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In last month’s segment we learned about the engineering required to keep Ventura Water’s infrastructure running smoothly. Much of that infrastructure is operated and maintained by the Distribution Team. Ventura Water’s Distribution Manager described their duties saying, “We’re responsible for everything by which water is transferred," which includes approximately 390 miles of water mains, hundreds of fire hydrants and valves, and all of the service lines that connect to Ventura’s homes and businesses. Distribution also maintains the connections at the City’s tanks and reservoirs and makes repairs at the water treatment plants.
Brandon Segovia is a Lead Water Distribution Operator and presently is acting as the group's Water Distribution Supervisor. Brandon holds a Water Distribution lV certification from the California State Water Resources Board and has been a water professional for over seven years.
On a recent day Brandon was supervising a crew handling an emergency replacement of a 6” water main and valve “T” in Midtown (see photo). The crew was removing a failed asbestos concrete pipe originally placed in the mid-20th century. Pipes can be damaged due to various causes, like tree root advancement and soil shifting after high rainfall. Since much of Ventura was once agricultural the soil can be “hot”, containing additives from agricultural practices which can also cause damage. The upgraded PVC pipe and zinc-coated fittings will prevent corrosion that older pipe is vulnerable to.
When asked about the challenges of his job, Brandon explained that the biggest is finding and retaining people in these physically demanding jobs. Despite this challenge, repairs must be done swiftly to minimize the time that customers are without water. Amazingly, the Distribution crew accomplished this recent repair in just two days: Day 1 for excavation and prep and Day 2 for placing and aligning the new pipe and valves then burying the upgraded equipment. Watching the four-man crew was a lesson in orchestration and teamwork. The crew worked together to get the new pipes aligned and secure, sharing tools and communicating all throughout. With this high level of competence it's not surprising that what Brandon likes most about his job is being outdoors, working with a great group of people and keeping the water flowing for our community.
Once the potable (safe to drink) water reaches our customers it can be used for cooking, cleaning, watering and, most importantly, to quench the thirst of Ventura’s population. Next in our series, we’ll look at the second half of Ventura Water’s system—the wastewater processes.
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