People Behind the Pipes

Describe your job. 

I am an Assistant Engineer who works on the District’s capital improvement projects. This means that I plan and execute construction projects that improve our infrastructure, ensuring reliable services for our customers.  

The types of projects that our engineers work on vary widely. Some of our projects are out in the street, replacing or repairing pipeline systems that transport wastewater to the treatment plant or allow drinking water to flow to our customers. Some of our projects are at the treatment plant itself, ensuring that it can run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

How did you get into the water/wastewater industry? 

I decided to study engineering at UC Davis because I always enjoyed math and science classes in school. I was attracted to civil engineering because it is a broad field where you can work on many different types of infrastructure.  

After attending a college career fair, I was offered a summer job at Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (Central San) in Martinez. Central San provides wastewater service and hazardous waste disposal to nine cities in Contra Costa County.  

California happened to be in a drought that summer, so Central San opened a recycled water fill station for its residents. The summer students ended up being the ones responsible for manning the station and directing customers. Every day there were hundreds of people in line - it was quite the spectacle. 

Before this experience, I knew nothing about the wastewater industry, so I never considered working in this field. However, working at Central San’s recycled water fill station showed me the impact that wastewater agencies can have on the community. I would chat with customers as they were filling up their containers and they all were so appreciative of the service we were providing. I saw that working in wastewater means that you are making a difference in your community. 

After my first stint with Central San ended, I went back twice for an internship and a co-op, which is a work-study position. After I graduated, I landed my first full-time job as a Junior Engineer with Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District before joining Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD). 

My best advice for anyone considering a career in civil engineering is to put yourself out there by joining a professional organization, like American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), California Water Environment Association (CWEA), or Engineers Without Borders (EWB)  where you can meet like-minded people, develop relationships, and have fun. Also, apply for internships as soon as possible so you can gain work experience while you are still a student. So much of what we do in the water / wastewater industry is behind-the-scenes, and I never would have known about this career path if it were not for my internships. 

What do you like best about your job? 

I enjoy the variety of projects I work on, which allows me to collaborate with a lot of different teams within our agency. I am always learning, and every day is different. 

When I worked for Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, most of my projects were at their wastewater treatment plant. However, since joining DSRSD, I have had the opportunity to work on projects designed to improve our drinking water and recycled water pipe systems.  

These projects have been fun because they’re new to me, and they have given me the chance to work closely with our Water/Wastewater System Operators who maintain these systems. Our Operators are super knowledgeable, and we’ve developed great teamwork.  

What is the biggest challenge of your job? 

Engineers always manage multiple projects at once, which means that we must be skilled at prioritization and time management. Each project involves different staff members, consultants, and contractors, who have different needs to consider and require regular communication. It’s not uncommon for these needs to change in the middle of a project based on new regulations or other outside factors. It can be challenging to be flexible and adaptable, but it’s essential in this role. 

What is something unique about yourself? 

I played lacrosse throughout high school and into my first year of college. I have a brother who is seven years older than me, and he was the first person in my family to start playing. It looked fun, so I bought my own stick and played with him until I was old enough to join the high school team. Balancing college coursework and a competitive team sport is difficult, but I think it’s important for students to have an outside hobby for stress relief. 

What are your favorite hobbies? 

One of my favorite hobbies is working out, specifically doing CrossFit. I started doing CrossFit halfway through college and now I train a few times per week. I used to push myself in the gym pretty hard and do local competitions, but now I am more leisurely. 

I also enjoy hiking around the Bay Area with friends and playing Pokémon Go. My five-year-old niece got me into Pokémon Go during a family vacation, so now I catch Pokémon and let her go through my phone and pick which ones she wants.