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Water industry network technician - Water distribution network technician

Water industry network technician - Water distribution network technician

Engineering and manufacturing

Level 3 - Technical Occupation

Water industry network technicians respond to incidents and monitor water or waste water networks, resolving issues or identifying action required.

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Reference: OCC1292B

Status: assignment_turned_inApproved occupation

Average (median) salary: £32,351 per year

SOC 2020 code: 8134 Water and sewerage plant operatives

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:

  • 8134/01 Water and sewerage distribution operatives
  • 8159/07 Drainage operatives

Technical Education Products

ST1292:

Water industry network technician - Water distribution network technician

(Level 3)

Approved for delivery

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities, Wessex Water

Summary

Water network technicians work in the water industry. 

Employers in the industry range from small to large but are mainly large. 

This is a core and option apprenticeship. Apprentices will be trained and assessed against the core and one option (occupation). There are three options: 

  • Option1. Water distribution network technician 
  • Option 2. Water leakage technician 
  • Option 3. Wastewater network technician 

Water industry network technicians work outdoors on water or wastewater networks and may go to customer premises. They also spend time in the office. 

They may be required to drive between locations. Typically, a driving licence is required. 

They work in all weather conditions. 

As 24 hour and seven days per week operations, they may need to undertake standby duties and work shifts outside normal working hours.

The broad purpose of the occupations is to ensure continuity and efficiency of water or wastewater industry network services. 

In their daily work, they interact with operatives and other technicians. Plus stakeholders from teams across water or wastewater services, or within the wider business. This may include scientific teams, process treatment, engineering, maintenance, call centre, network optimisation, and contractors. They engage with customers and members of the public. They may also interact with internal and external stakeholders. This may include representatives from the Environmental Agency, police, highways, and other external regulators. 

They typically report to operational or network managers. They work with minimal supervision. They may work as part of a team and alone. 

They are responsible for meeting quality, industry regulations, safety, security, and environmental requirements. They ensure the health and safety of self and others. They need to consider how their work has the potential to impact customer service and the company's finances and reputation. 

Water distribution network technicians carry out planned and unplanned valving operations. They undertake customer visits to resolve water quality enquiries, which may include taking water quality samples and giving advice on water quality. They undertake and provide advice to customers on water fittings. They must take account of Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations.

Water leakage technicians use systems to identify potential and actual leakage and undertake activities or identify action required to reduce leakage. They assist in the repair and maintenance of meters and loggers. They will provide advice to customers on pipework ownership and responsibilities pertaining to leakage. 

Water distribution network technicians and water leakage technicians must have a National Water Hygiene (Blue) card. This involves training and assessment, and health screening. 

Wastewater technicians respond to incidents and monitor wastewater networks resolving issues or identifying action required. They carry out or supervise system maintenance activities such as high-pressure water jetting and de-silting operations. They undertake surveys for example CCTV camera work or Sonde tracing equipment to assist with fault diagnosis.  

Wastewater network technicians must take account of Environmental Quality Standards relating to planned and unplanned discharges. 

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Anglian Water, Northumbrian Water, Severn Trent Water, United Utilities, Wessex Water

eco

Mid Green occupation

Typical job titles include:

Network customer technician or inspectors
Quality assurance technician
Sewer network inspector
Sewerage technician
Wastewater network technician
Wastewater sewerage network technician
Water distribution leakage technician
Water distribution network technician
Water field technician
Water recycling technician

Keywords:

Sewerage
Waste Water
Water Audit
Water Damage
Water Sanitation

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1: Overview of water and wastewater industries. Regulators and stakeholders: Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), Water Services Regulation Authority (OFWAT), Customer Council for Water (CCWater), Environment Agency (EA), Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), and highway authority, Market Operator Services Limited (MOSL) (wholesale and retail) – roles and powers.
K2: Technician’s role. Limits of autonomy. Different teams and functions involved in operations: how they work together.
K3: Business operation considerations: how activities may impact customers, financial constraints, ethical business practices. Customer Experience Measure (CMEX). Regulatory and legislative performance measures: Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) and Director General (DG) - response to written complaints (DG7).
K4: Operational and quality systems and procedures. Escalation procedures. What they are and how to use them.
K5: Digital documentation requirements (data logging) for example, maintenance records, and asset check records.
K6: Water and wastewater science. Microbiological parameters. Chemical parameters. Aesthetic parameters. Prescribed concentration or value, or legal limits. Industry target standards: how they may vary across companies.
K7: Maths commonly used in the water and wastewater industries. S.I units. Calculations. Standard form. Measurement of distance, area, volume and flow, and unit conversion. Simple transposition of formula. Routine flow and hydraulics theories, principles, and calculations.
K8: New Roads and Street Works Act (NRSWA) - signing, lighting, and guarding.
K9: Access to Private Land, Streets and Wayleaves.
K10: Duty to maintain apparatus in streets (Highway defect notices – section 81).
K11: Health and Safety at Work Act – responsibilities. Management of health and safety at work regulations. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (CoSHH). Risks and hazards. Risk assessments and controlling risk. Control methods for harmful substances and chemicals, effluents, and sludge. Health and safety signage. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Manual handling. Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR). Asbestos awareness. Lone working. Confined spaces awareness. Awareness of excavation support. Working at height. Working time directive. First aid. Emergency procedures. Drug and alcohol awareness. Permits to work. Storage of tools, equipment and materials. ATEX compliance (safety requirements of the workplace and equipment used in explosive atmosphere). Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR). Pressure System Safety Regulations (PSSR). Provision of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER). Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER). Safe isolation of plant and equipment (lockout, tagout).
K12: Asset security requirements and procedures.
K13: Environment and sustainability. Environmental Protection Act. Types of pollution and control measures. Principles of sustainable development. Waste management and waste streams. Invasive species and Duty of Care in the Environmental aspect.
K14: Fault finding and problem-solving techniques: root cause analysis and diagnostics. Optimisation.
K15: Information and digital technology: email, word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, remote working platforms, and work and asset management systems. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
K16: Communication techniques: verbal, written and electronic. Adapting style to audience.
K17: Customer service techniques. Priority customers.
K18: Documentation requirements for example maintenance records, asset check records.
K19: Team working and culture. How to work as part of a team, the importance of establishing and meeting the requirements of different roles. Negotiation and conflict management techniques.
K20: Equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace.
K21: The Water Supply (water fittings) regulations: waste, misuse, undue consumption, erroneous measurement, and contamination.
K22: National water hygiene: importance of water, water as a carrier of disease, potential contamination and its consequences and preventing contamination.
K23: Water science. Liquids, gases, and solid states commonly found in water industry. Elements, molecules, compounds, and ions. The pH scale, acids, and alkalinity. Physical, chemical, and biological process definition.
K24: Water quality requirements. Drinking water safety plans. Water quality parameters and the role of water quality alarms. Exceedance procedures. Water quality incident investigation requirements. Water quality records. Consequences of failure.
K25: Restoration of supplies. Provision of alternative supplies.
K26: Water network assets and design: pumps and control valves, air valves, PRVs (Pressure Reducing Valve), PSVs (Pressure Sustaining Valve), wash-outs and fire hydrants, pumping stations, and treated water storage.
K27: Types of maintenance: planned preventative maintenance, and reactive. Calibration requirements.
K28: Water quality monitoring, sampling, and testing requirements and techniques. Equipment, resources, and materials used. Sampling points.
K29: Materials used in clean water networks (mains and services): regulation 31.
K30: Valve and hydrant operations. Interruption to supply (DG3).
K31: Water distribution network technician. Pressure management. Low Pressure Register (DG2).
K32: Leakage monitoring methods and equipment: leak noise correlators, ground microphones, listening stick, acoustic loggers, and step test. 'Reactive' use of flow meter data (telemetry or nightlines).
K33: Sources of leakage. High users. Unaccounted for properties. Change of use of buildings. Theft investigation. Domestic and commercial leakage. Determining pipe ownership. Notification process.

S1: Comply with (water or wastewater) industry regulations and procedures.
S2: Complete risk assessments: identify and document risks and hazards in the workplace. Apply control measures.
S3: Comply with health and safety regulations, and safe working and security practices and procedures.
S4: Set out and remove signing, lighting, and guarding.
S5: Conduct vehicle checks.
S6: Conduct and assess impact of activity for example, environmental, cost, reputation, safety, and health. Apply control measures.
S7: Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and requirements . For example, safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials, and efficient use of resources.
S8: Apply principles of sustainable development. For example, in choice of materials.
S9: Trace and locate network services.
S10: Collect mitigation data or evidence.
S11: Check technician tools and equipment. Conduct maintenance for example, calibration.
S12: Identify issues. Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques: identify root cause. Resolve faults.
S13: Consider, identify, and promote areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and impact.
S14: Use information technology. Follow cyber security requirements. Comply with GDPR.
S15: Interpret digital mapping systems and update.
S16: Complete work documentation: enter and record data and information using digital technology for example, hand-held devices.
S17: Read and interpret written information. For example, work instructions, and service level agreements.
S18: Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, equipment, traffic management, and personnel.
S19: Prioritise work activities.
S20: Communicate verbally and in writing. For example, with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders. Use water industry terminology where appropriate.
S21: Identify and escalate issues.
S22: Provide advice and guidance to customers.
S23: Liaise with, negotiate with, and handle conflict in individual or group environments.
S24: Apply and enforce water fittings regulations to customer installations for example, rainwater harvest systems and solar panels.
S25: Read and interpret technical data for example, flows and pressures.
S26: Install pressure gauges.
S27: Conduct flow and pressure measurements.
S28: Identify different valve types. Operate multiple valves, hydrants and washouts including isolation and recharging of mains.
S29: Follow hygiene practices for example, disinfect equipment.
S30: Select and use water quality testing equipment to test for water quality for example, chlorine, turbidity, taste, odour, and clarity.
S31: Sample for chemical and micro-biological analysis.
S32: Set up temporary loggers (flow and pressure).
S33: Carry out network optimisation activity. For example, PRV, PSV, and air valve maintenance.
S34: Select and use leakage detection tools and methods to identify source of leakage. For example, step testing, acoustic and electronic, data logging ground microphones, and correlators.
S35: Inspect and check network assets for example, air values, PRV, critical values, fire hydrant. Identify action.
S36: Select and use equipment to complete planned preventative maintenance. For example, conduct high velocity mains cleansing and low turnover flushing.

B1: Prioritise and promote public health, workplace health and safety, and security.
B2: Prioritise and promote the environment, and sustainability.
B3: Apply a professional approach.
B4: Take ownership for work and responsibility for the quality of work and impact on others.
B5: Team-focus to meet work goals: support others.
B6: Respond and adapt to work demands.
B7: Committed to continued professional development to maintain and enhance competence in own area of practice.

Duties

Duty D1

Conduct customer visits and liaise with customers. For example, in relation to network queries and investigation findings.

Duty D2

Investigate network complaints.

Duty D3

Complete the initial survey of street works and traffic management requirements and make arrangements.

Duty D4

Contribute to network continuous improvement and optimisation projects. For example, flushing plan to improve water quality or pressure optimisation.

Duty D5

Maintain network digital data and documentation. For example, asset records.

Duty D6

Ensure the maintenance of technician's tools and equipment.

Duty D7

Respond to water quality events for example, no water events, taste and odour concerns and poor pressure.

Duty D8

Monitor water network performance measures to identify issues for example, water pressure, flows, and leakage.

Duty D9

Re-zone distribution system.

Duty D10

Investigate and diagnose faults on the water network and complete action required. For example, Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs) and network configuration issues.

Duty D11

Survey water network assets and raise remedial work.

Duty D12

Contribute to preventative maintenance of network, assets and systems. For example, pumps and control valves, air valves, PRVs (Pressure Reducing Valves), PSVs (Pressure Safety Valves), wash-outs and fire hydrants.

Duty D13

Undertake reactive leakage detection.

Duty D14

Carry out water quality sampling.

Duty D15

Support the business with pollution investigations or incidents. For example, flushing to waste following mains repair.