To become a sewer inspector, some experience working with underground utilities is typically required. A person might gain work experience and knowledge working as an apprentice for a highway department or utility company. Technical education might also be needed when using television cameras and video equipment to examine sewer lines.
An entry-level job installing pipelines might help a person become a sewer inspector. Usually, a combination of experience and education gives an applicant a better chance of getting the job. Courses in electronics that cover the operation and repair of television cameras might also help a person get into this field. Experience operating these cameras is considered a valuable skill.
Another option to become a sewer inspector involves working for a private company as an apprentice. These businesses conduct sewer inspections for private property owners to evaluate the operation of the systems. They often perform an analysis of sewer lines for prospective home buyers concerned about the condition of a sewer system. These private companies might hire a person with no experience and train him or her.
Math classes might be useful to get a job inspecting sewer installations. Some regional governments hire sewer and water line inspectors to oversee new construction projects. These inspectors ensure utility systems are built to proper specifications and conduct field tests of materials used. They must be able to read blueprints, plans, and perform math equations.
Municipal sewer companies typically administer examinations to applicants who want to become a sewer inspector. The tests might contain questions on the installation, repair, and maintenance of sewer lines. They typically include sections on job safety issues and might test a person’s ability to come up with solutions for common problems.
Sewer inspectors work with the public by responding to complaints of faulty sewer lines. They investigate these issues using cameras to find leaks or blockages in the pipelines. Inspectors also examine sewer lines on a regular basis to determine if maintenance is required. They commonly take videos of the pipes and maintain a video library of a city’s entire sewer system.
These jobs might require working in all types of weather and answering calls after hours. People who become sewer inspectors work in confined spaces that are smelly and damp. They are required to work in heat while wearing safety protection, including headgear, goggles, and gloves.
