A water or waste water network operative installs, repairs and maintains the pipes bringing in fresh water supplies and the sewers carrying away waste water.
The Work
You could be:
searching, sometimes using closed circuit television (CCTV), to find breaks in pipes due to frost, soil movement, traffic or roadworks
switching valves to divert the water supply away from the area of work
warning customers in advance about operations and cutting off water supply while work is carried out
using road breaker drills, diggers and lifting equipment, and digging a trench to expose the pipes needing maintenance
taking out and replacing the faulty section of a pipe, taking care not to break nearby gas pipes and cables; joining up the parts, making sure they are watertight
refilling the trenches and resurfacing them with tarmac
cleaning the pipes using rods, high pressure water jets, compressed air or carbon dioxide; installing hydrants, stopcocks and meters
working inside sewers if they are large enough, having first checked electronically for dangerous gases and availability of oxygen
carrying out maintenance work at reservoirs and sewage treatment works.
Pay
The figures below are only a guide. Actual pay rates may vary, depending on:
where you work
the size of company or organisation you work for
the demand for the job.
Trainee operatives with Scottish Water start on around £14,200 a year, rising to between £17,772 and £26,317 a year once qualified. They may earn extra through overtime.
In other companies operatives can earn around £20,000 and go up to £38,000 for operatives with several years' experience.
Conditions
You work outdoors in all weathers, perhaps sometimes in remote areas.
You often work indoors in places which are dark, cold, wet, noisy, dusty, smelly and dirty.
You are on 24 hour call out on a rota basis, although normal hours are daytime.
You are on your feet all day, bending and working sometimes in confined spaces.
You have to wear protective clothing and occasionally breathing equipment.
You may be at risk of exposure to dangerous gases and other substances.
You might enter through a Scottish Water Technical: Repair and Maintenance Modern Apprenticeship.
For entry to this Apprenticeship you usually need five subjects at National 4 or 5 including English, Maths and science subject. Two Highers or relevant technical qualifications or experience are an advantage.
Scottish Water also offer 2-year Repair and Maintenance Traineeships for Water and Waste Water. See their website for more details.
You may need a driving licence or be working towards one.
If you have to operate machinery you must be over 18.
2022
