Water Service Technician

JOB SUMMARY

Follows and promotes workplace safety in the organization. Water Service Technicians will oversee projects involving maintenance and operation of the water distribution system. Responsible for monitoring, testing and improving the water quality of the water system. Water Service Technician will act as a representative of Gulf Coast Electric when dealing with members ensuring that they receive the best possible service that we can offer. In addition, technicians will assist with the operation and maintenance of the electric distribution system. This position requires the employee to be on call at any time. Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• MUST have knowledge of water purity standards for new and existing water mains and distribution lines.
• MUST understand where occupational hazards exist and safety precautions required for dangerous/hazardous chemicals (e.g. chlorine, etc.).
• MUST have knowledge of water sampling techniques and practices.
• MUST have working knowledge of water line distribution maintenance and repair including parts and materials.
• MUST understand the principles of disinfection through the determination of the proper amount and use of hypo-chlorinate solutions.
• MUST understand underground utilities including utility color coding, flagging, mapping, marking, road marks and digging laws.
• MUST understand operation of fire hydrants.
• MUST have the ability to read and understand maps and plans associated with electric and water distribution systems.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS/REQUIRED TRAINING

• GCEC Line Technician Training (preferred, not required)
• Florida CDL
• Class C or higher Water Plant Operations License required
• Have or be able to obtain Backflow Tester Certification
• Military Signal Notification Training (preferred, not required)
• Airfield Base and Runway Driving Certification
• Traffic Control Training
• Sunshine State One Safe Digging
• DOT Certification
• OSHA Confined Space Training,
• Fire Hydrant Training
• CPR Certification
• First Aid Certification

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

Two-way communication with immediate supervisor on work-related plans. Receive direction and guidance as needed for performance improvement.

External

Water Technicians must be able to communicate with various external members and members to ensure they are operating, digging or excavating safely and within proper boundaries.  They must also demonstrate the understanding that the job exists to effectively serve each and every member and take every opportunity to increase understanding for further support of GCEC.

CORE JOB FUNCTIONS

System Maintenance (90%)

• Performs construction and maintenance duties in both electric and water distribution systems.
• Proactively identify safety issues in member property, among crew members, in equipment or in the system.
• Performs inspections of water service lines and cross connections.
• Performs work on all water lines without the need for direct supervision.
• Repair, exercise and maintain gate valves.
• Traces and locates buried water pipes.
• Determines necessary equipment and materials for service calls, responds to emergency calls concerning broken or malfunctioning distribution/service materials and water meters.
• Operates specialized shop and field equipment and machinery.
• Conducts water sampling and monitoring.
• Performs water main shut downs as necessary.
• Successfully able to read and operate pneumatic tools.
• Performs landscaping, concrete and asphalt repairs to restore members’/commercial property.
• Inspects equipment or monitors operating conditions, meters and gauges to determine functionality.
• Collects water samples.
• Troubleshoots entire water system to ensure functionality.
• Provides technical support on water resource or treatment issues to government agencies.
• Locates water main and water service lines for GCEC, Tyndall, government officials, contractors, etc. as necessary.
• Visually inspects environment for clues that could lead to the discovery of ruptured pipes or any other damaged component of the water distribution system and report them to immediate supervisor for repair.
• Daily inspection, service and maintenance of vehicles and equipment.
• Performs maintenance and repair on tools, parts and other equipment as needed.
• Reads water and electric meters and records data on specified forms.
• Assists Line Technicians with:
  • Right-of-Way construction/maintenance.
  • New pole construction/pole removal.
  • Transformer repair and replacement.
  • Replacing and maintaining electric lines, structures and equipment.
• Operates vehicles, equipment and performs ground work on the electrical system.
• Advises Supervisor of Military Affairs and/or Foremen of maintenance needs or other concerns.
• Responsible for assisting with any emergency situation as needed or as directed.
• Ensures proper maintenance of all fire hydrants.
  • Repairs and paints fire hydrants the correct colors.
  • Flushes hydrants.
  • Conducts fire flows.
  • Ensures correct hydrant numbering.

Member Service (5%)

• Alerts members by informing them of safety issues or if workers will be on or around their property.
• Public notification and reporting.
• Notifies members of scheduled and emergency outages.

Administration (5%)

• Attends meetings such as the employee meeting and safety meeting.
• Files and assesses forms and daily reports such as:
• Vehicle inspection reports.
• Incident reports.
• Blueprints/schematics/drawings.
• Mapping sheets/staking sheets.
• Service orders.
• Work orders.
• Outage reports.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE

• Water and Electric Distribution systems – Knowledge of practices, methods, tools and equipment used in the installation, maintenance, calibration, repair and testing of electric and water distribution systems.  Specifically knowledge of:
• Reading and interpreting staking sheets.
• Back siphonage and cross connections along with methods to prevent contamination of the water system.
• Water and electric meters.

• NRECA rules and regulations.
• AWWA Standard.
• RUS Construction Guidelines .
• DOT Guidelines.
• Mechanical – Knowledge of machines and tools including their designs, uses, repair and maintenance.
• Mathematics – Knowledge of how to use arithmetic (e.g. linear footage, square footage, area, distance, etc.).
• Transportation – Knowledge of principles and methods for moving things that are large, small, awkwardly shaped, heavy, light, bulky, etc.
• Public Safety and Security – Knowledge of how to properly ensure the safety and security of the general public while performing work in or around water or electric distribution lines
• Geography – Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations and topography
• English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar.
• Law and Government — Knowledge of state/federal/county laws and codes related to electric and/or water distribution systems, especially those related to the environment; knowledge of related OSHA and AWWA standards.
• Agency Specific (not required at time of hire)  - Knowledge of GCEC’s policies and procedures, including GCEC’s safety manual. Understanding of the operations and maintenance of the water and electrical distribution system at Tyndall Air Force Base.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Coordination — Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
• Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Operation Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Quality Control Analysis — Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
• Service Orientation — Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Operation and Control — Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Management of Material Resources — Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities and materials needed to do certain work.
• Troubleshooting — Determining and repairing operating errors in machines and electronics.
• Equipment Maintenance — Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
• Equipment Selection — Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
• Repairing — Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
• Installation — Installing equipment, machines, wiring or programs to meet specifications.

REQUIRED ABILITIES

• Deductive Reasoning — Ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• Oral Comprehension — Ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Oral Expression — Ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Problem Sensitivity — Ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• Written Comprehension — Ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Speech Clarity — Ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Speech Recognition — Ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Inductive Reasoning — Ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Written Expression — Ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
• Category Flexibility — Ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
• Information Ordering — Ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• Near Vision — Ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• Far Vision — Ability to see details at a distance.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness — Ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Flexibility of Closure — Ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
• Selective Attention — Ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
• Time Sharing — Ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch or other sources).
• Control Precision — Ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
• Finger Dexterity — Ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate or assemble very small objects.
• Visualization — Ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
• Multi-limb Coordination — Ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
• Speed of Closure — Ability to quickly make sense of, combine and organize information into meaningful patterns.
• Mathematical Reasoning — Ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
• Auditory Attention — Ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
• Manual Dexterity — Ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm or your two hands to grasp, manipulate or assemble objects.
• Number Facility — Ability to add, subtract, multiply or divide quickly and correctly.
• Reaction Time — Ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
• Hearing Sensitivity — Ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
• Rate Control — Ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
• Visual Color Discrimination — Ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
• Depth Perception — Ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you or to judge the distance between you and an object.
• Static Strength — Ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull or carry objects.
• Trunk Strength — Ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
• Memorization — Ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures and procedures.
• Response Orientation — Ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot or other body part.
• Stamina — Ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
• Dynamic Strength — Ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
• Gross Body Coordination — Ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
• Speed of Limb Movement — Ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
• Wrist-Finger Speed — Ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands and wrists.
• Extent Flexibility — Ability to bend, stretch, twist or reach with your body, arms and/or legs.
• Gross Body Equilibrium — Ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Sound Localization — Ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
• Spatial Orientation — Ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
• Glare Sensitivity — Ability to see objects in the presence of glare or bright lighting.
• Peripheral Vision — Ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.
• Night Vision — Ability to see under low light conditions.
• Dynamic Flexibility — Ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist or reach out with your body, arms and/or legs.
• Explosive Strength — Ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting) or to throw an object.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• MUST have completed the GCEC required safety training.
• MUST be responsible for assisting with all emergency repairs, major storms, disasters, major outages or emergency situations.
• MUST have excellent oral and written communication skills and legible handwriting.
• MUST have excellent organization and planning skills with minimum supervision.
• MUST have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to communicate with other members, vendors and co-workers in a respectful manner.
• MUST have the ability to keep accurate records and make decisions that may affect the company, members’ or co-workers.
• MUST take complete ownership of creating and meeting goals and time-sensitive deadlines.
• MUST have the ability to operate all office equipment, machinery and basic hand tools required in the job setting.
• MUST take responsibility for members’ safety and the safety of the general public and the properties (residential, commercial or federal) that GCEC services.
• MUST be willing to perform work that has a high consequence of error and could be potentially dangerous and/or life-threatening if not performed correctly.
• MUST have and maintain a flexible schedule and be able to rapidly respond to outages and water breaks at any hour of the day or night, weekends, holidays and in all weather conditions.
• MUST be able to work on independent unstructured projects.
• MUST be able to work with a group or team.
• MUST be responsible for ensuring machines and equipment are operated in a safe, professional manner at all times.

TOOLS/TECHNOLOGY USED

   TOOLS

• Computers – Laptop, desktop
• Cell phone
• Vehicles – Bucket Truck, Auger Truck, Crane Truck, Chip Truck, chipper, Ditch Witch, Graffel Truck, Bush Hog, Low Bay, Clipper, Pipe Trailer, Service Truck, Transformer Truck
• Locator
• Pneumatic Tools
• Water Pressure Tools – Water pressure gauge
• Electric tools – Wire crimpers, grinders, clamps, bolt cutters, hot cutters, etc.
• Power Tools – Chainsaw, impact gun, air compressor, line probe rod
• Hand tools – Allen wrench, hammer, screw driver, wrench, pliers, levels, fire engine wrench,
• Combustible tools – Torches, welder’s torch
• Ladder – 10-foot, 15-25 foot, and mechanized ladder on bucket truck
• Shovel
• Radar – GPS, Ground Radar Unit

     TECHNOLOGY                     

• ATS
• GIS Software
• Viewer
• Microsoft office – Excel, Word, Outlook (E-mail)

SAFETY GEAR

• Fire Retardant Uniform
• Hard Hat
• Safety Glasses
• Life Jacket
• Harness

• Gloves – leather, rubber and high-voltage (primary and secondary)
• Cones
• PPE

• Dust Mask
• Earplugs
• Rubber Apron
• Painter’s Mask

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbent must be able to:

• Perform work exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
• Know when it is appropriate to use standard safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets and specialized safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, masks, etc.
• Stand for long periods of time and/or sprint, run.
• Maintain composure while being exposed to the elements (i.e., change in weather condition, temperature fluctuations, etc.).
• Perform activities such as kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling.
• Work in potentially awkward precarious positions and confined spaces that may have limited oxygen availability (e.g., working in a manhole, pit, trench, etc.).
• Maintain composure and be able to effectively perform work in steep situations.
• Climb ladders, roofs/scaffolds or poles that are more than 10ft. high.
• Readily lift more than 50 lbs.; know how to safely lift heavier objects.
• Have complete hand dexterity (i.e., must make repetitive hand movements, grasping, hand manipulations, pushing, pulling, fine manipulation).
• Reach over the shoulder and bend below the shoulder level.
• Use feet to operate foot controls.
• Effectively work in situations that may cause permanent injury or death if not safely handled. All Water Technicians must be able to:
• work with and safely handle potentially dangerous materials that may cause electrocution or electric shock (e.g., any hot line work).
• work with and safely handle potentially dangerous materials that may explode (e.g., combustible gases, flammable gases, bad chemical reactions, etc.).
• work with and safely handle potentially dangerous materials that may cause burns or freezing of body parts (e.g., air compressors, propane, hot engine/mechanical parts, high voltage flashes, steam, flash fires, etc.).
• work with and be able to safely manage potentially dangerous wildlife and plants (e.g., bees, bats, raccoons, foxes, lizards, snakes, scorpions, alligators, fire ants, poison ivy, sticker bushes, etc.).
• work with and be able to negotiate and effectively manage conflicts with potentially dangerous members [e.g., members who may have a gun or knife and/or members who may have a dangerous animal (dog)].
• work with and safely handle potentially dangerous chemical fumes [e.g., transformer oil (PCB), spray paint, chlorine, pipe glue, jet fuel, rust cleaner, cable cleaner, bleach, etc.].
• work with and safely handle potentially dangerous substances that may harm themselves or others (e.g., boring mud, fiberglass, arsenic/creosote, lead paint, asbestos, etc.).
• Perform other heavy physical labor as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Work will take place in the field where incumbent will be exposed to the elements including inclement weather, hazardous situations and chemicals. Will work in situations that are extremely dangerous or life-threatening. Will work with potentially dangerous equipment/chemicals that could be extremely dangerous or life-threatening. Some inner office work is necessary and/or will take place at a computer terminal.

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