Wastewater Plant Operators: Unsung Heroes, an Interview

United Flow Technologies (UFT) had the privilege of interviewing Michael Fowler, a safety judge in 2023's Weftec operations challenge. Mike is a wastewater treatment plant operator who works for JEA in Jacksonville, Florida; this was his first year participating in WefTec as a safety judge.

Fowler and three other judges monitored an event where "there is a rescue dummy in the manhole that has succumbed to gas. Their job is to come in, rescue him safely, and fix the issue that caused him to succumb to gas, usually a broken gasket at a valve. Then, they must come back out, extricate, and break everything down".

The operations challenge is a good way for teams from around the country and the world to compete against each other in a fun and informative way while showing onlookers precisely what they do. This year, 55 teams, including five international teams, participated in the safety challenge.

The conversation switched over to Fowler's work in Jacksonville and the challenges he faces in his job. His answer was succinct… "the standards." He explained that the industry is shifting to one that focuses on protecting the environment and improving public health. Ensuring that everybody has access to clean drinking water is no small task, which most people take for granted. "Most people don't know about us until something happens," he related. The better the job that wastewater professionals do, the less the public is aware of their importance, but that is just something that Mike and every other worker know to be a part of life.

He provided more specifics on how standards are changing in the industry. For example, phosphorous and nutrient removal are essential for plant operators like him to "discharge cleaner water than we're receiving." The wastewater industry's job is to receive dirty water, treat it, and then send it back cleaner than before it became "waste" in the first place.

The job of a plant operator is not easy, but that doesn't mean it isn't rewarding. According to Fowler, he remained in the industry for so long because he knew he was providing a valuable service and making the world a better place, even if only some were aware. He has been in the industry for 26 years and describes it as the perfect industry "for younger high school students wondering 'is college the right thing for me.'"

On top of Mike's satisfaction from doing an important job well, he makes a decent enough living to support his wife and two daughters and give them a good life. He says that the wastewater industry can provide a good living for people willing to earn it but stresses that they must be "good with not being patted on the back" and secure enough to work in what he describes as a "thankless job."

Fowler asked what advice he would give younger people hoping to enter the occupation with specifics: "Find a utility and ask for a plant tour, ask questions to an operator or a director, and see if you can get an introduction to it." Additionally, he is trying to get involved with more high schools. He hopes that schools will one day offer an elective that allows kids to learn about the wastewater treatment process and get preliminary exam work out of the way before graduation. These kids would be able to enter the field immediately and would play a big part in preparing the industry for the future. He understands that most people don't want to work with sewage, but he also knows that "everybody uses the bathroom, and unfortunately, someone has to treat it."

Indeed, being a wastewater professional is a challenging job. But as said before, it is essential and could provide many people with opportunities that would only sometimes come elsewhere. Industry professionals and leaders all stress the importance of increasing public awareness of wastewater and its significance, which the operations challenge seeks to do.

Mike does not remember exactly when he started participating in operations challenges but believes that he has done so since at least 2014. He likes to compete, and the operations challenge allows him to show off his skills that often go underappreciated in society. To him, competing at WefTec is like participating in the Super Bowl and provides him and others with an excellent opportunity to compare notes and learn from each other. Each state and area has its climate and list of challenges that are unique to it, and it is always helpful to know what professionals from different places do the same as well as differently.

He explained the challenge in greater detail and pointed to a maintenance reactor that simulates. In his own words: "The pump has a mechanical defect or something stopping it from pumping the flow. So, they have to come in there and safely and properly perform the lockout/tagout process. They have to remove the old pump from the wet well. They have to repair, and then they have to install the pump back in".

The various teams compete against each other for the fastest time. Mike explained that the competition is won and lost in small details, such as inexperience with the course, needing to know specific tools, or just overlooking some small thing. Ultimately, teamwork is the most critical factor in completing the challenge successfully because simply put, "you cannot do this by yourself."

The interview ended with Mike's closing thoughts about the challenge and his general industry.

Once again, in his own words:

"Man, look, we need operators. We do. I encourage anybody interested to reach out to the utility, ask if you can tour a plant, and ask if there are programs out there. I know there are some high schools and colleges that are offering courses in water and wastewater treatment.?

United Flow Technologies (UFT)

UFT is an integrated platform focused on delivering products and technical solutions to water environment professionals, including engineers and operators in the water and wastewater industry. While we have a national footprint, we go to market through a family of market-leading regional brands in targeted geographies. In the regions where UFT operates, we have a manufacturer’s representative network and system integration services. Our products and services include process equipment, flow control, pumps, automation controls, and other equipment solutions for the municipal and industrial markets.

United Flow Technologies (UFT) family of brands includes MISCOwater, Tesco Controls, Macaulay Controls Company, The Henry P. Thompson Company, Shape Incorporated, EES, Newman Regency Group, Southwest Valve and Equipment, Kodru Mooney, Hydro Controls, Iowa Pump Works, Wisconsin Pump Works, and Minnesota Pump Works,

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