time off to start, while our more tenured employees accrue 24 days per year
  • Paid Holidays –12 paid holidays per year
  • Sick Leave – Accrue 12 days of sick leave annually for those days when you or a family member is feeling under the weather
  • Vacation Buy – Purchase up to 40 hours of additional vacation time
• Pension Plan – Looking forward to a comfortable lifestyle once you’re done working? The Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Association (PERA) provides you with retirement benefits and peace of mind when you retire
• Medical – Select from three comprehensive medical plans, starting at $0 per month.  Employees also enjoy access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA). (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Wellness Program – Voluntary wellness program that allows you and your spouse to each earn up to $500 to use towards healthcare expenses, $100 in Visa gift cards, and up to $400 in gym membership reimbursements
• Dental – Select from two dental plans, with in-network PPO preventive care covered at 100% and access to orthodontia coverage (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Vision – Voluntary plan that covers full vision care services and discounts on LASIK eye surgery (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Retirement Saving Programs – Supplement your pension plan with voluntary retirement programs such as the PERAPlus 401(k) and MissionSquare’s Roth IRA and 457 plans
• Disability Coverage – Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term Disability (LTD) insurance available for purchase (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – Makes the going a little easier by aiding with mental health, stress management, work-life balance, financial and legal matters, and much more
• Long-Term Care Insurance (LTC) – Whether it's due to an accident or a serious illness, LTC insurance is available for purchase to help you and your loved ones (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)
• Life Insurance – Company-paid life insurance and supplemental coverage available (effective the 1st of the month following your start date)