People Behind the Pipes

1. Describe your job.

My job is to help maintain the drinking water, recycled water, and wastewater systems for DSRSD. Most of my time is spent in the field responding to calls for service and inspecting and maintaining the pipelines, reservoirs and pump stations that help make our system work.

2. How did you get into this field?

I got into this field twelve years ago when I worked for the City of Modesto. In 2021 I started with DSRSD as a maintenance worker, then in 2022 I was promoted to a water / wastewater operator.

3. What do you like best about your job?

What I like most about my job is the need to think on your feet. Hydrants compromised by a collision, main leaks, and service leaks all require fast thinking and an ability to process information fast.  This is the part of the job that makes it exciting and fun.

4. What is the biggest challenge of your position?

The biggest challenge has been trying to remember where all the District’s reservoirs and pump stations are located! After two years it’s still a struggle. Learning the District’s remote monitoring system, SCADA, also has been interesting (and challenging at times).

5. What is something unique about yourself?

Something that makes me unique is the variety of experience I have in this field. I can honestly say there is nothing on the construction side that I haven’t seen or experienced. Using this experience I have the ability to know exactly what to do to respond to an emergency, from start to finish. It takes a certain type of person to remain calm when water is shooting 50 feet in the air and the asphalt is crumbling from a main break! 

6. What do you like to do in your free time?

I commute from Modesto – which makes my ten-hour day closer to a thirteen-hour day – so I like to spend my free time with my family. I also enjoy fishing and watching the 49ers during football season.