Many Responsibilities – Many Skills
Bringing the Water to You
You turn on your tap, and water flows out. . . . But, how many Las Virgenes Municipal Water District employees does it take to keep the flow going and assure that sufficient, reliable, high quality water supplies are there when you need them?
While the tasks are numerous and very complex, a crew of 12 is responsible for the distribution operations of your drinking water, recycled water for irrigation, water treatment at Westlake Filtration Plant, and operations of Las Virgenes Reservoir, our district’s emergency backup supply. That means a dozen people handle daily routine operation of more than 300 miles of mainline pipes, 20 pump stations and 20 storage tanks for drinking water, with a separate 58 miles of water lines, 2 tanks and 3 storage reservoirs for recycled water.
That’s a lot of infrastructure, a lot to do, and a LOT of responsibility. Ken Reed, the district’s Water Treatment and Production Supervisor, explains how the crew functions as they meet regulatory demands and challenges daily. ”Working closely with maintenance and construction crews, we create a transparent delivery system“. ”Transparent“ is the key word, so you don’t have to think a moment when you turn the tap. This requires a variety of skills and responsibilities within the Water Operations crew.
Safe and Reliable Service
Water quality is a core focus, as they carry out many functions required by state and federal regulators. As part of the job of distributing quality drinking and recycled water to LVMWD customers, the crew regularly ”flushes“ portions of the system. This means drawing water quickly through the pipes, to clean out accumulated particles, which may be settled in the lines. Tanks also must be maintained and cleaned. . .no simple task when looking at a structure as large as 35 feet high and 210 feet in diameter, able to contain as much as 8 million gallons of water. Maintenance is important not only inside facilities, but outside as well. The area surrounding tanks, pumping stations, and other portions of the water delivery system need mowing, weeding, road maintenance, as well as cobweb and graffiti removal to assure these sites remain presentable neighborhood fixtures and readily accessible for water system and fire fighting personnel. Regular valve maintenance contributes to system safety and reliability. Valves throughout both the potable and recycled water systems need to be regularly turned, lubricated and maintained, so that changes in water flow or shut-downs can be made smoothly, at a moment’s notice. Just think of the last time you dealt with a sticky valve under your sink. The 6,000 valves throughout the water district run up to 24 inches in diameter.
And, as if that weren’t enough to do – the crew also is responsible for helping other utilities and construction crews accurately locate district service lines, to avoid breaks and service disruptions when in-ground work gets underway.
Dependable Systems and Supplies
Las Virgenes Reservoir, capable of storing nearly 3 billion gallons of water, provides LVMWD customers an insurance policy against emergencies, supply interruptions and water shortages. The ongoing oversight of the reservoir, readiness and seasonal operation of the associated filtration plant are all part of the Water Operations crew’s responsibilities.
The California Department of Health Services rates the LVMWD distribution system at the highest complexity level, based on the number of customers, the variety and number of system elements, and the need to push water throughout an area of naturally rough terrain. As Roger Huff, Water Systems Manager, indicates, ”Our system is so complex, overall line inspections for leaks and problems must be done by helicopter, due to the rugged geography.“
System reliability is a 24/7 responsibility for the crew. ”Dependability of our service to customers all comes down to this,“ explains Reed. The Water Operations crew must continuously monitor every pump station, every tank, and every foot of water line to assure that individual machinery and sites are operating properly AND are remaining in sync with the rest of the system. This means constantly tracking water levels, water pressure within the system, valve status, and the balance of water demand and supply within a network of connections that, when mapped out, resembles an intricate spider web.
A valued ”member“ of the team, helping to handle this daunting responsibility, is the SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) computer system. This amazing automated system allows operators to instantly see what’s happening in any part of the system, any time and from anywhere. With this information, they can revise system operations to assure water is where it is needed, when it is needed.
Full SCADA implementation was completed as part of the district’s Y2K preparations. Before that, every alarm meant a trip to remote sites. . .often in the middle of the night. Now, most difficulties can be handled from a computer – a capability that will become even more critical in anticipation of this summer’s electrical shortages.
Team Commitment
Water Operations employees are committed to what they do, with the current crew working for LVMWD from 6 to 15 years. Operators must attain State certification pertinent to their work – either in distribution or treatment. Many LVMWD employees have dual certification. And, learning is ongoing, with attendance at seminars, classes and dialogue with other water agencies to continually update and raise the level of expertise.
With tools ranging from high-end computers, to wrenches and garden rakes, the Water Operations crew is constantly applying their skills to keep your water supply high in quality and reliability. |
