Full Text
Watershed Inspector Jurisdiction: Schuyler County Jurisdictional Class: Non-Competitive Reviewed: April 4, 2005; Updated: March 2, 2011; Reviewed: June 23, 2011; Revised: August 16, 2016; Revised: November 28, 2021; Revised: May 10, 2024 WATERSHED INSPECTOR DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This is a management and administrative position involving responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, evaluating and participating in preventing pollution or contamination of the watershed. The duties consist of routine patrols of the watershed area, inspections of rural individual water supplies and individual sewage disposal system and investigations of violations of rules and regulations for the protection of the water supply. Activities are performed under the direction of the Director of Public Health with considerable latitude in the exercise of independent judgment. Completes related work as required. TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: Plans, supervises, and participates in Schuyler County Watershed Protection Agency activities (WPA). Ensures locally adopted programs are in compliance with applicable standards of public health and safety. Prepares and supervises the preparation of a variety of statistics, data, reports, and records. Supervises and prepares revisions for the Schuyler County Watershed Protection Law, fee schedules, staffing recommendations, cost studies, and assists with the annual WPA budget. Represents the Public Health Department in WPA programs and responsibilities. Responds to inquiries and complaints from public officials and the general public related to environmental health. Maintains working relationships with local, state, and federal agencies whose responsibility is to maintain policies that affect environmental health. Supervises the execution/compliance of grants and shared services contracts related to environmental health. Performs Site evaluations for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS) and domestic/commercial wells for new construction, replacement, building conversion, and property sale. Designs OWTS based on Site field data which consists of waste load, test hole (strata), soil permeability (perc test), slope, property size, and distances to fixed boundaries (i.e, wells, steams, property boundaries). Reviews submitted OWTS from NYS licensed professional engineers to ensure compliance with state and local OWTS standards. Participates in public health preparedness activities as trained and assigned. Performs a variety of water potability tests for non-community water supplies, domestic, and commercial properties. ---PAGE BREAK--- Watershed Inspector FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Good knowledge of Federal, State, and local regulations and the common causes of watershed pollution and contamination; Good knowledge of rural water supply and OWTS construction, installation and operation; Good knowledge of common causes of watershed pollution and contamination; Good knowledge of principles of soil science regarding percolation; Working knowledge of budgets; Ability to collect valid and reliable quantitative and qualitative data; Ability to describe assets and resources that can be used for improving the health of the community; Ability to be courteous, yet firm, with the public; Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions; Ability to prepare accurate and concise reports; Ability to work with all socioeconomic levels, ethnic groups and cultures within the community; Ability to develop cooperative relationships with associates and deal effectively with the public; Ability to work with contractors, home builders, inspectors and property owners to facilitate the design and construction of water and OWTS home facilities; Ability to supervise, plan and organize the work of others; Ability to use evaluation results to improve program and organizational performance; Ability to contribute to development of a vision for a healthy community; Ability to travel long distances by foot in rugged terrain; Willingness to work under adverse weather conditions; Physical condition that is commensurate with the demands of the position. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A. Possess a Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited or New York State registered four year college or university of which thirty (30) credit hours must be in physical and biological sciences, and have satisfactorily completed a training course approved by the State Health Department within one year of appointment; or B Five years of experience as a Watershed Inspector Assistant deemed satisfactory by the Public Health Director and have satisfactorily completed a training course approved by the State Health Department. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: Must possess a valid NYS driver’s license