Water Service Inspector (7316) - Citywide - (U00052)

City and County of San Francisco; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The City and County of San Francisco is looking for a Water Service Inspector to support water service inspections across city departments, including meter reads and customer service duties. The role involves working under supervision and performing a range of inspection tasks to ensure proper water distribution and compliance.

Two years of relevant water/wastewater experience and a valid California driver’s license are required.

Qualifications

• Two (2) years of experience in a water or wastewater agency performing various phases of field and distribution operations including water sample collection and field analysis, water service inspection and repair, meter readings, investigation of customer complaints, investigation of customer accounts or investigation and enforcement of efficiency codes and standards.
• License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license.
• Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.
• Special conditions may require additional qualifications such as those different from the standard minimum qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Inspects and tests water services, meters and connections; collects deposits and notifies parties of faulty conditions found.
• Removes meters and conducts flow and pressure tests; advises on results and reinstalls meters.
• Reads water meters for changes of accounts; inspects premises for leaks and faulty fixtures; opens pipes and collects applications for service.
• Maintains records of services and work performed; may perform as meter reader when needed.
• Computes charges for city water services and ensures proper billing and compliance.

Job description

Water Service Inspector (7316) - Citywide - (U00052)

• Full-time
• Certification Rule: Rule of the List
• Exam Type: Class Based Test
• Work Hours: Regular
• Job Code and Title: 7316-Water Service Inspector
• Fill Type: Permanent Civil Service

THIS IS A CITYWIDE EXAM.

• Application Opening: 09/01/2026
• Application Filing Deadline:09/16/2026
• Recruitment ID: CBT-7316-U00052 (REF60247Y)

San Francisco is a vibrant and dynamic city, on the forefront of economic growth and innovation, urban development, arts and entertainment, as well as social issues and change. This rich tapestry of culture and ideas is sustained by our City's commitment to heighten the quality of life for the diverse population of San Franciscans and residents of the greater Bay Area. Our employees play an important role not only in making our city what it is today, but also in shaping the future of San Francisco.

Several City departments employ 7316 Water Service Inspectors, including the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) in its Water Quality Bureau, Customer Service Bureau, City Distribution Division, and Water Conservation Section, as well as the San Francisco International Airport. These departments may use the eligibility list established by this recruitment to fill openings over the next year. The essential functions performed by inspectors varies some by department.

Under general supervision, makes inspections of all types of water services, meters and connections; makes collections from large water consumers; may shut off water supply to enforce payment; connects services to supply water to shipping; investigates complaints regarding water services; and performs related duties as required.

Requires responsibility for: carrying out and explaining existing methods, procedures, rules and regulations pertaining to consumer water services; making regular contacts with the general public, property owners, tenants, building managers, general contractors and other building construction representatives for furnishing or obtaining information and explaining specialized matters pertaining to water services; preparing and maintaining regular operating records pertaining to water services. Nature of work involves considerable sustained physical effort with occasional heavy work requiring manual effort and dexterity with frequent exposure to accident and health hazards and somewhat disagreeable elements.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Investigates complaints and emergency calls pertaining to poor pressure, noises in pipes and fixtures, dirty water, water seepage, bad tastes and odors; determines causes of faults, remedies conditions if possible or makes arrangements for dispatching repair crews, or recommends repairs be made by commercial plumber; inspects buildings and/or blueprints to determine size of service and meter necessary to insure adequate water supply.
• Removes meters and conducts flow and pressure tests; advises party on premises of results; reinstalls meter.
• Reads water meters for changes of accounts; turns water on for beginning of new-account; inspects premises for leaks or faulty fixtures; opens pipes on inside and outside of buildings; obtains applications for water service from new 'occupants; collects deposits; notifies party of any faulty conditions found.
• Makes arrangements for replacement of meters, faulty or noisy; reports faulty pavement adjacent to meter and over service lines; inspects sidewalk areas which have been broken in connection with water service installation or repair; replaces faulty meter box covers; makes reports of all conditions found and actions taken.
• Acts as special collector for the settlement of delinquent accounts; discontinues services after due notice in an effort to enforce collection; maintains records of amounts collected; reports accounts considered as poor credit risks; discusses high bills, collection procedures and department rules and regulations with consumers.
• Determines causes of unusual consumption; checks premises as to type of occupancy; contacts owners or agents and interviews consumers to obtain all available information; inspects and tests meters for possible non-operation, irregular operation or other faults; inspects plumbing, piping and fixtures; takes whatever remedial action that might be necessary and makes official report of findings.
• Acts as water service representative in providing water service to ships at various piers and waterfront locations; goes aboard ship to obtain signatures of responsible officers and confirm request for water; determines quantity of water desired and type of service connections necessary; subsequently disconnects meter and service-hose when service is no longer required; maintains and repairs water hose services, connections, fittings and couplings; makes emergency repairs when necessary; keeps related records of services and work performed.
• Determines and later verifies that water services have been tapped in designated locations and that service and meters have been installed correctly; in cases of buildings supplied by two or more meters, determines precisely what each meter supplies and checks cross-connections between meters; determines whether or not certain services should be continued, discontinued, abandoned or kept for possible future use.
• Maintains surveillance of all building construction and street contract work in the city and county and arranges for water service for such work in accordance with department rules; computes charges therefor by use of meters or by calculations, in cases where unmetered service is rendered, and makes required reports; inspects fire hydrants and notifies fire department when hydrants are damaged or not being used properly; investigates illegal use of water from fire hydrants and water department service connections and takes necessary action to stop violations; interprets rules and regulations regarding water usage to contractors, superintendents and engineers.
• May performs the duties of a meter reader in relieving regular personnel in cases of absences; assigns account numbers to new accounts; uses map book to check tap number locations; makes appropriate entries in field book; takes and records meter readings and computes consumption.

The 7316 Water Service Inspector will perform other duties as assigned.

Experience:

Two (2) years of experience in a water or wastewater agency performing various phases of field and distribution operations including: water sample collection and field analysis, water service inspection and repair, meter readings, investigation of customer complaints, investigation of customer accounts or investigation and enforcement of efficiency codes and standards.AND

License: Possession of a valid California driver’s license

One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2000 hours. (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week.) Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment.

Applicants must meet the minimum qualification requirement by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Special conditions:Some positions may require additional qualifications such as special conditions that may differ from the standard minimum qualifications associated with this classification.

• Ability to lift equipment up to 90 pounds
• Grade 2 Water Distribution Operator Certification upon hire and obtain the following within eighteen (18) months of appointment:
• Grade 3 Water Distribution Operator Certification
• Backflow Prevention Assembly Tester Certification
• Cross Connection Control Specialist Certification

Desirable Qualifications: The stated desirable qualifications may be considered at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring:

• Experience conducting indoor water conservation and leak evaluations at residential and non-residential properties and conducting outdoor evaluations of irrigation systems and landscapes.
• Possession of a Water Practitioner Grade 1 Certification or proof of training completion from the American Water Works Association
• Possession of a Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Certification or proof of training completion
• Possession of an Irrigation Association Auditor Certification or proof of training completion

Verification:

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training, and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum qualifications must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum qualifications.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

Selection Procedures:

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Supplemental Questionnaire Examination (Weight 100%):Candidates who meet minimum qualifications will be invited via a separate link to complete the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination. The purpose of the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination is to evaluate the experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities that candidates possess in job-related areas, which have been identified as critical for this position for this position and include, but are not limited to:

• Knowledge of Water Service: knowledge of water service, water meter operations, water distribution systems and related local, state, and federal codes and standards
• Knowledge of Water Distribution Systems: knowledge of water distribution system and consumer services; water meters and domestic and commercial plumbing systems and fixtures
• Ability to perform field investigations in inspecting for and remedying possible plumbing leaks, including inspecting, maintaining, and replacing service, water meters, meter transmission units, and reporting hazardous conditions.
• Computational Ability: Ability to make accurate arithmetic calculations such as measuring landscape square footage and calculating water consumption and savings.
• Computer and Software Programs: Ability to use software programs to collect data, write reports or other documents.
• Judgement and Critical Thinki8ng: Ability to exercise good judgment, ability to follow through on projects and achieve results; demonstrates resilience to setbacks and flexibility to reprioritize and to quickly adapt to changing situations.
• Ability to communicate amicable and clearly with customers, property owners, tenants, property managers and others, frequently under strained and unfriendly conditions.
• Ability to sustain physical effort involving lifting vault covers that can weigh up to 90 pounds and maintaining / replace water meters and meter transmission units which involves manual dexterity, repetitive motions and some heavy lifting; considerable walking, bending and stooping on repetitive operations involving manual dexterity.
• The ability to follow standard operating procedures ad comply with the Health and Safety Guidelines while performing duties.
• Interpersonal Skills: including the ability to maintain open dialogue with those contacted in the line of work; establish and maintain cooperative working relations and communications with internal and external parties.
• Oral Communication Skills: including the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently with various agencies, fellow employees, and the public via telephone, in persona and oral reports/presentations.
• Written Communication Skills: including the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently in writing with various agencies, fellow employees, and the public via memos, emails, reports and presentations.

A passing score must be achieved on the Supplemental Questionnaire Examination in order to continue in the selection process and be placed on the eligible list. Candidates will be placed on the eligible list in rank order according to their final score. Candidate scores on this examination may also be applied to other announcements involving other job titles, when directed by the Human Resources Director. The department may administer additional position-specific selection procedures to make final hiring decisions.

NOTE: Applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed to advance through all of the steps in the selection process.

Additional Information:

Certification: The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this examination will be Rule of the List. Additional selection processes may be conducted by the hiring department prior to making final hiring decisions.

Eligible List/Score Report: A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

This pool of candidates on the eligible list may be used to fill additional vacancies in this class.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be of twelve (12) months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. [Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.smartrecruiters.com/CityAndCountyOfSanFrancisco1/ .] The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4. Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this examination announcement. Information concerning other Civil Service Commission