Utility Construction Technician

About the role

This position involves performing a wide variety of semi-skilled and skilled tasks in the construction, installation, servicing, repair, and maintenance of Berkeley County Water and Sanitation (BCWS) mains, service lines, and related appurtenances used in the production, treatment, storage, transmission, and distribution of potable water.

Responsibilities

• Performs skilled and semi-skilled work in construction, installation, repair, and maintenance of potable water services and mains comprised of C-900 PVC, asbestos cement, ductile iron, as well as other BCWS infrastructure assets.
• Locates mains and valves by map plots or specialized equipment; locates all utilities by potholing; determines the amount of hand digging required.
• Provides traffic control; prepares barricade plans and sets up and removes barricades to protect crews from street traffic; identifies utility markings at job site to determine safe excavation locations.
• Excavates and backfills sidewalks, streets, trenches, and culverts using hand and power tools; exposes mains and services, following safe dig practices and shutdown procedures; installs and removes various types of trench shoring; fabricates forms and pours and finishes concrete; repairs asphalt surfaces; backfills and tamp with gravel; tamp asphalt fill to grade.
• Cuts mains, services, pipes, and cables to permit repairs and installation; assesses damage and determines materials required to make repairs; replaces old mains and pipes; performs water main taps under pressure or following main shutdowns; operates and exercises large and small valves to shut-off and turn-on water service.
• Performs pipefitting for pressurized mains, both in the shop and in the field; identifies and utilizes transition couplings, full circle repair clamps, pipeline adapters, compression fittings, and other water related materials.
• Operates equipment to locate, analyze, troubleshoot, and repair water leaks in mains and service lines as well as other public utilities; cleans out around damaged area; removes excess water; shuts down and restores water service; notifies supervisors of private property damage.
• Inspects and tests valves; centers valves in boxes; installs, repairs, and replaces corp. stops, meter stops, and curb stop valves under pressure or following main shutdowns; assembles and repairs pressure-reducing and air vacuum release valves; fabricates valve fittings.
• Installs and repairs meters, and meter and valve boxes; raises and lowers valve boxes.
• Performs grounds maintenance activities including weed abatement, pond/site maintenance, including discing, grading, excavating, and various earthworks, etc.
• Hauls and separates spoil to local landfills, recycle facilities, and stockpiles.
• Installs, repairs, replaces, and maintains fire hydrants.
• Documents work performed through mobile application work orders and handwritten field notes.
• Performs data entry on various computer systems including but not limited to Cityworks, EAM, and(or) GIS.

Requirements

• To perform work, must have the ability to attain and maintain a Class D Water Distribution License within 12 months of hire.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license for South Carolina with a safe driving record.
• Must pass departmental testing if required.
• A criminal background check will be completed on selected applicant if a current one (less than 3 years old) is not on file.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or equivalent.
• One (1) year of experience in utility or public works-related maintenance and construction work.

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of methods and techniques of construction maintenance in multiple trades areas including, but not limited to, pipefitting, trenching, shoring, concrete finishing, asphalt repair, and pipe fitting and fabrication.
• Methods and techniques of locating services and valves.
• Common watermain materials i.e., Plastics, C-900 PVC, asbestos cement, ductile iron, steel, copper, brass, polybutylene, etc.
• Operational characteristics of a diverse range of construction equipment, and hand and power tools.
• Construction mathematics.
• Traffic safety methods, practices, and regulations.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and County mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, inspectors, and County staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Ability to read and interpret maps, construction plans, and specifications.
• Ability to perform heavy manual labor.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Physical Demands

• Requires the employee to reach, pull and push with hands and arms; stand; and use hands to handle, feel, finger, grasp or operate objects, tools or controls; sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; use mental acuity and repetitive motion; and walk, talk and hear.
• Frequent lifting and/or moving up to ninety-five (95) pounds with the help of additional workers and(or) mechanical assistance when needed to ensure safe work practices.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Conditions

• The work is regularly performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities and needs.
• Normal working hours are Monday through Thursday 7:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
• Scheduled hours/days, job location, duties and any other information contained herein is subject to change.
• May be required to work extra hours and to perform extra or different duties during emergency situations.