Department Head: Bob Hornic

The Wastewater Treatment Plant has five employees.  The department head is involved in supervision, purchasing, training of employees, trouble shooting, and determining methods of treatment.  This department has two non-certified operators, one Certified Class I operator, and one Certified Class III.  These employees participate in lab work and daily plant operations.

Pictured is an operator performing a lab procedure, testing the dissolved oxygen content in the fully treated wastewater.  Samples are taken of the wastewater when it first comes into the plant and after it is fully treated.   Automated sampling machines  take multiple samples each hour.  After a 24-hour period these samples are placed into a single container.  This one composite sample is then tested for CBOD, pH, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, ammonia, and phosphorus levels.

Daily plant operations involve employees checking on equipment at each stage of the treatment process.  These checks verify that the equipment is working properly.   Duties also include preventative maintenance and performing any unexpected repairs.  Operators routinely process the sludge into "N-Viro Soil" and maintain the grounds.

Responsibilities of these employees are not just to the treatment plant.  Daily, operators also check nine waste water lift / pump stations, which are located in various parts of the City.  Routine maintenance aids in the proper operation of these stations, which is a necessary part of transporting the sewage to the Waste Water Treatment Plant.