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In our series highlighting the people and processes that keep the City’s water and wastewater systems running efficiently, we’ve flowed from procuring potable (safe to drink) water, to preparing it for distribution. Along the way we’ve mentioned the multitude of assets (e.g., wells, pumps, storage tanks, and treatment facilities) that are integral to these systems. For these City assets to be efficiently utilized they must be designed, constructed, and maintained. To accomplish this requires a lot of civil engineering.
As Ventura Water’s Principal Civil Engineer, Rob Herbst oversees and coordinates the technological work required to maintain the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure. The Public Works Department has a team of three civil engineers dedicated to water and wastewater improvements. Ventura Water has its corps of water and wastewater operators who manage them. Ron is the bridge between those groups, requiring him to articulate technical information in two languages—Water/Wastewater Operations jargon and Engineer-Speak. Fortunately for Ventura Water, sharing technical advice is Ron’s favorite part of his job.
Ron oversees Ventura Water’s Master Plan, created every ten years to assess the effectiveness of the City’s water and wastewater systems. Originating from the Master Plan, nearly all water-related capital improvement projects come across Ron’s desk. He explains that most projects are to rehabilitate the existing infrastructure, including pipelines that may have been in place since the mid-1900s. Outside projects to provide water services to private development must also be reviewed and approved by Ron and his staff.
Effective collaboration between Public Works’ engineers and Ventura Water’s operators is key for projects to smoothly develop from design, to construction, to use. Ron’s technical and communication skills allow him to help bridge the gap between a well-founded plan and a well-functioning system.
Next month we will look at how our precious potable water supply travels from our treatment facilities to our customers, by way of the reliable work of Ventura Water’s Distribution Team.
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