National

Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or drains. May patch walls and partitions of tank, replace damaged drain tile, or repair breaks in underground piping.

Sample of reported job titles: Service Technician, Septic Pump Truck Driver, Sewer and Drain Technician, Drain Cleaner, Public Works Technician, Sewer and Drain Cleaner, Maintenance Worker, Septic Cleaner, Utility Worker

Tasks

• Drive trucks to transport crews, materials, and equipment.
• Communicate with supervisors and other workers, using equipment such as wireless phones, pagers, or radio telephones.
• Prepare and keep records of actions taken, including maintenance and repair work.
• Operate sewer cleaning equipment, including power rodders, high velocity water jets, sewer flushers, bucket machines, wayne balls, and vac-alls.
• Ensure that repaired sewer line joints are tightly sealed before backfilling begins.
• Withdraw cables from pipes and examine them for evidence of mud, roots, grease, and other deposits indicating broken or clogged sewer lines.
• Install rotary knives on flexible cables mounted on machine reels, according to the diameters of pipes to be cleaned.
• Measure excavation sites, using plumbers' snakes, tapelines, or lengths of cutting heads within sewers, and mark areas for digging.
• Locate problems, using specially designed equipment, and mark where digging must occur to reach damaged tanks or pipes.
• Clean and repair septic tanks, sewer lines, or related structures such as manholes, culverts, and catch basins.