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Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Occupation Detailed Description

Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

The main tasks and work activities of Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners are to drive trucks or truck-mounted equipment, communicate with other construction or extraction personnel to discuss project details, record operational or environmental data, clean equipment or facilities. In general, for the Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners, operation and Control, operation Monitoring, critical Thinking, time Management and other 6 skills are required.
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners Job Description
EducationSome of these occupations may require a high school diploma or GED certificate.
Related ExperienceLittle or no previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, a person can become a waiter or waitress even if he/she has never worked before.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations need anywhere from a few days to a few months of training. Usually, an experienced worker could show you how to do the job.
ExampleThese occupations involve following instructions and helping others. Examples include food preparation workers, dishwashers, sewing machine operators, landscaping and groundskeeping workers, logging equipment operators, and baristas.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners jobs. 40.44% of Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 22.13% of Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
37.08%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
40.44%
Post-Secondary Certificate
22.13%
Some College Courses
0.34%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
0.00%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
0.01%

Tasks and Work Activities of Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

  • 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.
  • Start machines to feed revolving cables or rods into openings, stopping machines and changing knives to conform to pipe sizes.
  • Service, adjust, and make minor repairs to equipment, machines, and attachments.
  • Inspect manholes to locate sewer line stoppages.
  • Cut damaged sections of pipe with cutters, remove broken sections from ditches, and replace pipe sections, using pipe sleeves.
  • Dig out sewer lines manually, using shovels.
  • Break asphalt and other pavement so that pipes can be accessed, using airhammers, picks, and shovels.
  • Cover repaired pipes with dirt, and pack backfilled excavations, using air and gasoline tampers.
  • Requisition or order tools and equipment.
  • Rotate cleaning rods manually, using turning pins.
  • Clean and disinfect domestic basements and other areas flooded by sewer stoppages.
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentRunning, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Documenting/Recording InformationEntering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Drive trucks or truck-mounted equipment.
  • Communicate with other construction or extraction personnel to discuss project details.
  • Record operational or environmental data.
  • Clean equipment or facilities.
  • Inspect completed work to ensure proper installation.
  • Inspect plumbing systems or fixtures.
  • Install equipment attachments or components.
  • Measure work site dimensions.
  • Locate equipment or materials in need of repair or replacement.
  • Maintain plumbing structures or fixtures.
  • Operate heavy-duty construction or installation equipment.
  • Maintain construction tools or equipment.
  • Cut metal components for installation.
  • Remove worn, damaged or outdated materials from work areas.
  • Dig holes or trenches.
  • Break up rock, asphalt, or concrete.
  • Compact materials to create level bases.
  • Spread sand, dirt or other loose materials onto surfaces.
  • Order construction or extraction materials or equipment.
  • Maintain mechanical equipment.

Skills and Abilities for Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners

  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • RepairingRepairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • TroubleshootingDetermining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Equipment MaintenancePerforming routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
  • Active ListeningGiving 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.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Depth PerceptionThe ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Hearing SensitivityThe ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
  • Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
  • Extent FlexibilityThe ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Pneumatic hammere.g. Air hammers
  • Tamperse.g. Air tampers
  • Earthmoving buckets or its parts or accessoriese.g. Bucket machines
  • Caulking gunse.g. Caulk dispensing tools
  • Claw hammere.g. Claw hammers
  • Shovelse.g. Dirt shovels
  • Pipe wrenchese.g. End pipe wrenches
  • Global positioning system GPS receivere.g. Global positioning system GPS receivers
  • Drain or pipe cleaning equipmente.g. High velocity water jetters
  • Water pumpse.g. Liquid pumps
  • Material handling hosese.g. Material pumping hoses
  • Tape measurese.g. Measuring tapes
  • Two way radiose.g. Mobile radios
  • Mobile excavatorse.g. Mobile tracked excavators
  • Personal computerse.g. Personal computers
  • Pipe or tube cuttere.g. Pipe cutters
  • Concrete mixers or plantse.g. Portable concrete mixers
  • Power drillse.g. Portable drills
  • Drain or pipe cleaning equipmente.g. Portable sewer cleaning machines
  • Drain or pipe cleaning equipmente.g. Power rodders
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • TransportationKnowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.