Location: South West England
Contract: Permanent (55 hours including travel paid 1 way)
We are seeking an exceptional Water Mains Layer to join our clean water delivery team in the South West. This is a high-skill, hands-on construction role for someone who truly understands how a clean water network is built, how it functions, and what good looks like on site. The right person will be highly competent in laying, jointing, assembling, testing and commissioning potable water mains and associated fittings, with a first-class approach to safety, quality and workmanship.
This is not a ganger or supervisor role. It is for an outstanding operative who leads through technical ability, sets the standard on site by the quality of their work, and can be relied upon to build clean water infrastructure properly, safely and right first time.
Key Responsibilities
- Install clean water mains, valves, hydrants, washouts, air valves, service connections and associated fittings to specification and in accordance with approved drawings and asset standards.
- Take responsibility for the physical build of the network on site, understanding how each component fits together and how the system must perform once commissioned.
- Carry out accurate pipe laying, alignment, bedding, jointing and assembly using ductile iron, PE and other approved materials, with excellent attention to line, level and workmanship.
- Use the correct tools, lifting equipment, plant and pipe handling methods for the task, ensuring equipment is used safely, properly and within competence.
- Work safely in excavations and around existing buried services, applying safe digging practices, trench support requirements and site controls at all times.
- Understand thrust restraint, anchorage, protection, valve positioning, fittings orientation and other construction details critical to the long-term integrity of the network.
- Support pressure testing, flushing, chlorination, sampling and commissioning activities, ensuring new mains are delivered clean, compliant and ready for service.
- Read and interpret utility drawings, construction details and specifications, and identify issues before they become installation problems.
- Maintain exemplary standards of site housekeeping, water hygiene, quality assurance and record keeping, including checks, permits and relevant site paperwork.
- Act as a technical example to others on site through safe behaviours, disciplined working methods and pride in delivering high-quality clean water infrastructure.
Essential Requirements
- Strong proven experience in clean water mains laying or water network construction, with the practical ability to build mains infrastructure to a consistently high standard.
- Excellent technical understanding of how clean water mains systems go together, including pipes, fittings, valves, hydrants, service connections, restraint and commissioning requirements.
- Sound working knowledge of water industry standards, potable water protection, and the quality controls required for clean water construction.
- High level of competence in reading drawings, setting out work areas and translating specifications into correct installation on site.
- Strong understanding of excavation safety, underground services avoidance, lifting operations, plant awareness and site risk control.
- A disciplined, professional and uncompromising approach to health, safety and environmental compliance.
- Valid CSCS card and full UK driving licence.
- Ability to work effectively within a gang while remaining personally accountable for the standard of the installation work delivered.
Desirable Qualifications
- NRSWA Street Works qualification.
- EUSR National Water Hygiene registration.
- Recognised water industry qualification in Network Construction Operations (Water) / Main Laying, such as EUSR, CABWI or equivalent.
- Plant tickets relevant to the role, such as excavator, dumper.
- Training or certification in safe digging, confined spaces, lifting operations or temporary works awareness.
- Experience working on UK water utility frameworks or regulated clean water networks.
How This Role Differs from a Ganger or Supervisor
The Water Mains Layer is a specialist delivery role centred on technical construction skill, not people management. While a ganger or supervisor may organise labour, programme the work and coordinate the site, this role is focused on how the clean water network is physically built - selecting the right approach, assembling components correctly, maintaining water hygiene, applying safe systems of work and delivering a finished installation that is safe, compliant and built to last.
What Great Looks Like
- Builds clean water mains to an exceptionally high standard, with real pride in getting the detail right first time.
- Understands not just what to install, but why it is being installed that way, and how each part of the network needs to perform once live.
- Can be trusted with the difficult parts of the job - complex fittings, tight tie-ins, awkward excavations and high-risk activities - because they bring judgement, discipline and calm under pressure.
- Sets the tone for safety on site through their own behaviour, standards and attention to detail, never cutting corners and never walking past poor practice.
- Treats water hygiene, cleanliness and asset quality as non-negotiable, knowing that the standard of the build directly affects the integrity of the network.
- Uses tools, plant and lifting methods properly and professionally, with a clear understanding of both capability and limits.
- Reads drawings well, spots problems early and raises practical solutions before issues affect safety, quality or programme.
- Works productively as part of a gang, but stands out through technical ability, reliability, personal standards and the confidence of others in their workmanship.
- Leaves behind work that is safe, clean, compliant and built to last.
Benefits
We’re proud to have our benefits carefully selected by our brilliant team. Some of our favourites are:
- We’ll help you by assisting with some of the costs for your dental treatments, eye tests and glasses, therapies – such as physiotherapy, chiropractic, reiki, flu jabs, prescriptions
- We’ll cover the cost of your training during your employment
- Pension – investing in your retirement
- Overtime is available, if you want it
- Plus many more!
Diversity and Inclusion
At Hydrotech, we’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone is treated as an equal. We recognise that everyone is different in both visible and non-visible ways, and we respect and celebrate those differences. Our goal is for everyone to feel they truly belong and can be their best, authentic self at work.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £45,750.00-£57,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Additional leave
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free or subsidised travel
- Gym membership
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Private dental insurance
- Private medical insurance
- Referral programme
Licence/Certification:
- CSCS (preferred)
- Driving Licence (required)
Work Location: On the road
