Water Service Inspector (7316) - Citywide - (U00052)

City and County of San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

10d•Onsite

About The Position

This is a Citywide exam for Water Service Inspectors (7316) across various San Francisco City departments, including the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and the San Francisco International Airport. These departments may use the eligibility list established by this recruitment to fill openings over the next year. The essential functions performed by inspectors vary by department. The role involves making inspections of water services, meters, and connections, collecting payments from large consumers, potentially shutting off water for non-payment, connecting services for shipping, and investigating complaints. The work requires explaining regulations, interacting with the public and property representatives, and maintaining records. The nature of the work involves sustained physical effort, occasional heavy work, manual dexterity, and exposure to hazards and disagreeable elements.

Requirements

Two (2) years of experience in a water or wastewater agency performing various phases of field and distribution operations including: water sample collection and field analysis, water service inspection and repair, meter readings, investigation of customer complaints, investigation of customer accounts or investigation and enforcement of efficiency codes and standards.
Possession of a valid California driver’s license.
Ability to lift equipment up to 90 pounds.
Grade 2 Water Distribution Operator Certification upon hire.
Ability to perform field investigations in inspecting for and remedying possible plumbing leaks, including inspecting, maintaining, and replacing service, water meters, meter transmission units, and reporting hazardous conditions.
Ability to make accurate arithmetic calculations such as measuring landscape square footage and calculating water consumption and savings.
Ability to use software programs to collect data, write reports or other documents.
Ability to exercise good judgment, ability to follow through on projects and achieve results; demonstrates resilience to setbacks and flexibility to reprioritize and to quickly adapt to changing situations.
Ability to communicate amicable and clearly with customers, property owners, tenants, property managers and others, frequently under strained and unfriendly conditions.
Ability to sustain physical effort involving lifting vault covers that can weigh up to 90 pounds and maintaining / replacing water meters and meter transmission units which involves manual dexterity, repetitive motions and some heavy lifting; considerable walking, bending and stooping on repetitive operations involving manual dexterity.
The ability to follow standard operating procedures ad comply with the Health and Safety Guidelines while performing duties.
Ability to maintain open dialogue with those contacted in the line of work; establish and maintain cooperative working relations and communications with internal and external parties.
Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently with various agencies, fellow employees, and the public via telephone, in persona and oral reports/presentations.
Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in writing with various agencies, fellow employees, and the public via memos, emails, reports and presentations.

Nice To Haves

Experience conducting indoor water conservation and leak evaluations at residential and non-residential properties and conducting outdoor evaluations of irrigation systems and landscapes.
Possession of a Water Practitioner Grade 1 Certification or proof of training completion from the American Water Works Association.
Possession of a Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Certification or proof of training completion.
Possession of an Irrigation Association Auditor Certification or proof of training completion.
Obtain Grade 3 Water Distribution Operator Certification within eighteen (18) months of appointment.
Obtain Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Certification within eighteen (18) months of appointment.
Obtain Cross Connection Control Specialist Certification within eighteen (18) months of appointment.

Responsibilities

Makes inspections of all types of water services, meters and connections.
Makes collections from large water consumers.
May shut off water supply to enforce payment.
Connects services to supply water to shipping.
Investigates complaints regarding water services.
Investigates complaints and emergency calls pertaining to poor pressure, noises in pipes and fixtures, dirty water, water seepage, bad tastes and odors.
Determines causes of faults, remedies conditions if possible or makes arrangements for dispatching repair crews, or recommends repairs be made by commercial plumber.
Inspects buildings and/or blueprints to determine size of service and meter necessary to insure adequate water supply.
Removes meters and conducts flow and pressure tests.
Advises party on premises of results.
Reinstalls meter.
Reads water meters for changes of accounts.
Turns water on for beginning of new-account.
Inspects premises for leaks or faulty fixtures.
Opens pipes on inside and outside of buildings.
Obtains applications for water service from new occupants.
Collects deposits.
Notifies party of any faulty conditions found.
Makes arrangements for replacement of meters, faulty or noisy.
Reports faulty pavement adjacent to meter and over service lines.
Inspects sidewalk areas which have been broken in connection with water service installation or repair.
Replaces faulty meter box covers.
Makes reports of all conditions found and actions taken.
Acts as special collector for the settlement of delinquent accounts.
Discontinues services after due notice in an effort to enforce collection.
Maintains records of amounts collected.
Reports accounts considered as poor credit risks.
Discusses high bills, collection procedures and department rules and regulations with consumers.
Determines causes of unusual consumption.
Checks premises as to type of occupancy.
Contacts owners or agents and interviews consumers to obtain all available information.
Inspects and tests meters for possible non-operation, irregular operation or other faults.
Inspects plumbing, piping and fixtures.
Takes whatever remedial action that might be necessary and makes official report of findings.
Acts as water service representative in providing water service to ships at various piers and waterfront locations.
Goes aboard ship to obtain signatures of responsible officers and confirm request for water.
Determines quantity of water desired and type of service connections necessary.
Subsequently disconnects meter and service-hose when service is no longer required.
Maintains and repairs water hose services, connections, fittings and couplings.
Makes emergency repairs when necessary.
Keeps related records of services and work performed.
Determines and later verifies that water services have been tapped in designated locations and that service and meters have been installed correctly.
In cases of buildings supplied by two or more meters, determines precisely what each meter supplies and checks cross-connections between meters.
Determines whether or not certain services should be continued, discontinued, abandoned or kept for possible future use.
Maintains surveillance of all building construction and street contract work in the city and county and arranges for water service for such work in accordance with department rules.
Computes charges therefor by use of meters or by calculations, in cases where unmetered service is rendered, and makes required reports.
Inspects fire hydrants and notifies fire department when hydrants are damaged or not being used properly.
Investigates illegal use of water from fire hydrants and water department service connections and takes necessary action to stop violations.
Interprets rules and regulations regarding water usage to contractors, superintendents and engineers.
May performs the duties of a meter reader in relieving regular personnel in cases of absences.
Assigns account numbers to new accounts.
Uses map book to check tap number locations.
Makes appropriate entries in field book.
Takes and records meter readings and computes consumption.
Performs other duties as assigned.