Water network operative

Water network operatives maintain pipes and pumping stations used for water supply, waste water removal and sewerage. They perform planned maintenance and repair tasks and clear blockages in pipes and drains.

Water network operatives typically do the following:

• dig holes by hand or with mechanical digging equipment
• use maps and plans to trace where to dig
• lay and repair water mains and pipes
• use closed circuit TV to check for blockages in pipes and drains
• clear blockages
• install water meters and hydrants
• maintain vehicles and equipment
• record details of completed work and materials used

The following job titles also refer to water network operative:

water network operator
water supply network operative
water supply network operator
pumping station operator
water network worker
pumping station worker
water leakage technician
leakage operative
water network repair technician
water network maintenance technician
pumping station operative
water supply network worker
water network technician
water and sewerage operative

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a water network operative. In some locations, a specific license to carry out work on the water network may be required.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Water network operative is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to water network operative.

sewerage network operative
drain technician
septic tank servicer
pipeline maintenance worker
gas transmission system operator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of water network operative. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of water network operative with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

water engineering technician
wastewater treatment operator
water plant technician
wastewater treatment technician
sewerage maintenance technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of water network operative.

• Types of pipelines: Know various types of pipelines and their different usages. Differentiate between pipelines used to transport goods over short and long distances, and understand their respective feeding systems.

These skills are necessary for the role of water network operative.

• Inspect pipelines: Walk flow lines to identify damage or leaks; use electronic detection equipment and conduct visual inspections.
• Operate pumps: Operate industrial pumps used to remove excess liquid.
• Maintain water treatment equipment: Perform repairs and routine maintenance tasks on equipment used in the purification and treatment processes of water and waste water.
• Detect flaws in pipeline infrastructure: Detect flaws in pipeline infrastructure during construction or over the passage of time such as construction defects, corrosion, ground movement, hot-tap made by error, and others.
• Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
• Lay pipe installation: Install the system of pipes used to transport a fluid, be it a liquid or a gas, from one point to another and connect it to the fuel and water supply lines, air ducts, and other components.
• Prevent pipeline deterioration: Ensure the conservation of pipelines by undertaking adequate maintenance of the system and its coating properties. Prevent corrosion formation, leaks, and other problems.
• Assemble manufactured pipeline parts: Assemble parts and components made for pipelines in companies or sites. Construct pipeline infrastructures or re-assemble parts that were taken out for repair. Use welding equipment and other tools in assembly activities.
• Operate drilling equipment: Operate a range of drilling equipment, pneumatic as well as electrical and mechanical. Tend drilling equipment, monitor and operate it, according to regulations. Safely and efficiently drill holes using the correct equipment, settings, and drill bits.
• Apply health and safety standards: Adhere to standards of hygiene and safety established by respective authorities.
• Repair pipelines: Conduct maintenance and repair work on pipelines to prevent or remedy damages using, if necessary, remote-controlled robots.
• Operate sumps: Operate industrial sumps used to remove excess liquid such as water or chemicals.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of water network operative. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Pipeline coating properties: Know pipeline coating properties such as external anti-corrosion, internal coating, concrete weight coating, thermal insulation, and others.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of water network operative. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Maintain drilling equipment: Maintenance and repair of a variety of drilling equipment.
• Inspect drilling equipment: Ensure that all drilling equipment works correctly and safely; inspect machines before as well as during drilling operations.
• Interpret scientific data to assess water quality: Analyse and interpret data like biological properties to know the quality of water.
• Use water disinfection equipment: Operate equipment for water disinfection, using different methods and techniques, such as mechanical filtration, depending on needs.
• Carry out cleaning of road drains: Remove leaves, litter, and other debris to prevent blockages in drains and sewers.
• Ensure regulatory compliance in pipeline infrastructures: Ensure that the regulations for pipeline operations are met. Ensure pipeline infrastructure compliance with legal mandates, and compliance with regulations governing the transportation of goods via the pipelines.
• Perform water treatments: Perform regularly water testing, ensuring that water management and filtration processes follow reasonable management practices, industry standards, or commonly accepted farming practices. Record previous water contaminations, the source of contamination and contamination remedied. Take mitigation measures to guard against further contamination.
• Measure water quality parameters: Quality assure water by taking into consideration various elements, such as temperature.
• Collect samples for analysis: Collect samples of materials or products for laboratory analysis.
• Maintain water storage equipment: Perform routine maintenance tasks, identify faults, and perform repairs on equipment which is used to store wastewater and water prior to treatment or distribution.
• Mitigate environmental impact of pipeline projects: Strive to mitigate the potential impact that pipelines and the goods transported in them can have on the environment. Invest time and resources into consideration of the environmental effects of the pipeline, the actions that could be taken to protect the environment, and the potential increase in the costs of the project.
• Advise on equipment maintenance: Advise customers on the appropriate products, methods and, if necessary, interventions to ensure proper maintenance and prevent premature damage of an object or an installation.
• Maintain septic tanks: Maintain effluent sewer systems which use septic tanks to collect sewage, and separate solid waste from it, from residential buildings or organisations. Perform routine maintenance tasks and cleaning duties, identify and repair faults.
• Document analysis results: Document on paper or on electronic devices the process and the results of the samples analysis performed.
• Test samples for pollutants: Measure concentrations of pollutants within samples. Calculate air pollution or gas flow in industrial processes. Identify potential safety or health risks such as radiation.
• Perform demarcation: Perform the activities involved in the creation and fixing of boundaries around a restricted area.
• Maintain water distribution equipment: Perform routine maintenance tasks, identify flaws, and perform repairs on the equipment used in the supply and distribution of clean water.
• Regulate the flow of substances in pipelines: Control of the flow of substances such as gases, chemicals, oils, and other materials transported via pipelines and pump stations.
• Consider the impact of material characteristics on pipeline flows: Consider the characteristics of goods in order to ensure that pipeline flows are uninterrupted. Anticipate the density of goods in the design of pipelines or in daily maintenance of pipeline infrastructures.
• Operate hydraulic machinery controls: use correctly the controls of specialized machinery by turning valves, handwheels, or rheostats to move and control flow of fuels, water, and dry or liquid binders to machines.
• Maintain pipeline coating properties: Perform maintenance to pipelines and their coating properties by applying chemicals and techniques. Maintain external anti-corrosion, internal coating, concrete weight coating, thermal insulation, and other coating properties.
• Monitor water quality: Measure water quality: temperature, oxygen, salinity, pH, N2, NO2,NH4, CO2, turbidity, chlorophyll. Monitor microbiological water quality.

7126 – Plumbers and pipe fitters

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References

1. Water network operative – ESCO
2. Water network operative | Explore careers – National Careers Service
3. Featured image: By Bijaya2043 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0