Water Network Inspector

Southern Water; Winchester; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Business van

Tools and fuel card

Health Care Cash plan

Competitive pension

Job summary

Southern Water invites applications for a Water Network Inspector to join our frontline operations. You will help ensure a continuous supply of clean water, respond to incidents, and safeguard water quality across the distribution network.

You will work outdoors in all weather, planning shutdowns and resolving issues, while engaging with customers and internal teams to maintain service excellence. This permanent role is 37 hours per week, with standby opportunities and a supportive environment

Qualifications

• A valid UK manual driving licence (MUST have).
• Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Able to work effectively and efficiently on your own.
• Keen to learn and operate complex processes with high-quality controls.
• Interest or experience in water networks or utilities.
• Interest in developing skills in mechanical or electrical fields (supported through training and apprenticeships).

Responsibilities

• Providing a courteous and efficient service to all customers, from domestic households to large industrial sites.
• Planning, organising, and executing shutdowns to the distribution system, minimising disruption and maintaining supply wherever possible.
• Ensuring procedures for protecting water quality during mains repair work are always followed.
• Acting as the first point of contact during emergencies, determining an appropriate course of action and escalating as required.
• Carrying out inspections and, where possible, resolving customer-related incidents directly.
• Identifying when issues need referral to service partners or internal specialists for further action.

Skills

Driving licence

Job description

Closing Date

2026-09-14

Location: Hampshire - you will also be willing to travel across the county and have a current full driving licence.

Contract Type: Permanent

Hours: 37 hours (Mon - Thurs 8:30 am - 16:30 pm

Fri 8:30 am - 16:00 pm)

Salary: £31,050 per annum plus standby and overtime opportunities.

Standby rota participation can increase earnings significantly.

Benefits:

• Business van, Tools and fuel card

• Heath Care Cash plan

• Competitive pension

• See website for full list

About the role

Join our customer‑facing frontline operations team to help ensure our customers receive a continuous supply of clean, fresh water. As a Water Network Inspector, you play a vital role in safeguarding service quality, resolving customer incidents, and protecting water quality across the distribution network.

Every day is different — you will work outdoors in all weather, respond to customer issues, carry out inspections, plan shutdowns, and take ownership of incident resolution. This role is crucial in keeping water flowing, maintaining customer satisfaction, and supporting operational excellence.

What you will be responsible for:

• Providing a courteous and efficient service to all customers, from domestic households to large industrial sites.

• Planning, organising, and executing shutdowns to the distribution system, minimising disruption and maintaining supply wherever possible.

• Ensuring procedures for protecting water quality during mains repair work are always followed.

• Acting as the first point of contact during emergencies, determining an appropriate course of action and escalating as required.

• Carrying out inspections and, where possible, resolving customer-related incidents directly.

• Identifying when issues need referral to service partners or internal specialists for further action.

Additional Requirements

• Potential to join the a 1 in 5 days standby rota.

What you’ll bring to the role:

Essential

• A valid UK manual driving licence (MUST have).

• Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions.

• Able to work effectively and efficiently on your own.

• Keen to learn and operate complex processes with high-quality controls.

Desirable

• Interest or experience in water networks or utilities.

• Interest in developing skills in mechanical or electrical fields (supported through training and apprenticeships).

Progression opportunities

Southern Water offers career progression, training, and development opportunities.

About Southern Water

Southern Water is at the forefront of transforming Britain’s water industry, investing significantly to enhance resilience, sustainability, and service excellence. With £7.8bn planned investment for 2025-30, this is an unparalleled opportunity to join a business committed to delivering a generational shift in the way water services are managed.

At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box.

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

At Southern Water, we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation. If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and think you can bring value to our team, we’d love to hear from you—even if you don’t tick every box. Your unique skills and experiences could be exactly what we need.

Our Commitment to Diversity

We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. We do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, or any other protected characteristic. If you need reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.

Additional information:

In line with Southern Water’s security requirements, successful candidates will be required to provide evidence of their identity, eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record check (DBS) and verification of their employment and/or education history for the past three years.

Appointment to this role is subject to the successful completion of all pre-employment checks, including security vetting.

Please note that if a candidate does not meet the required security standards or fails to pass the vetting process, Southern Water reserves the right to withdraw the offer of employment. Some positions may also require higher levels of security vetting, which may involve providing additional documentation.