The Water Quality Specialist monitors the availability, quality, regulation and trends of use of water in Adams County, for the purpose of promoting water quality and a sustainable supply of clean water for drinking, hygiene and other basic needs. This position will work within the Environmental Health (EH) Division, and with other EH staff to inform proactive interventions and appropriate policies related to water quality, water conservation, and disease prevention. The position will also work with Community and Economic Development (CED) staff to comment on a variety of land use referrals.

Learning Responsibility:

• Must commit to a learning mindset and continuous improvement regarding the practice of diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of work within Adams County and The Department of Public Health including management style, work style, training, communication, and evaluation.

• Performs both internal and external work in a way that is equitably inclusive and effective within the diverse communities we serve.
• Regularly assesses work and supports changes to remove systemic barriers, build systems that address inequities, and integrate Health Equity into all areas of work.
• Creates and maintains partnerships and processes that support and integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into all aspects of Adams County Health Department work.
• Prioritizes transparency and supports an open-door culture.
• Integrates diversity, equity, and inclusion into internal and external goal setting.

• Collaboratively works on the ongoing development and enhancement of Adams County's positions relative to water quality issues. Informs applicable organizations about Adams County's position with respect to Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) and their potential impact to water quality.
• Uses active working knowledge of governmental structures, policies, processes, and procedures related to water quality and quantity to review site applications and wastewater utility plans for wastewater treatment facilities, non-governmental organizations that advocate for water quality, systems to treat water and wastewater, groundwater, and surface water hydrology.
• Assists the Water Quality Programs Supervisor in reviewing and commenting on specific land use referrals from the county and cities.
• Advocates for water quality and conservation measures with planning agencies and decision makers.
• Review and analyze public policy, specific regulations, and master planning documents, identify trends and issues, and develop and implement solutions and /or alternatives.
• Monitors compliance status of water and wastewater utilities and acts as a liaison between the utility and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), to facilitate compliance.
• Identifies emerging issues relevant to water quality and examines and explores various approaches to address these issues. An example is the concern of PFAS contaminating drinking water supplies.
• Interacts and consults with private well owners regarding inquiries of water quality concerns. Answers questions about water quality from residents as well as local jurisdictions.
• Identifies grant and other funding opportunities to develop and complete water quality related projects. Assists city and county planners with incorporating water quality issues and policies into Comprehensive Plans and Regulations.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other Adams County employees, representatives of other agencies and organizations, and members of the community.
• Serve as an official representative of Adams County Health Department in a professional manner with local and regional agencies and organizations.
• Attends and participates in meetings of organizations that are charged with addressing water quality issues.
• Conduct domestic water sampling for properties potentially affected by the Rocky Mountain Arsenal and potentially conduct other water sampling if needs arise.
• Interacts with local community groups, local health departments, and governmental agencies in water/wastewater matters; represents the department in professional organizations when selected to do so. Participates in tracking legislative bills, which related to the program. Participates in appropriate stakeholder processes. Initiates interaction with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) as necessary to resolve interpretations in regulations.
• May cross-train in OWTS permitting and inspections and swimming pool inspections for purposes of program depth.
• Participates in various committees and boards related to program activities and responsibilities. Performs community outreach.
• Performs other duties as assigned and required.
• Emergency Preparedness Duties:
  • Employee responds, as required, to support public health emergencies, incidents and events. Employee participates in all exercises and drills on emergency preparedness, as required. Completes trainings identified as appropriate for this level employee.
• HIPAA STATEMENT: Maintain sensitive & confidential client information according to the HIPAA policy.

• Principles, techniques, practices, and procedures as related to environmental health in a community public health program.
• Administration and working of federal and state agencies including the EPA and CDPHE.
• Governmental structures, policies, processes, and procedures related to water quality and quantity.
• Land use and development planning review, related processes and procedures.
• Roles and functions of non-governmental organizations that advocate for water quality.
• Strong independent research skills to research and engage in emerging concerns of water quality.
• Systems that treat water and wastewater.
• Groundwater and surface water hydrology.
• Grant writing requirements and procedures.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other County employees, representatives of other agencies and organizations, and members of the community.
• Review and analyze public policy, specific regulations, and master planning documents, identify trends and issues, and develop and implement solutions and/or alternatives.
• Act as an official representative of Adams County Health Department in a professional manner with local and regional agencies and organizations.
• Communicate effectively in writing with various stakeholder groups and prepare and give effective and persuasive presentations before groups.
• Must demonstrate proficiency in using sampling, and testing equipment.
• Must be able to learn and become proficient with equipment and software programs as required to perform assigned duties effectively and efficiently.
• Must have reliable personal vehicle for job related travel.

Education: Requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in water quality, hydrology, environmental health, physical, chemical, or sanitary sciences, public health, or a related field.

Experience:

• Requires six years' progressive experience in the field of water quality.
• One year of work experience will be granted for a relevant master's degree.
• Relevant work experience at another public health agency may be considered.

• Work is primarily conducted indoors with occasional time spent in an outside environment. Incumbent will experience routine exposure to hazards of a typical office environment.
• Requires travel between Adams County offices and to locations in the surrounding community for presentations and meetings.
• May be required to work outside regular hours to attend meetings or events.
• Requires ability to work outdoors in all types of weather conditions and ability to walk and navigate on all types of terrain.
• Requires sufficient hearing and speech ability to communicate verbally in response to inquiries, complaints, and to speak to large groups of people in an educational presentation.
• Requires color vision to distinguish titration/chemical reaction to color changes.
• Requires correctable vision to observe sampling activities and conduct investigations of health situations.
• Requires ability to lift and carry sampling equipment occasionally up to 50 pounds.
• Requires manual dexterity to operate computer equipment and test equipment.
• Requires reliable transportation and access to drive an automobile in all types of weather conditions.