Meter Reader

California Water Service; Los Altos (CA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

California Water Service Group is seeking a Meter Reader to obtain water meter reads for residential and commercial customers. The role includes route management, meter reassignment, defect assessment, and reporting tampering or cross-connections.

The ideal candidate will have a High School diploma, a California driver’s license, and knowledge of water quality parameters. The position requires accurate readings, basic math, and strong communication with customers and colleagues.

Qualifications

• Must have good communication with supervisor, coworkers and the public.
• Basic math to calculate figures.
• Able to read and interpret safety rules, maintenance instructions, and procedures.
• Must possess a High School diploma or equivalent and a valid California Class C Driver’s license.
• Working knowledge of word processing and email programs (e.g., Word, Outlook).
• Teamwork and ability to respond to feedback, supervision, and coaching.
• Knowledge of water quality specs and NPDES rules.

Responsibilities

• Investigate customer inquiries regarding high bills and water quality issues.
• Diagnose pressure concerns and notify appropriate personnel for repairs.
• Take corrective action based on findings.
• Collect water samples throughout the distribution system as needed.
• Verify status of existing fire services and read detector meters.
• Flush mains to a minor extent.

Skills

Communication

Math literacy

Reading comprehension

Teamwork

MS Word

MS Outlook

Integrity

Education

High School diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

California Water Service Job Description: California Water Service Group (Cal Water) invites you to build a meaningful career with the third largest publicly traded water utility in the United States. Guided by our mission to be the leading provider of water and wastewater services, we are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the customers, communities, and employees we serve. Our culture is grounded in core values—integrity, quality, service, value, health and safety, respect and collaboration, and corporate citizenship and is reflected in our recognition as a Top Workplace®, a Great Place to Work®, and a J.D. Power leader in customer satisfaction for multiple years. Join Cal Water and be part of a purpose driven organization where your work makes a lasting impact. The Meter Reader (MR) obtains water meter reads for all commercial and residential customers at a designated location based upon a route; assists with assigning new meters to routes and reroutes as necessary; assess meters for defects; reports tampering and potential cross connection situations.

Essential Functions

• Investigate customer inquiries regarding high bills and water quality issues
• Diagnose high/low pressure concerns; notify appropriate personnel when needed for repairs or further diagnostics; dirty water, hi/low pressure, no water, taste and odor, air
• Take corrective action based on findings
• Collect water samples throughout the distribution system as needed
• Verify status of existing fire services and read detector meter
• Flush mains to a minor extent
• Understand cross connections

Other Duties and Responsibilities

Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• A MR 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
• 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, a valid California Class C Driver’s license, and be insurable under the Company’s policy
• A MR 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)
• A Meter Reader must be able to work with supervision and respond appropriately to feedback, evaluation, coaching, counseling, and/or discipline
• The job entails an understanding and knowledge of water quality specifications for chlorine content, pH, water temperature, other essential water quality parameters, as well as National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (NPDES) rules and regulations
• California State Water Distribution Operator II certification is required within 11 months of hire.

Salary Range without certification

• $30.69 - Step 1
• $31.99 - Step 2 (6 months)
• $33.17 - Step 3 (12 months)
• $35.05 - Step 4 (18 months)

Salary Range with certification

• $45.39 - Step 1
• $46.58 - Step 2 (6 months)
• $47.90 - Step 3 (12 months)
• $51.03 - Step 4 (18 months)

Deadline to submit resume is Wednesday, November 11, 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, Hawaii Water Service, New Mexico 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.

California Water Service Group invites you to pursue a career in the water industry with the third largest publicly traded water utility in the United States. Our mission is to be the leading provider of water and wastewater services. We’re committed to improving the quality of life for our customers, communities, stockholders, and employees. To achieve that, we align our hiring strategies with the company’s core values of integrity, service, value, health and safety, respect and collaboration, and corporate citizenship so that we can provide quality, service, and value to all of these groups. Our commitment to our employees is evident, as we have been named a Top Workplace in the Bay Area and designated as a Great Place to Work®, and Cal Water was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Water Utilities in the West” by J.D. Power in its inaugural water utility satisfaction study.