Water Service Worker I

Description

***DISCLAIMER: The City reserves the right to accelerate or extend the "Closing Date" of open positions at any time, dependent upon the number of applications received.

The finalist must pass a pre-employment physical, drug screen, and background check.

This position also participates in the DOT Random Drug/Alcohol Testing Program.

Under direct or general supervision, performs a variety of work in the construction, modification, maintenance, and repair of City potable water distribution main and lateral pipeline systems, including complex residential and commercial water meters, valve cans, meter boxes, and water distribution mains and valves; uses and operates a variety of manual and power tools and light to heavy power driven equipment; performs fieldwork in reading water meters and recording amounts consumed for billing purposes; turns water service on and off per customer request or City policy; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives direct or general supervision from the Water Superintendent. Water Service Worker Trainee/I exercises no supervision of staff; Water Service Worker II may provide technical and functional direction to lower-level staff.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
Water Service Worker I: This is the first working-level class in the water service worker series. Under general supervision, incumbents perform basic maintenance and repair of City water distribution systems, equipment, and facilities according to City practices and procedures, as well as State and Federal regulations. As experience is gained, assignments become more varied and are performed with greater independence. Positions at this level usually perform most of the duties required of the positions at the II level, but are not expected to function at the same skill level and usually exercise less independent discretion and judgment in matters related to work procedures and methods.

Examples of Essential Functions

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Performs customer service duties such as turn-ons and shut-offs, checking for leaks or dead meters; reports water use violations; assists customers in resolving water volume and pressure problems.
• Maintains public facilities, shop and garage areas, storage sites, and other work areas in a clean and orderly condition, including securing equipment at the close of the workday.
• Operates and maintains specialized vehicles and a variety of light, medium, and heavy equipment related to the construction, maintenance, and repair of water utilities systems and facilities.
• Maintains accurate logs and records of work performed and materials and equipment used.
• Observes safe work methods and makes appropriate use of related safety equipment as required.
• Participates in the City-wide preventative maintenance program, including inspecting assigned City infrastructure for safety issues, structural integrity, and possible future work projects and programs, and appropriately marking areas that need to be repaired.
• Performs duties of disaster worker in event of an emergency.
• Performs construction, maintenance, and repair activities of City water utilities systems and facilities to ensure safe and efficient access for the public, including complex residential and commercial water meters, valve cans, meter boxes, and water distribution valves.
• Provides needed information and demonstrations concerning how to perform certain work tasks to new employees in the same or similar class of positions.
• Installs street barricades and cones and controls traffic around work sites and special events to ensure safe conditions for the general public and City workers.
• Performs water valve maintenance, including various types of lines and valves, locating and raising valves that are not exposed, operating automated machines to exercise valves on an annual basis, and updating records following the installation of new valves.
• Utilizes a hand-held meter-reading computer to retrieve data from water meters in accordance with an assigned schedule and route including taking transfer and final readings; notes any unusual computer messages and takes appropriate actions to remedy issues.
• Participates in department standby rotation program.
• Repairs concrete after water distribution system maintenance, including sidewalk panels and temporary street patches.
• Flushes water distribution lines to ensure water quality, utilizes chlorine level testing devices, and runs tests for dissolved solids, bacteria, and coliforms.
• Performs related duties as assigned.
• Monitors contractors working with and around underground services to ensure the work is appropriately performed to code; addresses discrepancies as necessary.
• Performs water meter maintenance, including installing new meters, testing and repairing meters of various sizes, repairing leaks, and replacing meters as necessary; installs service lines for newly developed properties and accounts for the installation of meters for new homes; performs shut-downs of services, as required.
• Operates a variety of hand and power tools and equipment related to work assignment as instructed.
• Uses valve-turning equipment to isolate and shut down pre-designated water lines for routine maintenance and in emergency situations; ensures proper shut-down of services by utilizing sounding equipment and flow rates; provides explanations to the public during shut-downs.

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Traffic control procedures and traffic sign regulations.
• Basic mathematics.
• The operation and minor maintenance of a variety of hand and power tools, vehicles, and light to heavy power equipment.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors and City staff.
• Occupational hazards and safety equipment and practices related to the work, including the handling of hazardous chemicals and safe driving rules and practices.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations
• Maintenance principles, practices, tools, and materials for maintaining and repairing potable water distribution main and lateral pipeline systems, including complex residential and commercial water meters, valve cans, meter boxes, and water distribution valves.
• Meter reading devices and utility billing procedures.
• English usage, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation.
• Operational characteristics of specialized water utilities maintenance and repair equipment.
• Basic computer software related to work.

Ability to:

• Locate underground utilities by use of blue prints and electronic locating equipment in accordance with Underground Service Alert (USA) regulations.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Make accurate arithmetic calculations.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Maintain accurate logs and basic written records of work performed.
• Perform routine equipment maintenance.
• Perform water utilities maintenance and repair with accuracy, speed, and minimal supervision.
• Follow department policies and procedures related to assigned duties.
• Organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Troubleshoot maintenance problems and determine materials and supplies required for repair.
• Operate specialized water utilities maintenance and repair equipment.
• Perform construction, modification, maintenance, and repair work on potable water distribution main and lateral pipeline systems, including complex residential and commercial water meters, valve cans, meter boxes, and water distribution valves.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines as pertains to water distribution.
• Read, interpret, and apply technical information from manuals, drawings, specifications, layouts, blueprints, street maps, and schematics.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Set up and operate traffic area construction zones, including cones, barricades, and flagging.
• Safely and effectively use and operate hand tools, mechanical equipment, power tools, and light to heavy equipment required for the work.
• Interpret and apply the policies, procedures, laws, codes, and regulations pertaining to assigned programs and functions.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:
Water Service Worker I: High school diploma or GED. One (1) year of experience in construction, maintenance, and/or repair of water utilities and/or related facilities, systems, and appurtenances.

Licenses and Certifications:
Water Service Worker I:

• Valid Work Zone Traffic Control Safety Certificate preferred. Ability to obtain valid Work Zone Traffic Control Safety Certificate within twelve (12) months of employment.
• Valid Grade I Water Distribution Operator Certificate issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) preferred. Ability to obtain a valid Grade I Water Distribution Operator Certificate issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) within eighteen (18) months of employment.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain, a valid California class B driver’s license with the appropriate endorsements within twelve (12) months of employment, and satisfactory driving record. If no class B, must possess and maintain a valid California class C driver’s license in the interim.

Physical Demands/Environmental Elements/Working Conditions

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Must possess mobility to work in the field; strength, stamina, and mobility to perform medium to heavy physical work, to work in confined spaces and around machines, to climb and descend ladders, to operate varied hand and power tools and construction equipment, and to operate a motor vehicle and visit various City sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone or radio. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking in operational areas to identify problems or hazards. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate above-mentioned tools and equipment. Positions in this classification bend, stoop, kneel, reach, and climb to perform work and inspect work sites. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push and pull materials and objects weighing up to 50 pounds, or heavier weights with the use of proper equipment.

ENVIRONMENTAL ELEMENTS
Employees work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, confining workspace, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards, and hazardous physical substances and fumes. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives and contractors in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

WORKING CONDITIONS
May be required to be on-call and to work various shifts or emergencies on evenings, weekends, and holidays.