Toby
Water Treatment Supervisor
17 years with EWEB
I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of operations and watching others solve the puzzle.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
I focus on the 30,000 foot level of what is going on with the plant. I start by checking emails, logs and SCADA to see if there were any emergent events that need attention. I also work with the Lead operators to ensure everyone has direction on Day to Day, including scheduling of events and projects. Overall, it is my job to ensure we are maintaining a safe and efficient plant operation that meets and exceed all regulations. Outside of the plant, I work with other departments to meet strategic goals of the organization. I'm often in meetings to support all the above functions. I work to ensure my staff have all the right tools to be successful at their jobs.
What is the most interesting or unexpected part of your job?
No two days are the same. I enjoy the problem-solving aspect of operations and watching others solve the puzzle. I really enjoy watching operators progress through their learning process and career and how they transform from a “deer in the headlights” new operator to a confident, seasoned operator. The work is not for everyone, but those that do it are truly dedicated to their craft.
What was your education and career path before Hayden Bridge?
My military experience gave me the operational and mechanical background. I attended college working on a degree in Environmental Science with a minor in GIS. After three years of college, I became burnt out and decided to return to the work force without completing my degree. That path landed me at EWEB.
What is something unique about Hayden Bridge that you’ve discovered since working there?
Some of the best sunrises and sunset I have ever seen have been here. Pictures do no justice. I have been around the world multiple times and the ones at Hayden Bridge are hands down the best.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who aspires to have your job?
Show up every day. Take advantage of time you are here on shift to learn and focus on detail. Make the extra effort to become the best at what you do by learning from those around you. Do your job, the one you were hired to do. Stay focused and the distractions will remove themselves.
Scott
Lead Water Treatment Plant Operator
16 years with EWEB
Our team is a very tight knit, skilled group that relies heavily on one another.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
I don’t know that there is a typical workday for me. Every day brings something different with new challenges and problems to solve. Most often, I find myself training new operators, troubleshooting equipment issues and trying to find new ways to make the plant more efficient.
What is the most interesting or unexpected part of your job?
The most unexpected part about this job is that such a small crew of people can run and maintain this plant as consistently and effectively as we do every day.
What was your education and career path before Hayden Bridge?
I have a BS in Psychology from Western Oregon University (WOU). My plan was to work with at risk youth as a counselor in youth correction facilities. This plan was never fulfilled, and my career path went in a completely different direction than I ever thought that it would.
Between school years while attending WOU I worked as temporary in EWEB’s Landscape department. About a month before I graduated from WOU I was informed of a permanent opening in EWEB’s landscape department, so I jumped at that because it was 2009 and there were very few job openings at the time. I worked as a Landscape Utility worker for about 2.5 years before moving on to a Utility Installer in the Water Department. After about 6 months as a Utility Installer, EWEB went through a large restructuring effort, and I was able to apply for and get the job as a Water Treatment Operator.
Before working at EWEB I didn’t even know that Water Treatment was a career. Here I am 16 years later and have just started a new role as a Lead Water Treatment Plant Operator.
What is something unique about Hayden Bridge that you’ve discovered since working there?
Our team is a very tight knit, skilled group that relies heavily on one another. We are like a family, but not in the corny sense that we all get along all the time. We are like a family in that we spend a lot of time together and have found a way to support one other through the difficulties of working a rotating shift in a highly important and critical job. We may disagree and argue sometimes, but when it comes down to it, we respect each other and come together for a common purpose.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who aspires to have your job?
Never look at any job or task as less than. Look at it as an opportunity for growth, skill building and a possible bullet point for your resume. You never know where your current job may lead you in the future.
Jared
Lead Water Treatment Plant Operator
15 years with EWEB
Just when you think you have seen everything, something new or unexpected happens (i.e. last year’s ice storm).
What does a typical workday look like for you?
Every day is different. I start out addressing any issues reported by the operators overnight or any instrumentation or equipment that needs repair or troubleshoting. I’ll then move on to normal preventative maintenance tasks as needed. Throughout the day we typically have meetings where we’ll discuss our strategies for repairing or replacing important equipment and how best to stage this so that we never lose the ability to provide water to town.
What is the most interesting or unexpected part of your job?
Just when you think you have seen everything, something new or unexpected happens (i.e. last year’s ice storm). Sure, we have a lot of standard day in and day out tasks but there seems to always be something new which keeps my interest.
What was your education and career path before Hayden Bridge?
I went to Linn Benton Community College for the Water/Wastewater associates degree. As part of my degree, I worked a summer at Hayden Bridge as an intern in the summer of 2009. Shortly after my intern in March 2010 there was an operator opening and I was fortunate enough to be offered a career here.
What is something unique about Hayden Bridge that you’ve discovered since working there?
The scenery and wildlife out here are truly astonishing. Being high up on a hill the sunrises and sunsets can be impressive at times.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who aspires to have your job?
Don’t overlook trade schools. They are a great way to get started in this industry and can save you a lot of time and money.
Josh
Water Treatment Plant Operator
8 years with EWEB
The most interesting part of this job is monitoring storms and the ever-changing water quality that comes with each storm.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
A typical workday can vary depending on what shift I am on. If operating the plant, then it consists of backwashing filters, treating the water, monitoring water quality, and so on. If on a maintenance shift then there are daily plant checks, instrumentation, filter maintenance, and other plant maintenance items to address throughout each day.
What is the most interesting or unexpected part of your job?
The most interesting part of this job is monitoring storms and the ever-changing water quality that comes with each storm.
What was your education and career path before Hayden Bridge?
I have a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. I wasn’t sure where I would end up with such a degree until I stumbled upon an internship with the water quality lab. I was then able to learn about Hayden Bridge and the unique opportunities it presents. Just under a year after my internship ended, a treatment operator position opened in which I applied for and the rest is history.
What is something unique about Hayden Bridge that you’ve discovered since working there?
There is always something to learn. It is a large facility with many moving parts so the opportunities are endless to learn something new.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who aspires to have your job?
Having a combination of post high school education in water or a science field and some experience in the water industry gives a person a leg up on the rest of the folks applying for an operator position at Hayden Bridge.
Corey
Water Treatment Plant Operator
10 months with EWEB
I like the fact that I am providing a service to my community.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
Right now, my workday consists of lots of training and studying to achieve a Level 1 water treatment certificate. I cover operational shifts with a focus on filtering and disinfecting water at the demand of the city.
What is the most interesting or unexpected part of your job?
Learning the patterns of Eugene’s water usage and being able to predict water demand based on weather or even day of the week.
What was your education and career path before Hayden Bridge?
Before here, I worked as an oil refinery operator for 10 years. After that, I was a brewer at Ninkasi for 5 years. Those two jobs utilize a lot of the same equipment and take the same skills to perform as a water treatment operator. I was just managing different liquids; now I manage water.
What is something unique about Hayden Bridge that you’ve discovered since working there?
Hayden Bridge is managed by a small crew of people. The job provides a good since of community. I like the fact that I am providing a service to my community. At the end of the day, it feels good.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone who aspires to have your job?
This job is approachable with a little bit of schooling or some operational experience. Look at me; I never worked in water prior to this job.
Jeff
Water Treatment Plant Operator
3 months with EWEB
There is always something new to learn.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
A typical workday involves monitoring, managing and maintaining systems that make water safe to consume.
What is the most interesting or unexpected part of your job?
Everyday is never quite the same. There is always something new to learn.
What was your education and career path before Hayden Bridge?
I spent two years in a water program at Linn Benton Community College. Since then I have worked for a couple small water systems in Oregon.
What is something unique about Hayden Bridge that you’ve discovered since working there?
All the wildlife on the Hayden Bridge property. Turkeys, Deer and lots of others.