Water and sewer mains work and crews

Water and sewer work runs from new mains and laterals to service line replacements, taps and repairs. It is deep trench work with shoring, dewatering and testing, and the finished pipe has to pass pressure, bacteria or mandrel tests before the owner accepts it.

Also searched as: pipe layer, water main crew, sewer crew, utility foreman, tap crew, underground utility laborer.

Who hires for this

Site contractors on subdivisions, GCs on commercial jobs, and municipalities and water utilities post main work. Plumbers sometimes sub out the street side of a service connection.

What they ask for

• Excavator sized for the depth, plus trench boxes or shoring
• Competent person for excavations on every crew
• Pipe laying experience with the material on the job
• Testing gear or a plan for pressure and other acceptance tests
• Prevailing wage payroll records on public jobs
• Certificate of insurance and a trench safety plan

How to land more of it

• Public work often requires certified payroll. If you already run it, say so.
• List the pipe materials and sizes you have laid. Ductile, PVC and HDPE all go differently.
• Show you understand shoring and dewatering. It is where jobs go wrong.
• Taps and service reconnections are good small jobs to get your foot in with a utility.

Do I need a license to install water and sewer mains?

It varies by state and town. Some places require a licensed plumber for any connection to the building side, some license utility contractors separately, and public work often requires contractor registration. Check with your state and the local utility before bidding.

What does acceptance testing involve?

Water mains usually need a pressure test and disinfection with bacteria samples. Sewer mains often get air or water testing, a mandrel test on flexible pipe, and sometimes a camera inspection. The spec for the job spells out which ones.

Is trench safety really a hiring question?

Yes. GCs will ask who your competent person is and what protective systems you use, because trench collapses are one of the most serious risks on any site. Having boxes, a written plan and a trained foreman gets you through the door.

Where do I find water and sewer subcontracts?

Check the water and sewer listings on the TrackOver board, or post a free crew profile with your equipment, pipe experience and whether you run certified payroll. GCs can find you without a bid list.