Senior Distribution & Collection System Technician - Water Operations

Job Title

Performs skilled, complex lead work in the construction, maintenance and repair of the water distribution and sewer collection systems to ensure safe and efficient operation of public utilities providing water and sewer services to citizens.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class serves in a lead role overseeing and participating in the construction, maintenance, and repair of the City's water distribution and sanitary sewer collection system lines, valves, hydrants, manholes, and related infrastructure. The lead role involves providing training to assigned crew members, ensuring safety protocols, providing technical guidance and assistance to crew members in the field, and conducting preventive maintenance on equipment.

Employee assists with planning and coordinating work activities, identifying and solving field issues. Work involves participating in the installation, repair, and replacement of water mains, services lines, valves, hydrants and meters as well as the inspection, cleaning, and repair of sewer lines, manholes, and service laterals. Work includes locating and repairing water line leaks, flushing hydrants, operating jet vac equipment to clear blockages, excavating and back filling trenches and repair sites, making water and sewer taps, locating and marking underground water and sewer lines, performing vegetation control around manholes and hydrants, and responding to after-hours emergencies.

Work requires the operation of power tools including jackhammers, cut off saws, and pipe cutters as well as some heavy construction equipment such as a backhoe, track hoe, tractors, and loaders around utility lines, traffic, and in tight spaces. Employees are subject to working in both inside and outside environments, in extreme hot and cold weather, and exposure to various hazards such as loud noises, vibration, moving mechanical parts, electrical current, chemicals, fumes, odors, dusts, mists, gases, poor ventilation, and oils.

Work is subject to the final standards of OSHA on blood borne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment. Employees are also subject to on-call and call-back work. Work is performed under regular supervision and is evaluated through observation and inspection for adherence to instructions and standard trade and safety practices.

Serves as a lead worker in the division overseeing and participating in the installation, cleaning, and maintenance of water and sewer service lines; repairing and replacing water and sewer lines, valves, hydrants, meters, manholes and other related structures.

Provides on-site direction and training to staff on work procedures and equipment operation; may review and prioritize work assignments; supervises staff to ensure adherence to time schedules, technical standards, and quality of work.

Investigates complaints of leaking meters, water leaks, or high consumption and determines problem; locates and repairs water leaks or breaks in water mains and service lines; replaces water lines and meters.

Installs hydrants, water meters, valves, clamps, and related pipeline apparatus; sets meter boxes; repairs and replaces hydrants.

Cleans and repairs sewer mains, laterals, and manholes; clears blockages using jet/vacuum trucks and rodding equipment; assists with CCTV inspections to identify infiltration/inflow and pipe defects.

Assists with making water and sewer lines taps and service connections for new services.

Connects and disconnects water service in response to moving customers and/or delinquent utility payments.

Lays water and sewer pipe; adjusts pipe to proper grade and depth and replaces sewer and water lines and related facilities.

Performs landscaping and asphalt repair after repair work is completed.

Performs preventive maintenance on water and sewer system including manhole cleaning, root control, and clearing service laterals.

Participates in hydrant and valve exercising, hydrant flushing, manhole inspections, infrastructure maintenance, and other maintenance programs.

Receives and completes various activities as required by work orders; completes daily work logs and turns in with work orders completed; prepares other records of work activities.

Operates a variety of heavy and light equipment, hand tools, and power tools to excavate, backfill, and inspect utility infrastructure including backhoe, dump truck, excavator, mowers, compactor, concrete saw, pumps, generators, tampers, tapping machines, pipe cutter shovels, handheld detection equipment, and air compressors.

Performs landscaping and vegetation control around hydrants and sewer manholes.

Utilizes electronic locating equipment to locate, identify and mark and underground water and sewer lines prior to excavation; may receive and process 811 utility locate requests for contractors or homeowners.

Sets up traffic control devices for work zones; may flag traffic around construction sites.

May assist in the installation,…