Water Technician Apprenticeship

This is a fully funded Level 3 Water Technician Apprenticeship opportunity combining hands-on technical training with structured learning. It's an ideal role for individuals seeking a career in the environmental, engineering, or water treatment sectors, particularly those with a foundational understanding of mechanical and electrical systems.

Requirements

• Share any relevant qualifications and industry experience; the apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect existing knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Supporting installation, servicing, and refurbishment of pumps, dosing equipment, control panels, valves, calorifiers, and water tanks.
• Conducting water quality risk assessments on hot & cold water systems, swimming pools, and spas.
• Taking and analysing microbiological and chemical samples.
• Carrying out condition surveys of control equipment and reporting defects.
• Assisting with draining, disinfecting, and re-commissioning of water systems.
• Recording measurements, system data, and preparing survey/inspection reports.
• Carrying out both planned and reactive service visits.
• Working in confined spaces, both above and below ground (full training provided).
• Understand, comply with, and implement statutory health and safety regulations with regard to tasks being undertaken.
• Understand and implement organisational safety requirements for themselves and others, including responsibility and supervision for safe access to water systems and handling of chemicals.
• Maintain a safe environment for other building occupants during water treatment operations, including relevant signage and notifications.
• Contribute to the development of operational solutions and improvements, such as safer working practices.
• Gather system data to enable the correct selection of operational resources (e.g., access equipment like ladders, scaffolding, or cherry pickers).
• Complete work task risk assessments and develop work plans and method statements.
• Ensure the suitability and correct operating condition of resources and equipment for work tasks, including test equipment, chemical dosing equipment, water pumps, and other specialised equipment.
• Identify suitable sampling and application points in a water system.
• Assess relevant test parameters and sampling plans for specific water systems.
• Evaluate the performance and condition of water systems and operations using specific monitoring equipment.
• Apply water treatment programmes to specific water system types (e.g., cooling towers, steam boilers, heating and chilled systems).
• Interpret test results and develop improvements and recommendations for treatment programmes.
• Identify, evaluate, and resolve practical and technical problems; assess the suitability of chemical and physical water treatment options employed; and implement improvements to treatment programmes or service delivery.
• Use resources effectively, including time management, selecting appropriate staff competence for operations, efficient use of staff resources, and management of equipment for specific work tasks.
• Communicate effectively using oral, written, electronic, and IT-based methods for accurate communication of technical information to staff and site management, including reviewing information and agreeing on actions.
• Maintain competence commensurate with the job role, identifying personal training needs and undertaking suitable training.
• Complete and record CPD necessary to maintain and enhance competence.
• Design, specify, and recommend chemical water treatment programmes, considering water supply quality and system operating conditions.
• Evaluate the suitability of alternative physical and chemical water treatment programmes for specific water systems and applications.
• Give presentations and demonstrations to customer/site personnel regarding treatment recommendations and control requirements.
• Assess the performance of water system treatment programmes and provide recommendations for improvement.
• Organise, construct, manage, and report on review meetings with customers/site personnel.
• Complete water system surveys and produce system diagrams for presenting system data (e.g., layout of treatment plant within the system location).
• Evaluate and design appropriate water treatment equipment installations.
• Install, commission, and service water treatment equipment.
• Assess the performance of a water system treatment programme.
• Supervise a team and manage the health, safety, and environment of a water treatment equipment installation and/or operation.
• Carry out site/system investigations and surveys.
• Prepare water system diagrams and drawings.
• Assess the comparative risk of Legionellosis presented by specific water systems.
• Identify remedial, improvement, and management actions required to minimise any presented risk.
• Prepare and present assessment report findings to customer/site personnel.
• Review the implementation of remedial actions recommended in the risk assessment (e.g., pipework changes, insulation) and review the employment of management controls (e.g., temperature monitoring programmes, system analysis results).
• Complete water system surveys and produce system diagrams appropriate for directing and managing a cleaning/disinfection project.
• Understand and apply chemical cleaning and disinfection programmes for specific water systems.
• Install, commission, and service temporary operations equipment for project completion (e.g., flushing pump stations, side stream filtration, cooling tower packing).
• Assess the performance and progress of a water treatment cleaning/disinfection operation through sample analysis and make programme adjustments as required.
• Supervise a team of Water Treatment Operatives and any associated subcontractors.
• Produce a method statement and control scheme to manage health, safety, and the environment during project phases.