Water Distribution Trainee

This is an entry level position involving the inspection, maintenance, and repair of water meters and the underground water system.  Trainees receive training and technical assistance from Water Distribution Technicians.  Employees in this class are more closely supervised than Water Distribution Technicians.  Individuals in this class may work weekends, holidays, irregular hours or nights.  Trainees may be assigned to assist Special Service personnel in performing their duties or to read or maintain water meters.  Trainees may assist work crews performing such duties as flushing water mains, conducting waste water surveys, and inspecting, operating and maintaining valves and hydrants.  Related work is performed as required.  This position is a traineeship lasting at least 18 months and up to two years.  Upon appraisal by the supervisor that the incumbent has developed the requisite full performance knowledge, skills and abilities and after the incumbent has attained permanent Civil Service status in this title through competitive examination, an incumbent will be given permanent status in the title of Water Distribution Technician.  If performance does not reflect the requisite full performance knowledge, skills and abilities at the end of two years, the traineeship will be terminated.

Under the NY HELPS Program, the Civil Service Exam for this title has been waived. For additional information regarding the NY HELPS Program, please visit: https://www.cs.ny.gov/help/faq.cfm

• Investigates water system problems in response to customer complaints, such as leaking pipes, dirty or otherwise contaminated water, lack of pressure, etc.;
• Secures hazardous areas caused by broken mains or leaking pipes by closing valves and placing barricades;
• Determines cause of water system problems by performing hydraulic tests, locating leaks using listening devices, and performing on-site tests for water purity;
• Inspects and evaluates work performed by contractors and plumbers and writes reports describing the work completed and completes damage reports if necessary;
• Inspects areas excavated by contractors during the course of work, in order to prevent damage to underground water system and other City-owned underground facilities;
• Taps water mains; installs and repairs water services, valves and mains;
• Writes down information to complete field reports or write out work orders;
• Operates, maintains, and repairs water system valves and curb valves; uncovers buried valves and cleans valve boxes;
• Opens or shuts valves, mains and services manually, using specialized wrenches, and calculates turns needed based on information from records;
• Locates underground pipes, valves and curb boxes using electronic equipment, and locates these water facilities and also hydrants and underground electrical service lines using scale maps, piping diagrams, and measuring devices;
• Marks location of underground facilities on surface;
• Inspects existing hydrants to determine whether all parts are present and functioning and may perform minor repairs and lubricate parts;
• Measures and records dimensions and locations of new and existing water services and water mains and verifies measurements of existing valve and curb box locations; sketches simple diagrams or line drawings when necessary;
• Completes assignments using information received via 2-way radio, cell phone, or personal computer, such as location of assignments, cleans and tests water mains,  water services, mains, valves, and hydrants, as well as addresses and pertinent measurements;
• Reads, repairs, tests and maintains residential and commercial water meters;
• Removes and resets water meters at consumer's premises;
• Delivers shut notices and water main flushing notices to customers;
• Shovels dirt and debris or hoists industrial meters using chain and tackle to read or replace water meters;
• Operates steam generator when thawing and pumping out frozen hydrants, water services, mains, and other facilities;
• Assists Engineers performing water waste surveys and hydraulic investigations;
• Assists crews performing duties such as flushing water mains, removing or correcting hazardous conditions, placing barricades, testing water pipes;
• Uses safety equipment and safe practices at job site;
• Keeps all assigned equipment clean and in good condition, and reports all equipment and tool defects;
• Drives light truck to assignment locations throughout the City of Rochester; performs daily vehicle inspections;
• Assists Special Services personnel placing barricades, cleaning up or removing obstructions from the public right-of-way, by sweeping up debris from accidents, removing broken branches, dead animals, or reporting obstructions which must be removed by Department of Environmental Services crews.

High School Diploma or G.E.D.
 
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Candidate must possess a New York State Class D Driver's license. 
 Licensure must be maintained throughout employment in this title.