Water Utility Technician

City of Katy; Katy (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Katy is seeking a dedicated Water Operator to join our Public Works team. This essential role helps ensure safe drinking water by monitoring wells and treatment systems, performing maintenance, inspections, and responding to service needs.

The ideal candidate will have a high school diploma and two years of water utility training and experience, plus a valid Driver's License and a Groundwater Treatment Plant Operator Class C license.

Qualifications

• Experience in water distribution and production systems.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical calculations.
• Customer service mindset and problem solving.

Responsibilities

• Monitors and maintains wells; verifies proper operation and chlorination.
• Repairs water mains, hydrants, meters, and service lines.
• Performs service calls for leaks and customer aid.
• Operates treatment plant and monitors disinfection processes.
• Collects samples for laboratory testing and submits them timely.
• Responds to emergencies and supports city operations as required.

Skills

Water operations

Customer service

Mathematical calculations

Education

High school diploma

Two years water utility training/experience

Job description

Water Operator - Public Works Department

The City of Katy is seeking a dedicated and skilled Water Operator to join our Public Works team. This essential position plays a critical role in maintaining the safety, reliability, and quality of the City's water treatment and distribution systems. The ideal candidate will have hands‑on experience in water utility operations, a strong commitment to public service, and the ability to perform a wide variety of maintenance, repair, and operational duties in both routine and emergency situations.

As a Water Operator, you will help ensure the continuous delivery of safe drinking water to our community by monitoring wells and treatment systems, repairing infrastructure, conducting inspections and testing, and responding to customer service needs. This position is considered essential critical infrastructure personnel and may be required to respond during emergencies, natural disasters, or catastrophic events to support the continuity of City operations.

Job Description:

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Monitors and maintains assigned wells; verifies wells are operating correctly; checks chlorination levels.
• Repairs water main breaks and service lines; flushes, repairs, and replaces fire hydrants; rebuilds and repairs water meters.
• Performs service calls to check for water leaks throughout the water system; provides aid to customers;
• Turns water services on or off at City connections when starting and closing accounts.
• Collects monthly required bacteriological samples; delivers samples to assigned laboratory for testing.
• Operates water treatment plant; calculates the chlorine demand of raw ground water for proper disinfection; monitors and maintains chlorination system.
• Gathers water usage readings for monthly billing; disconnects customers' water for non-payment of utility bills.
• Inspects and cleans groundwater storage tanks; prepares tanks for State inspections.
• Repairs and pours concrete driveways and sidewalks.
• This position is considered Critical Personnel during a natural or manmade disaster and/or a catastrophic event. This position may be required to provide services or perform duties for the benefit of the public and the continuity of City operations. These may include services or duties different from those performed in the usual course and scope of this position.
• For purposes of business continuity, employees in this position are considered Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers, as defined by the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
• Performs other duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education, Training and Experience Guidelines:

High school diploma or equivalent; AND two (2) years of water utility training and experience; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Knowledge of:

• Department policies and procedures.
• City codes and ordinances.
• Water distribution and production systems.

Skill in:

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Providing quality customer service.
• Performing basic mathematical calculations.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Valid State Driver's License required; Class B Commercial Driver's License may be required.
• Groundwater Treatment Plant Operator Class C license.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

This position requires climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Employee may be subjected to moving mechanical parts, electrical currents, vibrations, fumes, odors, dusts, gases, poor ventilation, chemicals, oils, extreme temperatures, inadequate lighting, work space restrictions, and intense noises.

The City of Katy is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities and Amendments Act and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.