
Santa Margarita Water District
Utility Operator (Valve & Hydrants)
Meet Santa Margarita Water District
Santa Margarita Water District is a dynamic, forward-thinking agency dedicated to delivering high-quality potable water, recycled water, and wastewater services to its 200,000 customers across Southern Orange County. As one of the region’s largest and most impactful utilities, we are committed to the highest standards of transparency, innovation, and environmental stewardship.
Our people drive our progress, innovation, and results. Our collaborative, human-first culture fosters the sense of fun, comradery, and a rewarding sense of purpose as we do work that matters.
Dynamic teams of intelligent individuals work collaboratively to achieve SMWD’s goals and solve challenges with a common aim that fosters a unique bond that is not often found in governmental agencies.
Santa Margarita Water District’s values include:
- Exemplary service excellence
- Intelligent innovation that is forward-thinking and adaptive
- Ethical fiscal responsibility and transparency
- Environmental and resource stewardship
- Employee development and leadership training
- Building relationships that strengthen communities
The District is hiring a Utility Operator for the Value and Hydrant Crew. Day to day duties would include performing preventative maintenance on water distribution system and water transmission line system. Duties would include safely operating and maintaining valves and hydrants in the District’s potable and recycle water systems, exercising valves, repairing and replacing valves, flushing fire hydrants, air vac maintenance, flushing blow offs, fire hydrant painting, and other preventative maintenance duties. Incumbent needs to track work completed by utilizing the District’s CMMS program and GIS software, and report totals to Crew Chief at the end of each day. Clear communication is expected within the crew and crew chief.
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed by individual positions.
JOB SUMMARY
Under general supervision, performs both routine and skilled heavy, physical work in the construction, maintenance, mechanical repair and operation of District infrastructure and related structures and appurtenances; operates a variety of hand and power tools; performs related work as assigned
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Utility Operator is the working level position in this series and initially is under close supervision. Incumbents learn and perform a variety of duties in the construction, maintenance, mechanical repair and operation of District infrastructure.
Positions in this class may work under the direction of a Senior Utility Operator and are expected to handle most assignments without detailed instructions as to specific procedures to be followed. This position may advance to the higher level after gaining experience and demonstrating proficiency which meet the qualifications of the higher-class level.
Essential Functions:
ESSENTIAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.
- Installs, maintains and repairs water distribution and sewer systems, including pipelines, taps, laterals, valves, meter services, fire hydrants and related appurtenances and treatment plant equipment; performs construction and maintenance work on District buildings and facilities as assigned.
- Excavates and shores trenches; backfills cuts, patches, repairs and resurfaces streets; cleans up work sites; installs, raises, lowers and grades valve cans.
- Operates service truck to respond to customer requests; determines source of problem; clears lines or reports work needed; advises customer if problem is not the District’s responsibility; pumps flooded areas.
- Observes safe work methods and safety practices related to the work; cones and flags work sites to secure from traffic; shores trenches, operates pipe location and gas detection equipment; uses appropriate safety equipment; operates and maintains a wide variety of hand tools related to the work, including spaders, tampers, breaking guns, jackhammers, concrete saws, etc; operates a variety of trucks and equipment, including small backhoes, hydrovators, jet and machine rodders, dump trucks, etc.; inspects vehicles and performs minor maintenance, reports needed repairs.
- Fuels and lubricates vehicles and related equipment; operates assigned vehicles skillfully and safely; observes safe driving practices; operates and maintains a wide variety of hand and power tools and equipment related to work assignments.
- Estimates and secures tools, materials and equipment necessary to complete assignments, orders parts and supplies as necessary.
- Reads and interprets maps, schematics, plans, blueprints and specifications.
- Completes basic records related to work performed; may collect and enter data into computer system.
- May occasionally act in a lead capacity on specific jobs.
- Responds to emergency situations during off-hours as required. Participates in standby duties at the sole discretion of the District.
- Responds to customer calls, troubleshoots problems related to water pressure, quality, flow, plumbing, billing, sewer lateral connections, sewer back-ups, and other general customer service concerns.
- Responds to emergency situations during off-hours as required; participates in standby duties at the sole discretion of the District.
- Operate a vehicle and a variety of hand tools and test equipment related to the work.
- Operates vehicles in performing assignments; ensures assigned vehicle is checked for proper fuel and fluid levels; inspects and fuels vehicle; reports any inoperable deficiencies through daily trip logs.
- Observes safe work methods and safety practices related to work; cones and flags work sites to secure from traffic; shores trenches; uses appropriate safety equipment; operates and maintains a wide variety of hand tools related to the work, including spaders, tampers, breaking guns, jackhammers, concrete saws, etc.; learns to operate a variety of trucks and equipment; inspects vehicles and performs minor maintenance, reports needed repairs.
- Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.
Requisite Abilities/Qualifications & Guidelines:
Ability to:
- Perform a variety of construction, repair and maintenance tasks.
- Work under routine and emergency conditions, sometimes in severe weather.
- Work efficiently and safely with others.
- Understand and follow instructions and directions.
- Perform a wide variety of physically strenuous tasks.
- Enter data into computer system.
- Safely operate heavy construction and repair equipment.
- Operate and properly repair valves, fittings and hydrants.
- Read, interpret and understand blueprints and construction drawings.
- Assist in training personnel.
- Maintain records.
- Maintain and repair equipment and tools.
- Operate and maintain a variety of hand and power tools and equipment.
- Properly place cones, barricades and warning devices and direct traffic flow at job sites.
- Exercise independent judgment and initiative without close supervision.
- Meet the physical requirements established by the District.
- Safely operate a District vehicle on city streets and freeways.
Knowledge of:
- Methods, techniques, tools and equipment used in the installation, maintenance and repair of mechanical equipment and machinery common to large water and wastewater systems.
- Machine shop procedures and practices.
- Use and operation of oxyacetylene and electric arc welding equipment and materials.
- Pipe materials, fittings and pipefitting tools and methods.
- Safe Drinking Water Act, AWWA, Title 22 of California’s Water Recycling Criteria and relevant state and federal regulations.
- Water mathematics.
- Methods for the safe operation of light, medium, and heavy-duty motorized equipment, as certified.
- Knowledge of traffic control practices and requirements.
- Principles and practices of sound business communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
- Safety policies and safe work practices applicable to work.
- Records management, recordkeeping, filing and basic purchasing practices and procedures.
- Uses and operations of computers, standard business software and specialized database and spreadsheet applications.
Additional Information:
QUALIFICATIONS
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education, Training and Experience:
Equivalent to graduation from high school and one year of work experience as a laborer in construction, mechanical, and maintenance of water distribution and wastewater collection systems.
Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:
- Possession of a Class C California driver’s license (unless a Class A or B is specified below), a satisfactory driving record and the ability to maintain insurability under the District’s vehicle insurance program.
- Annual certification for CPR, First Aid, Confined-Space Entry and use of Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) per OSHA requirements are required.
Valve & Hydrant
- T1 Certificate from SWRCB; D2 Certificate from SWRCB