Utility maintenance workers
Career Overview
Utility maintenance workers locate, repair, install and maintain equipment and facilities, such as water filtration and distribution plants, waste water treatment plants and power plants. They may also work on exterior and underground gas mains and distribution lines.
They work for municipal, provincial and federal public works departments, private contractors under contract with government public works departments and gas distribution companies.
Waterworks maintenance workers:
- Maintain and repair waterworks equipment and facilities
- Work for water filtration and distribution plants and waste treatment plants
Gas maintenance workers:
- Check and do routine maintenance and minor repairs to exterior and underground gas mains and distribution lines
- Work for gas distribution companies
Other utility workers:
- Locate and mark underground utility lines, pipes and inspect poles
- Work for public works departments
Job Titles
Duties
Waterworks maintenance workers:
- Check, clean and lubricate waterworks equipment, such as pumping equipment, chlorination equipment and compressors
- Adjust and repair waterworks equipment under the direction of qualified tradesperson
- Search and locate reported water leaks and repair water mains, valves or outlets
- Install water meters using hand and power tools
Gas maintenance workers:
- Check and lubricate gas pipeline valves
- Do routine survey of gas mains and distribution lines to detect and locate escaping gas using gas detecting devices
- Investigate reports of gas leaks to find the exact location and extent of leaks
- Dig ground to expose gas lines and repair damaged pipes
- Keep record of work done and location and condition of pipelines
- Offer information on underground gas distribution lines and observe excavation work to make sure that underground gas facilities are protected
Other utility workers:
- Operate equipment and instruments to locate and mark underground utility lines and pipes
- Provide information on underground utility lines
- Operate equipment and hand tools to inspect and test utility poles for decay and deterioration
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
570% Employed Full Time
61%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work takes place indoors in conditions that may vary
- Work also takes place outdoors in various weather conditions
- Workers may be exposed to gas and water leaks
- Working with machinery and power tools can be a source of injury
- Workers may be exposed to strong odours and chemicals
Career Pathways
Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.
Movement between jobs in this unit group normally occurs within the same area of work, such as within waste water treatment plants, within water filtration and distribution plants or within gas distribution plants.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- Completion of secondary school may be required
- Several years of experience as a labourer in the same company may be required
- On-the-job training is provided
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Academic/Basic Upgrading
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Watching gauges, dials or other indicators to make sure that a machine is working properly.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Being able to solve novel, ill-defined problems in complex, real-world settings.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
570Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 25 | 4.4% |
| Kootenay | 50 | 8.8% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 310 | 54.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 20 | 3.5% |
| Northeast | 30 | 5.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 80 | 14.0% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 60 | 10.5% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
240Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 0.3% |
| Kootenay | 20 | 0.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 150 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | 0 | -0.7% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 40 | 1.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 20 | 0.9% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Utilities | 100 |
| Public Administration | 50 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 30 |
| Construction | 30 |
| Educational Services | 10 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.