Apprentice: Water System Operator

Job Description:

Under the oversight of a Supervisor or Foreman, a Water System Maintenance Worker (WSMW) assists in performing essential maintenance and repair of water facility infrastructure. This includes repairs and maintenance to water mains, service lines, streets/sidewalks and fire hydrants; repair and replacement of meter boxes; and assists in the general cleanup of facilities including painting, repairing, and maintaining of Company owned or operated facilities.

This is a structured, multi-month apprenticeship that includes on-the-job training, paid classroom learning, and Water Distribution Operator II and Water Distribution Treatment II certifications preparation. The Water Distribution Operator II certification is required to complete the program.

Apprentices will be promoted to a Water Systems Operations Maintenance Worker upon obtaining the Water Distribution Operator II certification. The positions can be located in San Mateo, Atherton, or Los Altos, CA.

Essential Functions:

- Under direction, excavate and expose service/main leaks; isolate damage and assist in repairing or replacing assets; notify customers.

- Assist in repairs and maintenance activities of meters, meter boxes, service lines, mains, wells, pump stations, and fences.

- Assist flushing and performing maintenance on all necessary functions of mains; operate various hand and power tools in the completion of these activities.

- Assist in setting, replacing, and/or removing 1 ½" to 2" size meters.

- Under direction conduct all water discharges with Company's National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) policy including, but not limited to, implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs), monitoring and recording all required data, and completing necessary paperwork related to all discharge events.

- Prepare and operate service truck(s) daily, the loading of needed materials and equipment, remove and dispose of debris, and clean equipment and truck as needed.

- Participate in all scheduled classroom training and certification preparation programs.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

- Change, repair, and clean meter boxes/lids, valve covers.

- Clean, paint, repair, and maintain Company owned or operated facilities.

- May perform other functions as outlined in the CBA section 8 W2 (Water Distribution Operator Certification).

- Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

- Must be able to effectively communicate with their supervisor, co-workers and the public.

- Have the ability to perform basic mathematic functions to calculate figures; and have the ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operation and maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and ability to write routine reports and correspondence.

- Must possess a High School diploma or equivalent.

- California Class C Driver’s license.

- Must have a working knowledge of basic features of word processing programs (e.g., Microsoft Word) and electronic mail processing programs (e.g., Microsoft Outlook).

- Employee must be able to work with supervision and respond appropriately to direction, feedback, evaluation, coaching, counseling, and/or discipline.

- Must obtain California State Water Distribution Operator II certification prior to completing the program.

Salary Range: $29.79 - $36.28

Deadline to submit resume is Friday, January 30, 2026.

The Equal Opportunity Policy of the Company is based upon the philosophy that all people should be treated fairly and with dignity. California Water Service, Hawai'i Water Service, New Mexico Water Service, Texas Water Service, and Washington Water Service do not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or any other protected class. The Company makes all employment decisions in a non-discriminatory manner. EOE, VET, DISABILITIES.