From checking water meters and pumps to squeezing into manholes, meet the young women maintaining Waimakariri’s water, wastewater and stormwater assets.
Sara Cottam and Deja Williams may be the youngest members of the Waimakariri Water Unit but shy they are not. These bubbly teammates quite literally jumped into the trenches when they chose careers in water reticulation, and they haven’t looked back.
Unlike Deja who already knew she wanted to work with water, Sara had no idea what to do when she finished high school.
“But an opportunity in the Water Unit popped up and I just took a chance,” she says.
“I grew up on a farm, so I had a lot of versatile skills that correlate to some of the stuff we do here. I’m fully an outdoors person and this was the perfect opportunity for me.”
Through the support of Connexis and the Council, Sara has become a fully qualified Reticulation Maintenance Service Person in just over three years, completing her Level 4 Certificate in Water Reticulation and Level 4 in Sewer and Stormwater.
“The amount of courses I’ve been put through – there’s always room for growth. I’ve got my confined spaces certification, so it means I can get in manholes and whatnot.”
Sara’s colleague, Deja, started in the Water Unit this year and is five months into her apprenticeship. The 18-year-old gave up a plumbing course at Ara to join the team.
“Plumbing was where I wanted to originally go but then I found out about the water reticulation apprentice job at the Council and I was like, that will be me!” Deja says.
“It’s really good because you’re never going to run out of work and you’re learning something new every day. Even the guys who have been here 40 years – they’re still learning every single day.
“Everyone has really good banter and everyone gets along. It’s always really fun out in the field. I just feel so lucky to get this opportunity.”
Both women agree that the variety of the job is a highlight. And in an industry short of women, Sara enjoys being able to “show the boys up too”.
You can learn more about a career in the water industry, and meet Sara and Deja, at the North Canterbury Youth Futures Careers Expo on Tuesday 12 August at MainPower Stadium. Entry is free and the doors will be open from 4pm til 8pm.
Other Council teams participating in the expo include Aquatics, Libraries, Civil Defence, and more.
