Cross Connection Specialist

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

Tentative Interview dates subject to change 10/7, 10/8, 10/9 and 10/10.

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.

- Santa Margarita Water District is hiring a Cross Connection Specialist! In this full-time role on our Cross Connection Control Program team, you’ll help safeguard high-quality drinking water for over 200,000 customers by leading our cross-connection control and backflow prevention program—conducting surveys and field inspections, coordinating device testing, and partnering with customers and contractors. If you’re collaborative, service-driven, and innovation-minded, apply by 9/19/2025 to do work that matters.

Job Summary

Under direct supervision, assists in the development and implementation of the District’s Cross-Connection Program to ensure compliance with state and local regulations; inspects and tests backflow prevention devices; assists with technical and administrative work associated with specialized cross-connection and backflow prevention reports, research, billing services, and related program demands.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

A Cross-Connection Specialist is a technical classification requiring journey-level know­ledge needed to inspect backflow devices and cross connections in the District’s systems. The incumbent is responsible for inspecting new and existing projects and requires coordination with District personnel and contractors to ensure regulatory compliance. The work requires a working knowledge of cross-connec­tion backflow rules, regulations, policies and procedures.

This position may report to the Engineering or the Water Use Efficiency Department and is differentiated from the Sr. Cross Connection Specialist in that the incumbent in the latter position performs highly responsible and complex work in administering the cross-connection program and carries out work the use of independent judgment and initiative.

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.

- Performs cross-connection tests for new and existing recycled water use sites; reviews plans and specifications for new recycled irrigation customers; ensures cross-connection rules and regulations are followed; ensures proper separation between non-domestic and domestic water lines, that there is no cross connection between the two systems, and that all non-domestic lines are properly marked and meet District standards and specifications; makes recommendations to comply with backflow standards; collects associated fees; coordinates with appropriate State and County health agencies to ensure compliance with backflow and cross-connection regulations.

- Inspects non-domestic mainlines and lateral lines prior to backfill to ensure District regulations are met; oversees mainline pressure testing; conducts final inspection on completed projects.

- Implements a periodic inspection schedule to ensure annual testing; notifies customers of need for scheduled testing; tracks responses and prepares follow-up notices for noncompliance; locks off water services in cases of non-compliance as necessary.

- Responds to inquiries from contractors, developers, engineers and the public concerning District rules and regulations regarding the cross-connection control of potable and recycled water systems; investigates, reviews and responds to customer complaints regarding backflow devices or cross connections; resolves complaints in a timely and efficient manner.

- Assists with inspecting and testing new and existing backflow devices and grease interceptors for the District’s backflow prevention and cross-connection control program; ensures compliance with District, federal, state and local backflow and cross-connection regulations; resolves issues with contractors or issues stop work notices until violations are corrected.

- Tracks and maintains a variety of engineering department records and activities including internal inspection requests, results, reports, plan updates, annual non-domestic water certifications; completes work orders.

- 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.

- Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.

Knowledge of:

- Principles, practice, techniques, operation and maintenance of cross connections and backflow devices.

- Operations, services and activities of the District cross-connection control program.

- Operating characteristics of District water and recycled water distribution systems, equipment and facilities.

- Operating characteristics of plumbing, water system, irrigation system, and related devices, backflow devices and cross-connection control problems and their prevention.

- Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations regarding the installation and testing of backflow devices, including recycled water codes and regulations.

- Principles and practices of sound business communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation.

- Principles and practices of customer service.

- Safety policies and safe work practices applicable to the work.

- Records management, recordkeeping, reporting and basic purchasing practices and procedures.

- Uses and operations of computers, standard business software and specialized database and spread­sheet applications.

Ability to:

- Inspect a variety of water systems and backflow prevention devices.

- Interpret, apply and enforce pertinent rules and regulations; interpret and explain cross-connec­tion and water quality regulations.

- Review and interpret blueprints, plans and manufacturers’ manuals pertaining to irrigation, commercial, and industrial complexes to determine compliance with District, state and federal standards.

- Use sampling equipment, meters, related test apparatus and other tools.

- Analyze and interpret the results of a variety of cross-connection control tests and water quality tests.

- Enforce compliance with federal, state and local requirements by issu­ing verbal and written warnings for violations and by guiding noncompliant users back to compliance.

- Prepare a variety of inspection and compliance reports, forms and documents that may become public record and used in a court of law.

- Operate a computer, standard business software and a variety of computer software programs and databases related to area of assignment.

- Maintain and update a database of existing and new recycled water users; produce reports of recycled users and annual demands; assist with updating District’s GIS and grid books with respect to domestic and non-domestic water systems.

- Define issues, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives and develop sound, independent conclu­sions and recommendations in accordance with laws, regulations, rules and policies.

- Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

- Understand and follow written and oral instructions.

- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work.

- Safely operate a District vehicle on city streets and freeways.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education, Training And Experience

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:

Graduation from high school or GED equivalent, and one year of progressively responsible experi­ence in operation and/or maintenance of water distribution facilities, with an emphasis on cross connection or enforcement of cross-connection programs that included the inspection and testing of backflow preven­tion assemblies; or an equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience in a public agency is preferred.

Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:

Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid California Class C driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.

Ability to obtain within a year of being hired a Cross-Connection Control Specialist Certificate issued by the American Water Works Association or State Water Board-recognized certifying organization and certificate for testing of backflow prevention devices by a certifying program.

California State Water Resources Control Board Water Distribution System Operator Grade I certification is required.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk and hear; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; perform repetitive movements of hands or wrists; climb or balance on ladders or stairs; stoop, kneel, bend at the waist, crouch or crawl; and smell. The employee is frequently required to lift up to 40 pounds unaided.

Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distance vision, use of both eyes, depth perception, color vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Mental Demands

While performing the duties of this class, an employee uses written and oral communication skills; reads and interprets data, information and documents; analyzes and solves problems; uses math and mathe­matical reasoning; observes and interprets people and situations; learns and applies new information and skills; performs highly detailed work; deals with changing deadlines, constant interrup­tions and multiple concurrent tasks; and interacts with others encountered in the course of work.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee works in an office and field environment where the noise level is moderate. The employee regularly works in outdoor weather conditions; extreme heat or cold; wet, humid conditions; on uneven or slippery surfaces; near moving mechanical parts and equipment; and near heavy traffic. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, biological hazards, and loud or prolonged noise.