Drainer
What the work is
Installs, maintains and designs below-ground drainage systems and associated sewerage or effluent disposal systems.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Studies drawings and specifications to determine layout of plumbing systems and materials required
- Installs sewerage and effluent pumping equipment and disposal systems
- Installs below-ground drainage systems, including pipes, fittings and fixtures
- Tests, maintains and repairs drainage systems to ensure proper functioning, and clears blockages if required
- Conducts inspections and maintenance of sewerage or effluent disposal systems
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a fire protection company that installs and tests sprinkler systems, hydrants and hose reels in apartments, schools and hotels. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A system you tested all morning passes cleanly and the building is safer for it
- You find a closed valve that would have stopped the water in a real emergency
- A building manager who never thought about fire safety finally understands what you do
Hard days
- Crawling through a ceiling space tracing pipes in a building that was altered years ago
- Residents upset about the noise and the water shut off for a day
- A manager who sees every test as an expense, not a protection
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 363931, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.