Water Network Operative Apprentice

VERIFLO LIMITED
NFU Building, East Malling Research Station, New Road, East Malling (ME19 6BJ)
Closes on Friday 13 November 2026
Posted on 5 October 2026

Summary

This is a Water Network Technician, CABWI Level 3 qualification. This qualification will help support the growth of our existing employees as well as offering new starters an industry recognised qualification they can take throughout their career.

Wage £28,000 a year

Training course
Water industry network technician (level 3)

Hours
40 hours per week. Occasional night & weekend work with sufficient notice.

Start date
Monday 11 January 2027

Duration
1 year 6 months

Positions available
5

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

• Asset checks
• Logging
• Flushing
• Mains tracing
• Sampling
• Mains isolations

Where you'll work

NFU Building, East Malling Research Station, New Road, East Malling ME19 6BJ

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider
GOLD TAP TRAINING LIMITED

Training course
Water industry network technician (level 3)

What you'll learn

• Comply with (water or wastewater) industry regulations and procedures.
• Complete risk assessments: identify and document risks and hazards in the workplace.
• Apply control measures.
• Comply with health and safety regulations, and safe working and security practices and procedures.
• Set out and remove signing, lighting, and guarding.
• Conduct vehicle checks.
• Conduct and assess impact of activity for example, environmental, cost, reputation, safety, and health.
• Apply control measures.
• Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and requirements. For example, safe disposal of waste, re-cycling or re-use of materials, and efficient use of resources.
• Apply principles of sustainable development. For example, in choice of materials.
• Trace and locate network services.
• Collect mitigation data or evidence.
• Check technician tools and equipment.
• Conduct maintenance for example, calibration.
• Identify issues.
• Apply fault-finding and problem-solving techniques: identify root cause.
• Resolve faults.
• Consider, identify, and promote areas for improvement. For example, in relation to quality, cost, time, safety, and impact.
• Use information technology.
• Follow cyber security requirements.
• Comply with GDPR.
• Interpret digital mapping systems and update.
• Complete work documentation: enter and record data and information using digital technology for example, hand-held devices.
• Read and interpret written information. For example, work instructions, and service level agreements.
• Identify and organise resources to complete tasks. For example, equipment, traffic management, and personnel.
• Prioritise work activities.
• Communicate verbally and in writing. For example, with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders.
• Use water industry terminology where appropriate.
• Identify and escalate issues.
• Provide advice and guidance to customers.
• Liaise with, negotiate with, and handle conflict in individual or group environments.
• Apply and enforce water fittings regulations to customer installations for example, rainwater harvest systems and solar panels.
• Read and interpret technical data for example, flows and pressures.
• Install pressure gauges.
• Conduct flow and pressure measurements.
• Identify different valve types.
• Operate multiple valves, hydrants and washouts including isolation and recharging of mains.
• Follow hygiene practices for example, disinfect equipment.
• Select and use water quality testing equipment to test for water quality for example, chlorine, turbidity, taste, odour, and clarity.
• Sample for chemical and micro-biological analysis.
• Set up temporary loggers (flow and pressure).
• Carry out network optimisation activity. For example, PRV, PSV, and air valve maintenance.
• Select and use leakage detection tools and methods to identify source of leakage. For example, step testing, acoustic and electronic, data logging ground microphones, and correlators.
• Inspect and check network assets for example, air values, PRV, critical values, fire hydrant.
• Identify action.
• Select and use equipment to complete planned preventative maintenance. For example, conduct high velocity mains cleansing and low turnover flushing.
• Conduct step testing using valves.
• Select and use initial leakage detection equipment and methods. For example, acoustic and electronic, data logging, ground microphones, and correlators.
• Use specific leakage detection equipment and methods to identify leakage pin-point for example, network or customer side.
• Conduct targeted DMA (district metered area) survey.
• Access, download, and interpret data from pressure and flow loggers.
• Test and assess application of innovative leakage equipment.
• Apply maintenance practices to meters and loggers.
• Identify and arrange repairs.
• Trace or locate drain or sewer.
• Complete visual inspection to check assets for example, combined sewer overflow, non-return valves, flow control devices, and storage tanks.
• Identify action.
• Use dye testing to trace and investigate cross or illegal connections.
• Use digital inspection equipment for example, CCTV to check assets.
• Identify action.
• Use sonde equipment.
• Select and use blockage removal equipment for example, rods and jetting equipment.
• Select and use equipment to apply first line maintenance techniques for example, replace seals, lubricate, de-silt, and de-scale.
• Follow alarm response procedures.