I’m launching this blog to share a bit of what I’ve learned in the thirty years I’ve worked at dozens of municipal wastewater treatment facilities. Mostly, it is intended to serve as a forum for information exchange from others in the field, likeminded and not.
If I’ve learned nothing else, I’ve learned this: the public likes their wastewater facilities invisible. We are expected to provide consistent, reliable service. Getting this done 24-7 takes no small amount of talent.
It is people – talented, dedicated people – that make sewage into clean water. For treatment plant professionals to do their jobs well they need resources. That is, equipment. But, believing it to be the PEOPLE that operate and maintain equipment that gets the job done puts me somewhat at odds with the Water Environment Federation, a trade association of which I’ve been a member for 30 years.
WEF has developed the Water is Life and Infrastructure Makes it Happen™ campaign in an effort to obtain more governmental funding for treatment plant improvements. Good idea, but the message is off the mark. Wastewater treatment facilities work best when knowledgeable professionals are empowered to take responsibility for their facilities. Not, when big government gives us stuff.
Any day that passes without complaint is a good day in the sewer business. Silence: the biggest compliment that the majority of us can hope to receive. Glory job? Not ours, even our professional organization gives our equipment higher standing. Ouch!
Everyone could use a little more money. Oftentimes, however, a little creative thinking can solve problems at huge financial savings. It’s what makes the company I oversee unique. More later.
Thanks for reading.
Grant