Water Mains Specialist

The Water Mains Specialist will oversee and participate in the daily operations of the City’s water distribution system, including backflow prevention, cross-connection control, hydrant meter use, water quality, and regulatory compliance. This position serves as a backup Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC), conducts inspections, testing, and maintenance of system components, and ensures accurate reporting to state and federal agencies. The Water Mains Specialist will also assist with the collection system, support engineering and GIS staff, respond to customer concerns, review plans for compliance, and maintain system records. This role combines technical expertise, fieldwork, and regulatory oversight to ensure the safe, efficient delivery of water services to the community.

Essential Tasks & Responsibilities:

• Back Up Operator in Responsible Charge for the distribution system, backflow prevention program, and fire hydrant use program;
• Performs duties of back-up ORC for the collection system, when qualified,
• Ensures the distribution system and associated programs follow the rules and regulations of the Federal, State, and Local agencies including completing all required reports in a timely manner;
• Inspects system devise, pipelines, rights-of-way, water storage facilities, aerial lines, creek crossings, etc.;
• Ensures information from support departments such as lab, plant maintenance; engineering services, administration, and code enforcement is incorporated into the system records, rules, procedures or ordinances;
• Repairs, adjusts, and calibrates various devises in the distribution system such as air reliefs, vacuum prevention valves, pressure sustaining valves, altitude valves, and pressure recording devices.
• Perform fire hydrant flow test, pressure monitoring, leak locating, water quality testing, and disinfection field testing;
• Works with, supplies information, and receives information as needed for the water quality, maintenance, fire hydrant meter program, TRC, plan review, and other programs associated with the distribution system;
• Monitors SCADA system flows;
• Installs and maintains system instrumentation such as flow meters, pressure monitoring, etc.;

• Assists CAD technicians, engineering technicians, engineers, and GIS personnel with water mains and sewer line problems reported by plumbers, contractors, and local citizens;
• On-call back-up ORC and/or On-Call Emergency Contract Inspector;
• Assists in locating lost valves and manholes;
• Performs field checks for water taps using maps, records, and GPS;
• Assists other departments in locating utilities;
• Assists supervisors with locating water and sewer mains;
• Assists with building and property owners and the City of High Point Engineering Department to help solve water complaints;
• Reviews plans for compliance to ordinances, rules, regulations, and standard drawings relating to the water and sewer systems;
• Evaluates preventative maintenance program;
• Provides information as required by management;
• Ensures that all work is performed in alignment with OSHA and City Safety Standards and Policies.
• Assist with the collection system.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED

• Must have possession of current driver’s license issued by the State of North Carolina 

• Must be able to work in extreme weather conditions for long periods

• Must be able to work On-Call on a regular rotating basis

• Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds or more with assistance.

• Must be able to deal effectively with the public.

• Must have or obtain Confined Space Competent person within 6 months of hire date

• Must have or obtain OSHA 10-hour safety course within 1 year of hire date

• Must have or obtain Basic First-Aid, CPR, and AED certification with 1 year of hire date (American Red Cross, American Heart Association, or National Safety Council)

• Must have North Carolina Grade B Water Distribution certification 

Preferred Qualifications

• Associate’s degree in related field

• Having Class ‘A’ Commercial Driver’s License with Tanker Endorsement

• Grade A Distribution Certification

• Certified Backflow Tester

• Cross Connection ORC Certification

Physical Requirements
Hearing/Speaking - (Talking - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken word). (Hearing - Perceiving nature of sounds by ear).

• Both are necessary to converse with citizens, other employees and supervisors in person or by two-way radio and telephone. Must be able to hear warning buzzers, bells, horns, etc. on equipment.

Visual Abilities – the ability to perceive via eyesight is required for this position:

• Acuity, far – Clarity of vision at 20 feet or more. Must be able to see entire project areas from a distance to monitor activity and ensure safety; to be able to drive vehicles to and from work sites. Good vision is required for day work or night work. Both eyes 20/25 - R 20/30 - L 20/30 corrected

• Acuity, near – Clarity of vision at 20 inches or less. Must be able to see hand tools, instruments, work aids, manuals, instruction books, work orders, materials and supplies. Both eyes 20/22 corrected

• Depth perception – Three-dimensional vision. Ability to judge distance and space relationships to see objects where and as they actually are. Must be able to judge distances to use both hands in performing different tasks at the same time and in seeing entire project area to observe persons or vehicles as they approach, to ensure safety. 

• Field of Vision – Area that can be seen up and down or to right or left while eyes are fixed on a given point. Must be able to see a wide span of area to cover project site, and ensure safety, while looking at a given object or instrument.

• Accommodation – Adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus. This is especially important when doing near-point work while glancing up to check the entire work area. Must be able to adjust the eye lens to glance quickly at equipment or people who are located at varying distances.

Physical Strength – degree of physical demands typically associated with this position include:

• Heavy Work: Exerting up to 50 pounds or more of force occasionally, 50 pounds of force frequently and 10/20 pounds of force constantly to move pipes, tools, materials, etc. Physical demand requirements usually require walking or standing for long periods of time, carrying, bending, stooping, lifting, pushing, pulling, crawling, reaching, climbing and stretching, although workers may sit on occasions. There is significant use of arms, hands, legs, feet and back.

Mental Activity/Requirements
Reasoning

• Ability to apply principles of logical thinking to work tasks, practical situations and requests made by supervisor; to comprehend and respond to a variety of work situations and tasks; to understand and apply safety requirements, traffic safety principles and regulations.

Mathematics Ability

• Must be able to understand math equations in order to determine pipe sizes to be used for specific water flow requirements, figuring quantities of supplies to be ordered from warehouse, etc.

Language Ability

• Read: Ability to read safety and other manuals, instructions, equipment readings, street signs, location books, work orders. etc., to read and understand directions (N,E,S,W) to locate job sites.

• Write: Must be able to write work orders clearly and legibly.

• Speak: Ability to be conversant in voice and diction to participate in discussions and communicate well with citizens in person, co-workers and other City personnel in person or over radio and telephone; ability to perform proper and clear communication rapidly during emergency situations.

Environmental Conditions
Physical Surroundings:

• The Worker is subject to Outside Environmental Conditions: Exposed to various weather conditions and temperatures. The worker will be required to work outside during the summer when the weather is usually hot and the winter when the weather is usually cold. Combining the type of work performed with the weather conditions, the worker should be one who can work outside in the sun, heat, high winds, rain, sleet, cold and extreme weather conditions, and cross rough terrain (outfalls, right-of-way clearings, etc.) with possible risk of exposure to poison oak, poison ivy, insect bites and stings, etc. The job is best suited for someone who doesn't mind getting wet, dirty and sweaty.

Hazards

• Employees will possibly be exposed to wastewater containing waterborne disease and chemicals. Work is subject to final standards of OSHA on blood-borne pathogens.