Water Meter Technician

Water Meter Technician

Join the City of Paso Robles Water Division and play a key role in supporting reliable water service for our community. As a water meter technician, you'll work in the field installing, maintaining, and troubleshooting advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), responding to customer service requests, and ensuring accurate water usage data that supports billing, conservation, and efficient utility operations. Every day brings a mix of hands-on technical work, problem-solving, and opportunities to make a meaningful impact for our customers.

The ideal candidate is a dependable, safety-conscious professional who enjoys hands-on field work and solving technical problems. They are comfortable using computers, handheld devices, and electronic testing equipment, communicate professionally with customers, and exercise sound judgment when identifying and resolving service issues. They take pride in accurate, quality work, adapt well to changing priorities, and thrive as part of a collaborative team dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and maintaining the City's water metering infrastructure.

The following duties are typical of this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the duties set forth below and/or may be required to perform additional related duties to address City needs and evolving business practices.

• Installs, programs, configures, tests, inspects, diagnoses, repairs, replaces, and maintains residential and commercial water meters, AMI meters, and related metering equipment for new and existing service connections.
• Monitors and troubleshoots AMI system performance, including communication failures, connectivity issues, inaccurate readings, and meter malfunctions.
• Operates computer software, handheld devices, electronic testing equipment, and AMI technologies related to automated meter reading, meter programming, and customer service operations.
• Retrieves, reviews, analyzes, uploads, and verifies meter data for billing, asset management, and work order systems to ensure accurate water usage records and customer billing.
• Reviews meter readings and consumption data to identify irregularities, high or low usage, leaks, non-operational meters, and other service-related concerns; performs re-reads and corrective actions as necessary.
• Responds to customer service requests and field investigations involving leaks, stuck or broken meters, pressure concerns, high or low usage complaints, and other water service issues.
• Performs water service turn-ons, shut-offs, transfer readings, and final readings in accordance with assigned schedules, routes, and departmental procedures.
• Investigates customer billing and service concerns; provides customers with information regarding water usage, consumption trends, service interruptions, and conservation-related matters.
• Uses independent judgment to identify service issues, recommend corrective actions, and coordinate resolutions related to customer water service and metering systems.
• Delivers delinquency and past-due notices and disconnects water service for non-payment in accordance with established policies and procedures.
• Locates buried or obstructed meters; adjusts meter box elevations; repairs or replaces damaged boxes and lids; and maintains vegetation and access around meter locations.
• Performs valve maintenance, leak detection activities, and minor service line maintenance; reports service defects, unauthorized water use, unusual flow conditions, and mainline leaks for repair.
• Reports illegal water usage, unauthorized hydrant use, and water-use violations in accordance with City policies and regulations.
• Interprets maps, blueprints, diagrams, utility records, and electronic locating tools to identify meter locations and underground infrastructure.
• Coordinates work activities, service installations, repairs, and timelines with other City departments, contractors, and utility personnel.
• Completes forms, prepares reports, maintains electronic records, and documents completed inspections, repairs, service requests, and field assignments.
• May perform work in confined spaces.

Knowledge of:

• Methods, materials, tools, and equipment used in the installation, programming, testing, maintenance, repair, and servicing of residential and commercial water meters and Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI) systems.
• Principles, practices, and operational characteristics of AMI, meter communication systems, electronic meter components, and automated meter reading technologies.
• Methods and techniques for retrieving, compiling, analyzing, and validating water consumption and meter usage data for billing and operational purposes.
• Operational characteristics, maintenance requirements, and repair procedures for a variety of water meters, valves, service lines, regulators, and related water distribution components.
• Methods and techniques used to investigate and resolve customer service issues related to water consumption, pressure complaints, leaks, billing discrepancies, and meter malfunctions.
• Applicable codes, ordinances, regulations, policies, and procedures related to water meter installation, repair, utility services, and customer account servicing.
• Leak detection methods, water conservation practices, and procedures for identifying unauthorized or illegal water use.
• Safe operation and maintenance of hand tools, power tools, testing devices, vehicles, and equipment used in meter and utility service work.
• Basic traffic control procedures, work zone safety practices, and applicable traffic sign regulations.
• Geographic layout of the City's water service area, including streets, utility infrastructure, meter locations, and service routes.
• Principles and practices of recordkeeping, report preparation, and electronic documentation.
• Modern office practices, methods, computer systems, mobile devices, software applications, and communication tools related to meter operations, billing systems, work order management, and customer service.
• Occupational hazards and applicable safety practices, procedures, rules, and regulations related to utility maintenance and field operations, including confined space awareness.
• Techniques for providing effective customer service and maintaining positive working relationships with the public, contractors, vendors, and City staff.
• English usage, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and business communication methods.

Ability to:

• Install, program, test, inspect, maintain, diagnose, repair, and replace a variety of residential and commercial water meters, AMI devices, and related equipment.
• Troubleshoot AMI communication failures, meter inaccuracies, connectivity issues, and other metering system problems.
• Read, interpret, and apply maps, blueprints, utility records, specifications, diagrams, manuals, and related technical documents.
• Investigate and respond effectively to customer service issues involving water usage, leaks, pressure concerns, billing discrepancies, and meter malfunctions.
• Identify leaks, unauthorized water use, abnormal consumption patterns, and defective meters, and take appropriate corrective action.
• Perform arithmetic calculations accurately and maintain precise meter readings, service records, and related documentation.
• Safely and effectively operate vehicles, hand tools, power tools, testing equipment, electronic devices, and other equipment required in the performance of assigned duties.
• Organize, prioritize, and independently perform assigned duties and fieldwork with minimal supervision.
• Understand, interpret, and follow oral and written instructions, policies, procedures, and safety regulations.
• Coordinate work activities effectively with other departments, contractors, and utility personnel.
• Prepare clear, accurate, and concise reports, records, correspondence, and electronic documentation.
• Use computer systems, handheld devices, software applications, and modern business technologies related to meter operations and customer service functions.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with customers, coworkers, contractors, and the public.
• Exercise sound independent judgment, initiative, and problem-solving skills within established guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive, cooperative, and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Handle difficult, sensitive, emotional, or confrontational customer interactions with professionalism, tact, and diplomacy.

Human Relations and Communications Skills Requires frequent internal and external contact to carry out organizational programs, explain specialized matters, or enforce laws, ordinances, policies, and procedures. May include occasional contact with higher-level officials requiring cooperation, explanation, and persuasion.

Analytical Skills and Complexity Performs standardized tasks and procedures that require basic analytical ability, such as comparing data, numbers, or facts to determine appropriate actions. Decisions are typically guided by detailed instructions and established guidelines.

Education and Experience A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Graduation from high school or possession of a General Educational Development (GED) certificate; and
• One year of experience in water meter, installation, maintenance, or repair; utility service operations; or a related field involving customer service, field investigations, and/or the use of electronic or automated metering systems.

Experience with Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI), meter data collection systems, and water utility operations is desirable.

Licenses and