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WARNING: DO NOT READ IF YOU ARE EATING OR SQUEAMISH
Okay, it's really not that bad.
I just finished my first week at the wastewater processing plant. Yes, I deal with raw sewage, rain run off and the like. Whatever you flush down your toilets and sinks come to me.
I clock in at 7:30 and log on to the computer for 10 minutes, logging alarms and getting meter readings. Then I take a leisurely stroll to take even more meter readings.
The first station is the worst. Thats where all the stuff that isn't sewage/wastewater gets sifted, sorted and dumped into a dumpster. Yesterday I found a dollar. I didn't fish it out. But one guy found over $100 in there a few months ago. Sometimes (I've been told), drugs and drug money have been found. Anyway.... After hosing that area down, it's time to climb up to the top of the tanks and take more readings. BTW, people flush almost anything down a toilet.
After I get the morning's data, I don my protective gloves and goggles for sample collecting. I also get to measure the dissolved oxygen in the aerators. That takes a special probe instrument that rocket scientists invented. Actually, I just push 3 buttons and I'm on my way.
After I get the samples, it's off to my favorite part: The nicely air conditioned laboratory. Yes, I get to be a lab tech. I run tests using all kinds of neat lab machines and chemicals. I take measurements. After all that, then I look into the microscope to see what kind of critters are living in my tanks. You would be amazed at all the animals that live in there, and what a colony of this means, and what that thing is there for, and what happens when you have these guys here.
Break time! (10:30 a.m.)
Then I collect all the data and fill out paperwork. Paperwork takes up most of the day. Then I dump about 15,000 gallons of reclaimed water, sending it out 10 miles to another station.
Lunch!
Take more readings from the computer. Do routine maintenance. Clean things. Find something to do. BS with the boss. BS with the secretary. Go chat with the guys at the water department. Take another dissolved oxygen measurement.
Break time! (3:00 p.m.)
Study, read, more meter readings. Make final plant walk through. Make things are closed and locked. Finish paperwork.
4:30 p.m. Time to go home!
I made it sound like I don't do much of anything, but I actually do work my butt off. And I'm really enjoying it. I'm learning something vital to every city. I'm treated like a person. The hours are good. The pay is good and will get much better when I get my operator's license. The benefits are awesome and paid for, 100%, by the city.
I do smell when I come home, but not like raw sewage. I smell like hydrogen sulfide gas and chlorine bleach (and some sweat thrown in, too!)
I've all ready been teased about working with sewage; that my job isn't important. I looked at that person and said "The city of New York said that about their garbage collectors. Remember when they went on strike?" The guy looked at me and said "Oh.. yeah, I remember. Trash all over the place." Then I asked him "What do you think that place would be like if all the wastewater employees went on strike instead?" He made the "ewww" face and said "Ahhh. You're right"
I'm proud to work for the city I live in. I have an important job. The people I work with are nice, down to earth and very cool. I won't retire a multi-millionaire, but in a few years I'll be very comfortable.
Questions? Go ahead and ask. But remember this: I've only just finished my first week. I can't answer all of them (but I can find out very easily).
Okay, it's really not that bad.
I just finished my first week at the wastewater processing plant. Yes, I deal with raw sewage, rain run off and the like. Whatever you flush down your toilets and sinks come to me.
I clock in at 7:30 and log on to the computer for 10 minutes, logging alarms and getting meter readings. Then I take a leisurely stroll to take even more meter readings.
The first station is the worst. Thats where all the stuff that isn't sewage/wastewater gets sifted, sorted and dumped into a dumpster. Yesterday I found a dollar. I didn't fish it out. But one guy found over $100 in there a few months ago. Sometimes (I've been told), drugs and drug money have been found. Anyway.... After hosing that area down, it's time to climb up to the top of the tanks and take more readings. BTW, people flush almost anything down a toilet.
After I get the morning's data, I don my protective gloves and goggles for sample collecting. I also get to measure the dissolved oxygen in the aerators. That takes a special probe instrument that rocket scientists invented. Actually, I just push 3 buttons and I'm on my way.
After I get the samples, it's off to my favorite part: The nicely air conditioned laboratory. Yes, I get to be a lab tech. I run tests using all kinds of neat lab machines and chemicals. I take measurements. After all that, then I look into the microscope to see what kind of critters are living in my tanks. You would be amazed at all the animals that live in there, and what a colony of this means, and what that thing is there for, and what happens when you have these guys here.
Break time! (10:30 a.m.)
Then I collect all the data and fill out paperwork. Paperwork takes up most of the day. Then I dump about 15,000 gallons of reclaimed water, sending it out 10 miles to another station.
Lunch!
Take more readings from the computer. Do routine maintenance. Clean things. Find something to do. BS with the boss. BS with the secretary. Go chat with the guys at the water department. Take another dissolved oxygen measurement.
Break time! (3:00 p.m.)
Study, read, more meter readings. Make final plant walk through. Make things are closed and locked. Finish paperwork.
4:30 p.m. Time to go home!
I made it sound like I don't do much of anything, but I actually do work my butt off. And I'm really enjoying it. I'm learning something vital to every city. I'm treated like a person. The hours are good. The pay is good and will get much better when I get my operator's license. The benefits are awesome and paid for, 100%, by the city.
I do smell when I come home, but not like raw sewage. I smell like hydrogen sulfide gas and chlorine bleach (and some sweat thrown in, too!)
I've all ready been teased about working with sewage; that my job isn't important. I looked at that person and said "The city of New York said that about their garbage collectors. Remember when they went on strike?" The guy looked at me and said "Oh.. yeah, I remember. Trash all over the place." Then I asked him "What do you think that place would be like if all the wastewater employees went on strike instead?" He made the "ewww" face and said "Ahhh. You're right"
I'm proud to work for the city I live in. I have an important job. The people I work with are nice, down to earth and very cool. I won't retire a multi-millionaire, but in a few years I'll be very comfortable.
Questions? Go ahead and ask. But remember this: I've only just finished my first week. I can't answer all of them (but I can find out very easily).
(bad joke, but I like it) But it's honesty and awesome crap! Honestly it sounds like a great job, and one of those things that people never think about unless it is pointed out to them. I'm glad you're enjoying it.
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