Apprenticeship training course

Water network operative (level 2)

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Information about Water network operative (level 2)

Construct, maintain and repair water network infrastructure, to provide a reliable supply/service to domestic, commercial and industrial users.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • Health and safety practice: risk assessments and safe systems of work, permits to work, working in confined spaces, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), manual handling.
  • Health and safety regulations and procedures: Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Working at Heights, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Lifting Operations Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER), first aid, fire safety.
  • Types and uses of asbestos and where they may come into contact; safe work practices, control measures, and protective equipment needed to undertake asbestos mains work.
  • Pollution; the risks and consequences of pollution incidents on people and the environment. Including types of pollution, control measures, light, noise, smells, spills, and waste.
  • Environmental and sustainability regulations and guidance, including the Environmental Protection Act and hazardous waste regulation. The environmental impact of clean and waste water operations.
  • Policies and procedures for escalating environmental and pollution incidents.
  • Identify utility assets on maps or drawings.
  • Principles and processes that underpin the locating of utility network assets; health and safety guidance on avoiding damage to underground utility services.
  • Pre and post use checks, operation, maintenance, and storage requirements, for utility network operations equipment and tools including utility location equipment.
  • Gas detection equipment.
  • Principles of traffic management control and safe working practices when working on the highway and on site.
  • Trench support systems and when to use them. Including sheeting, mechanical sheeting, lightweight and proprietary systems.
  • Requirements for the backfill and reinstatement of road and pavement surfaces after water network construction or repair.
  • Excavation techniques: open cut, moling, vacuum extraction.
  • Pipe cutting techniques.
  • Escalation procedures for emergency situations, including emergency services, highways authorities, local authorities, Environment Agency, and utility companies.
  • Roles and responsibilities of industry stakeholders, including: Drinking Water Inspectorate, The Water Services Regulation Authority (OFWAT), Consumer Council for Water, Environment Agency, and DEFRA.
  • Ethical business practices, including Customer Experience Measure (CMEX), Regulatory and Legislative Performance Measures, Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) and Director General (DG) in response to written complaints (DG7).
  • Reporting channels; limits of authority.
  • Verbal communication techniques – giving and receiving information using industry terminology. Matching style to audience.
  • Written communication techniques and documentation requirements including job sheets.
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in the workplace.
  • Information technology and digital: email, equipment digital interfaces, management information systems. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
  • Work organisation and time management techniques.
  • Team working principles.
  • Standard operating procedures (SOP).
  • Regulation 31 of the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations.
  • National Water Hygiene (water quality as a food source and product).
  • Procedures for the construction and connection of clean water network mains and services.
  • Principles of working with asbestos in the clean water network.
  • Procedures for the repair of clean water network assets.
  • Principles to assess and test the integrity of the repair on the water asset.
  • Common faults and issues in the clean water network. Problem solving techniques.
  • Consequences of bursts and leaks on people and the environment.
  • Procedures for the disposal of chlorinated water.
  • Continuous supply procedures.
  • Pumping equipment.
  • The use and removal of chemicals to avoid contamination in the water network, in line with regulations.
  • Disinfection procedures for clean water mains and services.
  • Principles and reasons for taking water samples.
  • The safe operation of hydrants and valves, in line with company procedures.
  • Health and safety practice: risk assessments and safe systems of work, permits to work, working in confined spaces, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), manual handling.
  • Health and safety regulations and procedures: Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Working at Heights, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH), Lifting Operations Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER), first aid, fire safety.
  • Types and uses of asbestos and where they may come into contact; safe work practices, control measures, and protective equipment needed to undertake asbestos mains work.
  • Pollution; the risks and consequences of pollution incidents on people and the environment. Including types of pollution, control measures, light, noise, smells, spills, and waste.
  • Environmental and sustainability regulations and guidance, including the Environmental Protection Act and hazardous waste regulation. The environmental impact of clean and waste water operations.
  • Policies and procedures for escalating environmental and pollution incidents.
  • Identify utility assets on maps or drawings.
  • Principles and processes that underpin the locating of utility network assets; health and safety guidance on avoiding damage to underground utility services.
  • Pre and post use checks, operation, maintenance, and storage requirements, for utility network operations equipment and tools including utility location equipment.
  • Gas detection equipment.
  • Principles of traffic management control and safe working practices when working on the highway and on site.
  • Trench support systems and when to use them. Including sheeting, mechanical sheeting, lightweight and proprietary systems.
  • Requirements for the backfill and reinstatement of road and pavement surfaces after water network construction or repair.
  • Excavation techniques: open cut, moling, vacuum extraction.
  • Pipe cutting techniques.
  • Escalation procedures for emergency situations, including emergency services, highways authorities, local authorities, Environment Agency, and utility companies.
  • Roles and responsibilities of industry stakeholders, including: Drinking Water Inspectorate, The Water Services Regulation Authority (OFWAT), Consumer Council for Water, Environment Agency, and DEFRA.
  • Ethical business practices, including Customer Experience Measure (CMEX), Regulatory and Legislative Performance Measures, Guaranteed Standards Scheme (GSS) and Director General (DG) in response to written complaints (DG7).
  • Reporting channels; limits of authority.
  • Verbal communication techniques – giving and receiving information using industry terminology. Matching style to audience.
  • Written communication techniques and documentation requirements including job sheets.
  • Equity, diversity and inclusion considerations in the workplace.
  • Information technology and digital: email, equipment digital interfaces, management information systems. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.
  • Work organisation and time management techniques.
  • Team working principles.
  • Standard operating procedures (SOP).
  • Procedures for the construction and connection of waste water network assets, including sewers, drains, and combined sewer overflows.
  • Procedures for repairs in waste water.
  • Procedures for dealing with contamination and pollution.
  • Principles of working with asbestos in the waste water network.
  • Personal hygiene measures.
  • The operating principles of sewerage pumps and pumping stations and their impact on the network.
  • Pumping stations - lock off and isolation procedures for pumps.
  • Preparations needed for a no dig team.
  • Principles of wastewater flows.

  Skills

  • Identify hazards and implement controls to reduce risks to people and the environment.
  • Comply with a safe system of work, including permits, work and engineering instructions.
  • Identify and organise resources.
  • Comply with workplace health, safety and environmental policy and practice; use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety equipment.
  • Follow procedures for signing, lighting and guarding as well as public and pedestrian segregation and escalate issues if required.
  • Identify, locate and avoid damage to underground utility services.
  • Carry out safe excavation practices for utility network services.
  • Monitor and maintain site conditions; good housekeeping.
  • Select, check and operate equipment and tools; report faults if required.
  • Maintain and store equipment and tools, for example charge batteries, clean equipment, grease machines, re-fuel.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, internal and external customers, colleagues and managers.
  • Use gas detection equipment.
  • Communicate in writing with others and record task information, for example, job sheets.
  • Follow standard operating procedures (SOP).
  • Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
  • Carry out learning and development activities.
  • Organise and prioritise own work.
  • Apply equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Carry out pipe cutting.
  • Carry out squeeze off activities.
  • Join materials by fusion techniques.
  • Join materials by mechanical means on clean water assets.
  • Drill and tap clean water assets.
  • Install clean water assets.
  • Conduct disinfection procedures for clean water mains and services.
  • Check the performance of the asset and escalate issues if necessary.
  • Use continuous supply procedures.
  • Repair water network asset.
  • Identify and solve common issues within the clean water network.
  • Use pumping equipment.
  • Follow hygiene procedures.
  • Identify hazards and implement controls to reduce risks to people and the environment.
  • Comply with a safe system of work, including permits, work and engineering instructions.
  • Identify and organise resources.
  • Comply with workplace health, safety and environmental policy and practice; use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and safety equipment.
  • Follow procedures for signing, lighting and guarding as well as public and pedestrian segregation and escalate issues if required.
  • Identify, locate and avoid damage to underground utility services.
  • Carry out safe excavation practices for utility network services.
  • Monitor and maintain site conditions; good housekeeping.
  • Select, check and operate equipment and tools; report faults if required.
  • Maintain and store equipment and tools, for example charge batteries, clean equipment, grease machines, re-fuel.
  • Communicate with others verbally for example, internal and external customers, colleagues and managers.
  • Use gas detection equipment.
  • Communicate in writing with others and record task information, for example, job sheets.
  • Follow standard operating procedures (SOP).
  • Use information technology and digital systems. Comply with GDPR and cyber security.
  • Carry out learning and development activities.
  • Organise and prioritise own work.
  • Apply equity, diversity and inclusion rules.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Carry out pipe cutting.
  • Install or replace waste water assets.
  • Replace and join materials by flexible seals, for example band seals on waste water services.
  • Prepare the site for a no dig team.
  • Carry out excavation and shoring of deep excavations.
  • Repair waste water network assets.
  • Use mitigation methods to maintain flow, for example using pumps, stopping or diverting.
  • Identify and solve common issues within the waste water network.
  • Decontaminate equipment, tooling and PPE.

  Behaviours

  • Put health and safety first.
  • Take ownership of given work.
  • Team-focus to meet work goals.
  • Support an inclusive workplace for example, respectful of different views.
  • Seek learning and development opportunities.
  • Consider the impact on the environment when using resources and carrying out work.
  • Put health and safety first.
  • Take ownership of given work.
  • Team-focus to meet work goals.
  • Support an inclusive workplace for example, respectful of different views.
  • Seek learning and development opportunities.
  • Consider the impact on the environment when using resources and carrying out work.
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Engineering and manufacturing
• Qualification level: 2; Equal to GCSE
• Course duration: 18 months
• Maximum funding: £6,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Mains layer
  • Repair and maintenance operative
  • Service layer
  • Utility operative
  • Water operative

View more information about Water network operative (level 2) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.