Water Meter Technician

City of Lubbock; Lubbock (TX); On-site; USD 38,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Lubbock seeks a Metering Technician to support the advanced metering infrastructure for the public water system. You will install, diagnose, maintain, and repair meters and related equipment, while assisting customers with metering and billing concerns.

Role requires a high school diploma or GED with 2 years of customer service experience; on-site work with physical demands and potential licensing within 12 months. Public safety and reliability are essential.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and two years of customer service experience; or an equivalent combination of education and training.
• Knowledge of metering technology, software programs and diagnostics for meters, billing and maintenance.
• Ability to obtain required licenses within the required timeframe and operate within safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Inspect and diagnose metering technology and perform meter diagnostics, analytics and maintenance for billing or equipment failure.
• Install, repair, and maintain meters, ancillary equipment, and meter vaults; operate hand tools and heavy equipment as needed.
• Manage data retrieval for service status, verify billing, and resolve customer inquiries related to metering and billing.
• Respond to emergencies, on-call shifts, and communicate effectively with customers and City departments.

Skills

Metering systems knowledge

Customer service

Communication

Data analysis

Safety compliance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Meter reading software

Mobile devices

Hand tools

Heavy equipment operation

Job description

Responsible in the daily operations of the advanced metering infrastructure of the public water system, which includes meter installation, software programming, inspection and diagnosis of software and infrastructure, and routine maintenance. Serves as first responders to all issues related to the water meter infrastructure.

• Inspects and diagnoses metering technology utilizing specific software programs to perform meter diagnostics, analytics and meter maintenance for the purposes of either billing and/or equipment failure;
• Executes routine maintenance, repairs, and installation of meters, ancillary equipment, and meter vaults;
• Understands equipment operations, programs, and methods used in monitoring and troubleshooting the performance of communication equipment;
• Evaluates hardware and software to determine functionality, water flow, water pressure and water quantity;
• Maintain physical inventory of water meters, registers, meter boxes, and radio communication devices;
• Performs disconnects and connects for water meters;
• Performs water sampling for customers utilizing specialized equipment for water quality testing;
• Diagnoses potential problems that can affect the public water supply or the health and safety of the water customer;
• Acts as primary contact for all metering and billing issues reported by City of Lubbock billing office, water dispatch, and customers concerning advanced metering hardware and software;
• Retrieves utility metering data to verify service status and resolve billing concerns;
• Completes duplication of customer volume consumption to verify accurate billing;
• Investigates non-billed consumption situations to attempt to determine who is using service;
• Educates customers and personnel on water quality, high bill, and advanced metering infrastructure;
• Flushes fire hydrants to maintain water quality as needed;
• Diagnoses any potential cross connection or backflow that would adversely affect the water quality;
• Performs on-call and shift work duties as needed;
• Responds to emergencies which have the potential to adversely affect the customer or the public water supply;
• Perform assigned duties, as required.

High school diploma/GED and two years of customer service experience, with an additional one-year mechanical or technical experience; or an equivalent combination of education, experience and training.

Physical Exam Required

Valid current driver's license

If no previous experience, a Class D water distribution license issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) must be obtained within 12 months of eligibility. If existing experience, at the direction of the supervisor, either a Class C water distribution license or Class D water distribution license will be required within 12 months after eligibility. Eligibility is defined as the completion of TCEQ required classes necessary to test.

*** Critical Infrastructure: This position has been determined to have close contact with, or control of Critical Infrastructure components. This position is subject to extensive background checks and random drug screening. ***

Knowledge and abilities:

• Maintenance methods and procedures applicable to plumbing and/or water and wastewater systems;
• Local and state laws and regulations governing public water systems;
• Standards for maintaining, repairing, and testing a variety of meters used in residential, commercial, and industrial settings;
• Interacting with computers, mobile devices, or other hardware;
• Principles and processes for providing customer service;
• Review, and prioritize work orders and customer concerns;
• Locate, sort, and verify accuracy of data and work orders ;
• Communicate effectively with the customer;
• Operate various hand tools;
• Operate heavy equipment;
• Obtain required licenses and certifications within the required timeframe.

Physical Requirements:

• Frequently walk and stand during the shift;
• Frequently climb stairs, ladders, and other inclined surfaces;
• Frequently bend and kneel during the shift;
• Frequently lift and carry up to 75 pounds;
• Occasionally lift and carry up to 100 pounds;
• Frequently flex upper trunk forward at the waist and at the knees;
• Frequently rotate upper trunk to the left or right while kneeling, sitting or standing;
• Frequently push and pull objects and place arms above, at, and below shoulder height;
• Coordinate eye, hand, and foot movement in order to operate a vehicle;
• Work is subject to exposure to frequent travel, extreme weather conditions.